Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-04
UNDER THE
 RED ROBE By STANLEY J. NEWMAN
(copyright, 1894. by Stanley J. wevman.l
WHITMAN

critical moment.
 But at last that happened for which I had been looking. The door swung open a few inches and man came noiselessly out; the door was quickly barred behind him. He stood a mo- ment, waiting on the threshold and peering into the gloom; and seemed to expect to be attacked. Finding him. self unmolested, however, and all quiet, he went of steadily down the street, towards the chateau.
 let couple of minutes go by and then I followed. I had no difficulty in hitting on the track at the end of the street, but when had once plunged into the woods, found myself in dark ness 50 intense that I soon strayed from the path, and fell over roots, and tore my clothes with thorns, and lost my temper 20 times before I found the path again. However, I gained the bridge at last and caught sight of a twinkling light before me. To make for 1t across the meadow and terrace was an easy task; yet when had reached the door and had, hammered upon it. I was in so sorry a plight that l sank down, and had no. need to play part or pretend to be worse than was.
 For long time no one answered. The dark house towering above me re- mained silent I could hear, mingled with the throbbings of my heart, the steady croaking of the frogs in a pond near the stables: but no other sound. In a frenzy of impatience and disgust stood up again and hammered, kicking with my heels on the nail studded door, and crying out desperate ly. "A moi! A moi!"
 "Who is there?' voice asked
 "A gentleman in distress" I an- swered piteously, moving my hands across the door. For Gods sake open and let me in. am hurt and dying of cold"
 What brings you here?" the voice asked sharply Despite its tartness, I fancied it was woman's. .-,.,g. |.
 Heaven knows!" answered desper- ately. "I cannot tell. They maltreated me at the inn and threw me into the street. I crawled away and have been wandering in the wood for hours. Then saw light here"
 Thereon, some muttering took place on the other side of the door, to which l had my ear. It ended in the bars be- ing lowered. The door swung partly open and light shone out, dazzling me. tried 10 shade my eyes with my fingers and as did so I fancied I heard a murmur of pity. But when looked in under screen of my hand I saw only one person-the man who held the light, and his aspect was so strange, so terrifying, that, shaken as was by fatigue, I recoiled a step.
 He was a tall and very thin man, meanly dressed in a short scanty jacket and well-darned hose. Unable, for some reason. to bend his neck. he car ried his head with a strange stiffness
 And that head! Never did man show a face so like death. His forehead was bald and white, all the lower part of his face fell in, his jaws receded, his cheeks were hollow. his lips end chin were thin and fieshless. He seemed to have only one expression-a fixed grin.
 While stood looking at this for midable creature he made quick mo- ton to shut the door again, smiling more widely. [ had the presence of mind to thurst in my foot, and, before he could resent the act, a voice in the background cried: For shame, Clon: Stand back. Stand back. do you hear? I am afraid, Monsieur, that you are hurt"
 The last words were my welcome to that house; and. spoken at an hour and in circumstances so gloomy, they made a lasting impression. Round the hall ran a gallery, and this. the height of the apartment and the dark panel ling seemed 10 swallow ID the light I stood within the entrance las it seemed 10 mel of a huge cave; the skull-headed porter had the air of an ogre. Only the voice which greeted me dispelled the illusion. I turned trem- bling towards the quarter whence it came. and. shading my eyes, made ont a woman's form standing in doorway under the gallery. A second figure. which I took 10 be that of the servant had seen at the inn, ioomed uncer- tainly beside her.
 bowed in silence. My teeth were chattering was faint without feign- ing. and felt a kind of terror. hard to explain, at the sound of this vOman's voice.
 One of our people mas told me about you she continued. speaking cut of the darkness. T am sorry that this has happened to you here. but am afraid that you were indisereet."
 "I take all the blame. Madam" I answered humbly. T ask only shelter for the night
 The time has not yet come when we cannot give our friends that" she an- swerpd. with noble courtesy. When it does. Monsieur. ve shall be homeless ourselves
 I shiversd. looking anywhere but at her: for had not sufficiently pictured this scene of my arTiyal-I had not forssaen it's details ard nov took part fn it I felt a miserable mszHnsss weigh me down I had never from the first liked the vorkI But. I had had DO choice And I had TO choice now. Luckily. the Euise in vhich I eame. ny fatigue and wound were sufcisnt