Middletown transcript., 1905-03-04

uHRFhCiOuS NOtCC. LIN o'S =
call ?''
Her candle fickered upon us, and |
saw Lady Verriker's face. Her eyes
were dilated, and her lips were white.
She pressed my arm closely, almost warn
ingly, thought
"It-it is nothing! 7 had one Of my
bad dreams, and-and screamed in my
sleep. 1t startled Miss Fothergill. She
had never heard me before T.
Anne muttered something nnler her
breath.
II thought some one mnst be i'll" she
said aloud, sulkily. "You'd best 60
back, my lady, or you'll be having cold
as we'll as bad dreams"
The woman's insolence irritated me,
and was on the point OF making cut
ting reioinder when an extraordinary
thing happened. A sound like long,
low, vet curiously distinct whistle seemed
to come down the corridor. Lady Nerri-
ker and | grasped each other in teraor,
and Anne dropped her candlestick with
a sudden gasp, leaving US in darkness.
In all nv life never heard such strange
uncanny sound. 1t was impossible to
say whence it came, and yet it surrounded
as. It ceased as suddenly as it began,
and the silence seemed awful in its in
tensity.
"Wbat was it-what was it?' asked,
while Lady Verriker clung to me in silent
terror.
Anne evidently recovered herself with
some difficulty, for she picked up the
fallen candlestick and relighted the can
die before she answered.
"Its what's called the Verriker warn
ing, MISS" she answered; and Lady
Verriker moaned in assent. "No one
knows rightly what it is but it's warn-
ing-I know that |! And woe betide us
ii we don't heed it r.
I saw her eyes gleam in the feeble
light. There was a curiously exultant
light on her stern face as she turned to
her mistress.
you'd best get back to bed, m'lady.
You'll only catch cold, and you've nc
dressing-gown on. You're all right now
Miss Fothergil. You won't hear the
warning again, and her ladyship won't
dream any more"
Lady Verriker." I exclaimed, "are
you sure that it was only dream? Fol
indeed saw man try to open my
window"
Il Anne laughed shortly.
"And did you see his wings too, miss?'
! she asked scoffingly. For no morta
man could get up to your windows ant
stand there without them. ] expec
you've been dreaming too !"
Il am speaking to Lady Verriker,
l said haughtily.
! "But-but indeed I think Anne i
: right" her mistress said feebly. "Yol
have been misled by a shadow or-o
something. | think that we had bette
60 back to bed. You-you see we reall.
y could not search the house. There ar
50 many rooms, and we-we-"
"You lock your door, miss, and thel
you'll be all right" Anne broke in
y "Come, m'lady-I'll see you comfortable
J before l 60. Shall 60 with you to you
= room, miss ?"
But turned and walked away withou
y another word. OF one thing was quit
determined-not another night would
stay in that house.
1t was nearly morning when | fel
: asleep, and when | woke at my usua
time found that the sun was shininl
: brilliantly into my room, and I coult
= see the waters of the lake dancing ant
ripping as if no cruel tradegy had eve
= ruffied their surface. | sprang out o
. bed and went to the window. There wa
: certainly a very narrow ledge under it
= but it grew broader between each EN-
brasure, and extended, as I recollected
nearly the length of the house. To NJ,
: mind it would be perfectly easy for
z cool-headed person to. walk along til
= entire length.
II dressed leisurely and went down t
= the breakfast-room, where / found Lad,
Verriker waiting for me. Her dull eye
were heavy and had black shadows un
der them, her face was whittier than usua
and her nervous actions were very pro
! nounced. The coldest, most formal Q
e greetings passed between us, and it wa
g not until we were alone that I announces
). my intention OF leaving by the morninl
u train. She stared at me incredulously
u and then leaned back in her chair an,
y put her hands up to her face, beginning
to cry in weak hopeless fashion.
q was an awkward situation. / fdgete'
Q with my plate and wished sincerely tina
g I had never entered the Court.
J I-I am very sorry" l began, whel
e she caught my hand between hers.
q Ethel, don't leave me r. she implore,
e me almost frantically. 'If you do,
shall 60 mad A little more and | shal
: be driven out Of my senses Oh, am
II most miserable woman, and / haven't
y friend in the world | beg you to stay
x Ethel \! ] will do anything that can =
y make you happy if only you will stay
's But shall 60 mad if YOU leave me now
:. You don't know what my life is. Yo
D don't know what have to endure; an
= your presence has been the only brigh
J. spot. Anne shall apologise-''
e II don't care straw about Anne ~
D interrupted vigorously. "But l feel 8
uncomfortable. I must speak plainly
= Lady Verriker, ever if hurt you. Thi
y house is wrapped in mysteries, and
e don't like it. I have never been in sucl
q a strange place before, and hope neye
T shall again r.
She shook her head slightly, and he
Is despairing eyes gazed unseeingly throul
q the window. She looked the embodi