Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-11-07
CHAPTER XVII. (continued.)
With great effort of control Marjorie

II NSAA aASstS SAAOtk vi IOuIIOl N1dTJOIlG
began her story.
1t was very late when we got home
last night after the party" she said
II was in curious state of nerves
and excitement. must touch upon a
personal matter-this is no time for
reticence or false shame. had been
with Sir William Gouldesbrough. You
know that we were at one time en-,
gagged this is horribly difficult for
| me to say, Mr.. Megbie."
Go on, Miss Poole. / know, I know.
But what does 1t matter at such time
as this?"
Nothing at all, she answered, in a
resolute voice. II was engaged to Sir
William when found that my affec-
ton was going elsewhere. Gerald,
Mr.. Rathbone !"
You needn't go into the past, Miss
Poole" Donald broke in; ''tell me
about last night"
was with Sir William at supper
time. There was remarkable scene.
It was a sort Of triumph for him, and,
as was with him, every one included
me in it, 1t was, obviously, general
ly assumed that we had become en-
gagged once more. On the way home
Sir William again asked me to be his
wife. told him that / could not give
him an answer then. said that I
would tell him tonight. He is coming
to Curzon street tonight.
I beg you, implore you, to waltz"
Megbie's words were so grave, he
seemed SO terribly in earnest, that the
girl shrank from them as one would
shrink from blows.
The same thought began to Turk in
the eyes of the woman and the man
the same incredible. and yet frightful
thought.
Marjorie's cheeks were almost gray
in. color. To Megbie, as he watched
her, she seemed to have grown older
suddenly. The lustar seemed to have
gone out of her hair.
reached home" she5 said. Moth
er madeline take a cup of beef tea,
and went to my room. I was prepar-
ing for bed-indeed, / was brushing
my hair before the mirror-when a
curious sense Of disturbance and al
most of fear came over me. felt as
iif there was another presence in the.
room. Now. my looking glass is a
very large one indeed it commands
the whole of the room. The whole of
the room iss reflected in it without
any part left out, except, of course,
those parts which i could see where
4 sat When this strange feeling Of
another presence came over me- 1
thought 1t was merely reaction after
terribly exciting night. looked into
the glass and saw that the room was
absolutely empty. Still the sensation
grew. 1t became SO strong ait last
that, turned round, and there, Mr..
sMeghie-I tell you iii the utmost be-
3wilderment, but with extreme certain
ty--there, though the mirror showed
nothing. at all, a figure was standing,
the figure Of q man. It was not three
feet away,
Megbie broke in upon her narrative.
THE figure" he said, in hushed
voice, swas the figure of Mr.. Eustace
sCharliewood, who shot himself at
Brighton some little time ago!i''
She cried out aloud. Yes; but how
did YOU know ~
He came to me also last night. He
came to me out of the other world
which Is all round us, but which we
cannot see. He was trying to tell me
something about Gerald Rathbone.,
Margorie Pool began to sob quietly.
knew It, !" she answered. Mr..
sCharli ewood Ia another state sees
NOR an we IF Fl Aslssia MS where
Gerald is. oh. my love, my loye!" 2s
Megbte went up to her. He had
suIlie sal volatile In his dressing case,
md he made her Ii. Il e. s;z
brave. =, sal ssYYo,i have
more to III me yet, as ! have more
to tell you. Gerald is alive We are
certain cs that But he Is In some
ones power. The spirit OF this man
Eustaca Charliewood knows where he
ID. He Is trying to tell US. He Is try
Ing to make amends for something.
He must have had something to do
with Gerald's disappearance
:
q Mr.. a6rliAwooddd '.5S 11ar1orie said, In
i whisper, twas lillian Gouldes-
brought g ssriena. He was al
ways about the .souse. ~
When Gerald Rathbone disappea
ed Eustace Charlie yyo od Killed him
self, ss
Sir William was 1t BRIGHTON al tha
time. He was trying 70 help me and
my mother to find Gerald. z
ON with your story II You can.
5AIegbie said, One more effort!
81 knew that the figure was trying
10 tell me- about Gerald. Something
told me that with absolute certainty.
But ii couldn' tell me. II began to
weep and wiring It's hands. oh. Il was
sisitiful! Then sudd denly II seemed TO
realize that 1t was no use. II stood
upright and rigid, aid fixed its eyes
upon me Afegbte such nournful
eyes eyes 30 full 81 sorrow and terri
sbIs remorse we're never a q human
face. As those eyes stared down ct
me d deep owsine ss began to creep
G; over me. Sleep came flooding over
ME, Nth ! force and power such as /
~ .F ~ ~ M WI before It was im-