The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-03-16

gotten Among these was the book
which on that first night of hurried
search had given proofs of being In
some ones hand within very short
period The attention | had given II
at moment of such haste was neces
sarily curSory, and when later sec.
ond opportunity was granted me Of
looking into 1t again | had allowed a
very slight obstacle to deter me. This
was a mistake | was anxious to rectify
Anything which had been touched with
purpose at or near the time of so mys.
FERROUS traGcdy-and the position Of
this book on n shelf so high that
chair was needed to reach 1t proved
that 1t had been sought and touched
with purpose-held out tho promise of
a clew which one on so blind trail ns
myself could not afford to ignore
But when / had taken the book down
and read again its totally unntorestin-
and unsuggcStivc title and 10y another
reference to its dim and faded leaves
found that my memory had not played
me false and that 1t contained nothing
but stupid and wholly irrelevant
statistics. my confidence in it as q
possible aid in the work had in hand
departed just as it had on the previous
occasion I was about to put 1t back
on the shelf, when bethought me
Of running my hand in behind the two
books between which it had stood.
All. that was it. Another book lay
fat against the wall at the back of the
shelf by the removal Of those in front
| was enabled TO draw this book out,
| soon saw why 1t had been releGatcd
to such remote place of ConCcalmcnt
on the shelves Of the Moore library.
1t was a collection of obscure memoirs
written by an Engishwoman. but an
Englishwoman who had been in Amer
lea during the early part of the century
and who had been brought more or less
into contact with the mysteries con.
nected with the Moore house In Wash.
ington. Several passages were marked.
one particularly, by n heavy pencil line
running the length Of the margin. AS
| the name of Moore was freely scatter.
ed through these passages as we'll as
| through two or three faded newspaper
clippings which | discovered pasted on
the inside cover, | lost no time in set.
| ting about their perusnl.
The following extracts are from the
book itself, taken in the order in which
I found them marked:
at was about this time that spent
q week in the Moore house. that grand
anil historic structure concerning which
and its occupants so many curious ru.
mOrs are ailOat. knew nothing then
of its discreditable fame, but from the
first moment of my entrance into its
ample and well lighted halls | expert
enced sensation which | will not call
dread, but which certainly was far
from being the impulse of pure delight
which the graciousness of my hostess
and the imposing character Of the place
itself were calculated to produce. This
emotion was but transitory, vanishing
as was natural In the excitement of my
welcome and the extraordinary interest
I took in Callista Moore. who in those
days was most fascinating little
body. Small to the point Of appearing
diminutive and lacking all assertion IL
manner and bearing. she was never
theless such lady that she easily dom
mated all who approached her and pro
duced. quite against her will. am sure
an impression Of aloOfness, seasoned
with kindness. which made her a mos
surprising and entertaining study to thu
analytic observer, Her position a.
nominal mistress of an establishment
already accounted one Of the finest II
Washington-the real owner. Reubel
Moore, preferrlng to live abroad will
his French wlfe-gave TO her least nc
ton an Importance which her shy 1
not appealing looks, and certain
strained expression most difficult L
characterize, vainly attempted to con
tradict. | could not understand he
and soon gave up the attempt, but m!
admiration held firm, and by the tim
the evening was half over I was he
obedient slave. | think from what
know of her now that she would hav,
preferred to be mine.
II was put to sleep In a great cham
Der which I afterwurd heard calle'
The Colonel's Own 1t was yer!
grand and had a great bed IN 1t almos
royal in its size and splendor, l be
lleve that | shrank quite unaccount
ably from this imposing piece OF furni
ture when first looked at It, 1t seemed
30 big and So out of proportion to IN.
slim little body. But, admonlshed b,
the look which l surprised on Mistres
Calllsta's high bred face, quickly re
called an expression so unsuted to IN.
position as guest and, with gush o
well simulated rapture, began to OK
/ patiate upon the interesting character
istics OF the room and express mysel
, as delighted at the prospect of sleepin
there.
, "Instantly the nervous look left heI
| and, with the quiet remark. 1T was m
! fathers ROOM she set down tn
. candles with which both her hand
We're burdenrd and gave me kiss s
warm and surcharged with feeling tina
| II sufficed to keep me happy and con
} Portable for half hour or more nfte
| she passed ont,
! II had thought myself very sleep
A ! girl but when after II SOmpWlg