Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1906-09-19

Ad1luS IudL uelu IL were ISarlulIy
cut and bruised.
In one moment I had leaped over
the wall and stood by her side.
Are you hurt?" I cried.
I shall never forget the look she
turned upon me; it was one of the
most intense terror.
How did you come here?" she
asked. "Who are your"
1 neve in my life saw anything
like the wild fright in her eyes; her
face was white and quivering.
Il am your next-door neighbour"
I replied quickly; from my garden
I saw the accident which happened,
and came to help you"
Il am not hurt" she said family.
"You must be-" was my reply,
pointing to a large crimson stain on
her dress; ''see how your hand is
cut. You look faint; sit here and
rest, while I tell your servant"
NO." she gasped, rather than
spoke, while her feeble fingers
clutched my arm, mo, no; do not
enter the house"
I bowed, and was turning away
when she said, gently:
you are very kind, and l thank
you very much indeed. Pray do not
think me rude or ungrateful."
1T would be impossible to mag
inc vol either" I replied. Let me
at least bind up your hand.
l saw her give one quick, eager
glance at the windows of the house,
then with the trusting simplicity of
a little child she laid that little white
hand in mine.
Nothing ever took me so long as
that act of kindness did. 1t was
like the realization of a bright
dream to see that fair, sad face-to
look into the sweet, shy eyes. I was
obliged to finish at last, and then
she gave me a grateful, gentle
smile.
DO not thank me-" I cried, see
ing she was about to speak. will
you grant me one favor? Will you
allow me to call and see how your
hand is tomorrow or in a few days
time?"
pray do not ask me-" she said,
in such evident terror 1 could not
persist in the demand.
Seeing my presence really dis
tressed her, I went away, bearing
with me a passionate love of the fair,
sad face, haunted by the musical
tone of that sweet voice.
Yet afterwards, in thinking over
the interview, I was more at a loss
than ever. What was the mystery?
Why did she look so frightened?
Why did she evidently dread lest
I should enter the house? What
was concealed Or going on there?
My dear mother was moved to
compassion when 1 related the in
cident.
Il shall certainly go in and see
her. she said. Poor young lady.
I cannot help thinking she suffers
from a nervous disease"
That evening when I returned
home, she, my mother, had a strange
tale to tell me. She looked pale and
scared.
Paul." she said, when we were
seated alone in the drawing-room.
L have had a great fright to-day.
l have been to see our next-door
neighbour"
Before 1 had time to reply she
continued: Yes, l have been to see
her; but l shall never go again.
There is something either very
mysterious Or very wrong going on
there. The old servant seemed terri
fed when she met me. l asked to
see her mistress. At first she said
the young lady was engaged; then
she said her mistress was not at
home, What alarmed me so much
was that as I turned to leave the
room, [ heard a noise.
Il cannot describe it," continued
my mother, shuddering, and turning
quite pale; sit was unlike anything
human-unlike anything l have ever
"ooI a. L SIoou Slill, DdT1l-
yzed by the awful sound, l distinctly
saw the young lady herself cross the
landing above the stairs"
1T seems very strange" I replied.
musingly.
She was evidently in the house
the whole of the time" resumed my
mother What can be the reason
of her mysterious seclusion? What
could be the cause of that fearful
sound?"
Even as we sat, trying to solve
the mystery of Mona House, there
came a violent ringing at the hall
door.
Who can be there?" said my
mother. 1T is eleven O'clock"
Before I had time to reply the old
servant from the next house hastily
entered the room, and went straight
up to my mother.
will you come in to see nv mis-
tress now, directly?" she said. He
is dying at last, and she is all alone
Who is dying?" asked my be-
wildered mother; but the woman had
gone out again, and we followed.
In silence we entered Mona House
and followed her IN tho h-ooI c+,;,