The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-01-10
A Story of Mystery.


happened in what has been called
"the world beyond our senses |
had been travelling up country, and
was recruiting after an attack of
fever at the quarters of the son of
an old friend. He was a fine. manly
young fellow, general favorite, and
just engaged to his colonel's daugh-
ter, Miss Cynthia Langley.
You must be beloved OF the gods,
Harold" said, laughing, as we we're
sitting one morning smoking on the
veranda. You seem to have every
thing your own way. Fortune is
showering all her good gifts on you"
''Unberufenl" he cried, gayly
Don't you know it is unwise to re-
mind the gods of their favors lest
they take them away? I'm a deuced
lucky chap, as you say"-by the way
his eyes softened | knew he was
thinking of Miss Langley--"I only
hope it isn't too good to last"
/ was surprised at the touch of
uneasiness in his tone at the last
words, but knew enough of human
nature to understand that fear and
anxiety for the woman he loves may
trouble man without reason, though
he would face real danger to himself
without n qualm.
You are growing superstitious,
said. You have been in India long
enough to have lost some of your
British stolidity and gained little
imagination.
Perhaps. You know a good many
curious things. Have you ever heard
of The Midnight Ax?'" he asked, af-
Ter a moment, abruptly.
NO" said in surprise; "wlfat dt
you mean?"
"They have a superstition in this
part that If you hear the sound o.
strokes in the night, as though some
one were telling trees, it is a warn
ing of coming evil. The natives sa!
that this noise cometh about tn,
time of the first sleep, when all mel
slumber soundly, and the night Il
still Well, woke up suddenly las
highland heard H."
He spoke in Ealf shamefaceC
way, as though he expected to b,
laughed at, but l could see he wa
unpleasantly impressed himself.
"Nonsense!" l said, thinking tn,
sooner he got rid of such fancy tn
better. LAS you know the legend
any noise that disturbed you outsid
in the night would be likely to TAX
the sound of telling trees in you
ears.v
II have never heard it before" h
answered quietly. And then he be
gan at once to speak of other things
He did not refer to the subject a
any future time, and as did not Sc
him look troubled again, but, on tn
contrary. he seemed to be enjoyin
his life to the full, 1 concluded tn
uncomfortable presentiment had no
returned and was forgotten.
1 was convalescent, and thinkin
of starting on the first stage of m
journey home, when a traveller sc
up his camp in our neighborhoot
He appeared to be a person of i'm
portance, as he had quite a larg
retlnue of servants. Some of tn
officers soon made his acquaintance
and we learned that his name wa
Jerome Burton, and that he had bee
living up country, out of reach c
civilization, for some years.
This would explain various pecul
arlties in the appearance and mod
of living which struck one as strang
in a wealthy young Englishman traV
cling for pleasure, as ne gave hlmse
out to be.
There's something funny abol
that chap, Harold" / said, when W
met Mr.. Burton .'ding into I'll
Colonel's compound Oh evening.
can't quite make him out.
rs there?" he answered, careles
ly. II haven't noticed it. You kno,
sir" mischievously, you have bee
Investigating so many queer thinl
all your life that you may be incline
to give little dramatic coloring
quite ordinary people and stu
tions."
/ laughed at the gibe
my habit of looking under h
iurface has saved my life more thu
ouce when have had only myse
tc depend on said. "And in tn
country more than in any other
Eave found 1t true that things a
very seldom what they seem.
course, you will say 1t is my imagin
tion again. but once or twice l ha
fancied that this man Burton and
have met before"
well, l suppose that Is not Il
possible, considering how you ha
roamed the world, and he also seel
a bit of traveller"
Yes, but that is just what puzz
me. l cannot place him; | do
know where he belongs in the pa
Though his face appears familiar
have no idea where l can have sc
him"
I'm previous existence, perhap
Harold said, laughing lightly
mo-" l answered, taking him sc
ously. within the last year, a
In this country. He belongs he
without a doubt, by inclination q
habit, If not by birth, though l shol
be Inclined to say he had some
dian blood in his veins. 1t is !
only his dark complexion - Il
might come from exposure to
sun-but his manner to women 8
various other little things are
tinctly un-English. Haven't you
ticed IT."