The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-05-04
vneIe David sives up

an unlit candle In my hand, the light
feebly diffused through the balls from
some upper windows being sufficient
for me TO see my way. But In the
chamber itself all was dark.
THE wind had not yet risen and the
shutter which a half hour later moved
80 restlessly on It's creaking hinges
Rugged the window so tightly that |
imagined Mr.. jeffrey had fastened 1t
the night before. Looking for some re.
ceptacle In which to set the candle |
now lit, failed to find anything but an
empty tumbler, so I made use of that.
Then glanced about me. but seeing
nothing worth my attention-M JEFF
frey's wedding fixings did not interest
me, and everything else about the
room looking natural except the over.
turned chair. which struck me as i'm.
material-I hurried downstairs again.
leaving the candle burning behind me
in case | should wish to return aloft
after l had. refreshed my mind with
what had been written about this old
room.
mot n sound disturbed the house as
seated myself to my reading in front
of the library shelves. | was as much
alone under that desolate roof as NOR
tai could be with men anywhere with
| in reach Of him. | enjoyed the solitude
and was making a very pretty theory
| for myself on a scrap of paper ! tore
from another old book When n noise
suddenly rose In front, which, slight as
t.ftp lyn l,l
trained to listening. Some one was un.
locking the front door.
Naturally thought 1t to be Mr.. JEFF
frey returning for u second visit TO his
wife's house, and, knowing what
might expect If he surprised me on the
premises, restored the book hastily
to its place and as hastil blew out the
candle. Then with every intention of
fight, backed toward the door by
which had entered. But some i'm.
pulse stronger than that of escape
made me stop just before reached It,.
/ could see nothing-the place was dark
as Tophet-but could listen. The per-
son-Mr. Jeffrey or some other-was
coming my way, and in perfect dark
ness. | could hear the faltering steps
the fingers dragging along the walls;
then rustic MS of skirts, proving the
intruder to be woman-a fact which
greatly surprised me-then a long
drawn sigh or gasp.
"This last determined me. The stu
alton was too intense for me to leave
without first learning who the woman
was who in terror and shrinking dared
to drag her half resisting feet through
these empty halls and into place
cursed with such unwholesome mem
cries did not think of Veronica. No
one looks for butterfly In the depths
of q dungeon. But did think of Miss
Tuttle-that woman of resoute will
Without attempting to imagine the
reason for her presence, stood my
ground and hardened till the heavy
mahogany door at the other end OF
the room began to swing In by Jerks
under the faint and tremulous push OF
a terrified hand. Then there came
sllence-a long silence-followed by {
moan so agonized that | realized tina
whatever was the cause of this painting
woman's presence here, 1t was due e
no mere errand of curiosity. This
whetted my purpose. Anything don'
in this house was in way done to me
so remained quiet and watched. But
the sounds which now and then came
: from the remote corner upon which
my attention was concentrated were
very eloquent,
II heard signs and bitter groans, witt
now and then murmured prayer
broken by low walllng, In which
caught the name of Francis. And still
possibly on account of the utterance Of
this name, | thought the woman neal
me to be Miss futile, and even wen
so far as to imagine the cause OF he
, suffering If not the nature Of her re
tribution. Words succeeded cries ant
l caught phrases eXpress) e OF fea
! and some sort Of agonized hesitation
: Once these broken CALCULATIONS wer
t interrupted by dull SQUAD. Some
! thing had dropped TO the bare floor
9 We shall never know what It was, bu
( have no doubt that II was the pisto
and that the marks of dust to be foun'
I on the connecting ribbon were mad
e by her own fingers in taking IL again 4
|. her hand, you will remember tina