The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1904-09-10

iui llcu up W uIcSS.
This way. please, madcmo.selles,'
called Sir John, and we followed hin
into his quaint Old sitting room.
See there, Trixie,', Le said, point
ing toward tie sofa; there's bal
dress fresh from Paris. Would yol
like to have them-I mean dress, dia
monds and all?"
Oh, godpapa-" cried Beatrix. witt
claspcd hands.
The dress was Of silkcn tissue o
the loveliest pink. trimmed with price
! less lace, and adorned with tufts OF
moss rosebuds, and the diamonds were
such blinking. cleaning stars-ti2ra
necklace. armlets and a girde, like 8
belt Of living light
They're yours, TriXie," continued
i Sir John. Major Farletgh is likely
/ to admire You in that rig-hcy, Trix
Well, they're yours, and, moreover
when you marry the major. | mean
that you shall come and live with me
| I'm an old man now, and bit lonely
and | think l shall make the major
my heir
"Oh, Sir John. dear goGpapa!" cried
Beatrix, with swimming eyes.
Stop, Trixie," he interrupted
wait till you hear my conditions
don't thank me yet-I've made up my
mind to do ali this, and to give You
this trumpery here, provided you are
willing to do one thing
"Ill do anything you wish, you
good, dear godpapa," answered TriSie
with her eyes on the glittering gems.
Very well, you must sleep in the
crimson chamber tonight
"Alone?' faltered poor Beatrix,
growing white.
Nay, you may all go together. but
you must enter the crimson room as
soon as the ball ends, and remain
there till daylight. If you can stand
1t tonight, and the ghcstly pair do
not eat you, l mean it for your bridal
chamber when you and the major
marry"
I'll do It," said Beatrix, stoutly,
Girls, what do you say?"
We'll do it," We cried. with one
voice.
Very we'll; collect your finery, and
take yourselves Off," said the baronet.
We obeyed. and Beatrix wore her
ball dress, and her diamonds, and daz-
zled the poor major SO completely
that he came nigh losing his wits.
At one o'clock, to the minute, we
marched in solemn file to the door OF
the haunted room. Mrs. Sinnott fol-
lowed us with an ashan face.
For Heavens sake, young ladies.
give over this mad folly!" she en-
treated; but DoatriX silenced her, and
in We went.
A cheerful fire bIazed upon the
marble hearth, wax lights slittered IN
every niche and corner, revealing the
vast proportions Of the room, and the
grand and glowing richness OF the
crimson hangings and antique furni-
ture.
1T Is a pity, as godDapa says, for
w ~
serted" said Beatrix. as we surround
ed the hearth. Il hope We shall come
out victorious, girls"
We glanced neryously at the great
catafalQue of bed, with its crimson
canopi3s, and concluded to keep watch
before the hearth. Two o'clock chimed
from the hoarse old clock above the
stables. We heard the roar OF the
surf on the wild Cornish coast. and
the mournful vail Of the wind amid
the grim turrets, and by the by, with
beating hearts and suspended breathS
we heard another sound.
Tap, tap, tap, against the oaken
panel. Beatrix became as white as
death, and glanced over her shoulder
with a shudder.
Girls, they are coming" she whis-
pered-"the false bride and her
lover"
We clung together, huddling over
the CRATE. Tap, tap, tap, 1t came
again. One of our party, little blond
miss from the Sussex hills. fell gently
to the floor in a swoon. Tap. tap, tap,
and then a faint, rustling movement.
Beatrix thought Of her major and her
bridal night, and rose to her feet in
trembling DESPERATION.
who's there?" she demanded. In
q voice that shook.
Tap, tap, tap! No other answer but
that faint, rustling swish.
A sort of heroism. born OF despair,
seized upon Beatrix. Her white cheeks
famed, her brown eyes glowed.
"I'll solve this mystery" she said,
I'll liberate this ghOstly pair"
And straightway she marched
across the crimson carpet, and lifted
the crimson velvet arras. Her hand
shook like a leaf, and her cheeks
whitened again, but she pressed Ler
finger upon the little knob which
moved the sliding panel.
Tap, tap. tap! again, and then the
carved, oaken panel slid slowly aside,
and friends, not the ghostly pair came
forth, but a great, gaunt, gray old rat.
Beatrix fell down in faint. but she
had won her diamonds; and she slept
in the haunted chamber on her bridal
night.-New York Weekly.