Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-18
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stopped, as I was rather tired. And then took
or the ring he gave me, and thought that he
had broken all his promises and cast me off on
the very day fixed for wedding, / would cast
off his ring; and at last made up my mind, and
l threw it into the well. And presently 1 looked
up, and there, the other side of the well, was
she hesitated again, and clung closer to her
t9ther-"don't laugh, papa dear, it really was
Georges ghost"
"Tm not laughing" her father said "Tcll
me how ne looked"
HE was wearing the same dress and the same
grey cloak that he wore the night he left me- lie
looked so sad, as if he had understood all that
l had been thinking. / tried to speak, but in
moment he was gone. And then | screamed and
turned to run away, but 1 suppose 1 fanted.-
1t was not fancy, papa. 1t was Georges ghost.
l could see the stars shining through him."
"Wel, WE'LL" her father said struggling his
shoulders, but still strodng her hair; 1--WE will
see whether you are of the same opinion to NOR
row morning"
Our chat was brought to close by a sound
of many voices stealing family nearer, and their
measured rhythmic cadence would have suggest
ed party of peasants returning home but that
the music had more the air of solemn htany
than of revelry. Daphne, wondering what new
source of surprise terror was in store for her,
clung trembling to her father. The place where
we stood was elevated above the roadway, and
we by and by saw winding along its
procession Of cowled and corded monks, march
ing two and two in solemn order, chanting
mournful refrain.
Those at the head of the procession were car
rying bier upon which lay something covered
with cassock.
"a strange hour for a burial" said my uncle,
'if burial it be. Or are they carrying to the
town some dead body they have discovered
among the mountains"
As the train came abreast of us, my uncle
stepped forward and lifted his hat to the monks,
who at once stopped both their march and their
requiem.
pardon the curiosity of stranger" he said,
addressing the leading brother: may we ask
the reason of this midnight procession"
| The monk regarded the questioner with look
that seemed to ask what business it of his;
but, verbally courteous, he replied
I'VE mourn one who but few hours ago was
alive. Now-he is no more"
Glow came he by his death?"
"By falling from the cliff which mon
astery is built. An old inhabitant of Rivoi,
but it was but yesterday that the good Father
Ignatius brought him to us, bidding us receive
him as a novice. This evening at vespers he
quilted the convent unknown to He did not
return. At nocturns Brother Francis startled
us by rushing in and saying that he had heard
! groans coming from the foot OF the cliff. We
descended to the spot. This is what we found"
With these words the speaker drew back the
covering from the bier And there, calm and
still in death, with glazed eyes staring up at the
sky, as if in reproach of the cold, silent moon
that had seen him die, was the face of the silver
haired old man, the penitent of Father lgnatius
My sudden exclamation of surprise drew all eyes
upon me.
! "Did you know him, young sir?"
| 81 have seen him in England, and once
here in the cathedral yesterday know nothing
of him. not even his name. Where are you TAX
ing the body?" 1 added after moments IN
terval.
"'To the house of Father Ignatus," replied the
| Iaadino r,onE he TnOtioned the cOrtepe to
ceed.
"stor!" cried my uncle and at his imperative
voice the monks paused.
For some moments he had been closely scruti-
nizing the corpse and now, pointing 10 IL WIN
stern look, he said
"There must be an inquiry the body, for
this man did not die by accident. He was
pushed over the cliff. See! these marks on the
throat were made by strong hand He has been
murdered"
"Nurdered!" repeated forty voices
TIE bier was hastily set down. The bright
torches were lowered to the level of thesdead
mans face and the monks crowded around TO
llook.
The dark purple bruises on the throat, and the
froved condition of the clothing around it, were
nroofs too strong to be confuted, of my uncle's
statement.
The fingers of the dead mans right hand were
tightly clenched. Ny uncle proceeded to -or'e
them open and as he did so there fell to the
ground something Whlcn Wnen plcheu up pioFou
to he grey cloth button adhering to frag'
ment of grey CLOTH and assuredly not belonging
to the garments of the dead man,
"This" said my uncle. "has been torn by the
dead man from the clothes of him who hurled
Linn over. There was evidently a struggle. This
hutton must not be lost 1t may be means OF
tracing the assassin
The sight of the grey cloth button-suggestive
of military cioaE-recalled to my memory the
fure that Daphne had seen at the fountain; and
instantly there darted into my mind terrible
susncion The same had occurred to my uncle
Pending his head over to me, and pointing to
the corpse, he said in whisper: is this
Georges work" 80.
warm breath on my cheek checked the re-
NV was about TO make, / turned. Daphne was
~ NV side. her hands raised her eyes dilated
with horror, and her figure swaying like young
soni;r,g in the breeze. Unperceived by myself
SO bor father she had followed us to the road
bad seen the dead man, the strange evidence,
%oJ caught her fathers whispered words. A
screom such as shall never forget broke from
har and before I could catch her in my arms
, sbe Je had dropped at my feet, white senseless
> heap.
To Re Continued Next Sunday