Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-12-10

MT. Lionel Leigh, L am sorry i nave
trusted you. Go to old Miss Pritchard
and tell her what I've confded to you
will you?"
NO" said Lionel slowly-"No, don'i
think that would be honorable, either"
Soon after this the acquaintance sep.
arated for the night.
CHAPTER II.
Lionel's chamber at the BLACK Wolf
was one of the ghostliest and Quaintest in
that quaint and ghostly inn. His one
wax candle burned dimly on the high
mantelshelf. Thrown up in strong relief
among the shadows was a great four-post
hedstead, heavily curtained with red dam
ask just the kind OF curtains for ghost
to draw in the middle of night and wake
one up, with the announcement of some
unsupported, long-forgotten crime.
The rain was pattering against the
window, and every now and then the voice
of the wind was heard, rising like a la
mentation, and dying away in a sigh
Lionel listened to the wind, and then
glanced about into the corners of the
shadowy room. He was not afraid OF
ghosts, but there was an imaginative
power in him, love of the mysterious
and this vein was on him strongly to-
night while he sat in the bed chamber OF
the BLACK Wolf"
Mystery snrouded his birth. Educated
on the Continent, almost entirely, he
came, he was sure. Of English parents
More than that, he was convinced that be
was well if not nobly born; that if he
could succeed in discovering the true
name of his family, he should probably
find himself the heir to wealth and land
and even title. But insuperable diff
Guilty stood between him and this dis.
covery ; nor was he anxious to devote the
precious years of his youth to what
might prove but an unsuccessful search
and would probably end in blank disap-
pointment.
Lionel was only twenty-four His lodg-
ings were at Woodmancote, a rural vii
lage three miles from Abbotshold, since
most of his pupils lived in that immediate
neigh aood. Lately he had been strug-
Cling .-hfully to throw off the subtle and
dangerous fascination which enthralled
him; and, since the first step in this wise
direction is said to be to seek society and
shun seclusion, Lionel no longer spent his
evenings in his study with his reading
lamp, his books, his manuscripts, his pot
of strong coffee, after the fashion of a
would-be wakeful student.
The liveliest place within access of a
friendly youth-without connections OF
introduetions, in that proud and exclusive
little country coterie, where none were
admitted unless they could bring fashion
able recommendations-wa the BLACK
Wolf" So it happened that lately Lionel
had supped at the favorite inn, listened
to, laughter and song, and striven to for
get certain pair of dark eyes which
haunted him continually.
Its no use," he muttered. 81 must
leave this neighborhood. / must 20
abroad"
He passed his hand over his forehead
and then he heard distinctly a cough
there could be no mistake-a cough
which the person seemed to strive to re-
press, but which broke out again more
loudly-a distinct human cough, as of one
hoarse with cold. Lionel stood up and
seized his candle. He held 1t high above
his head, and peered into all the DARK
corners of the low-ceiled room.
Nothing TO be seen. 1t must be fan
cy," he muttered. II might think that
had heard neighbor cough in an adjoin-
ing room, only it is well known the walls
in this old house are of such thickness
that no sound comes from one room TO
another 1t must be fancy
1Ia and rN.,f arf hic rondla
and crept into bed; but his mind was
too active, too busy, too much peopled
with fancies and plants and regrets and
vague, wild hopes. to permit him to sleep,
While he lay thinking, against his will,
of those haunting eyes, he distinctly heard
the cough again.
NO fancy" said he, aloud.
Then he sprang out, and went to the
fire, and contrived TO light his candle
and he walked about, cSrefully searching
He looked under the bed and felt the
walls. At last, while hjs hand was on the
..sll, the cough came 4. third time behind
it. tIe struck the wall. The sound was
hollow.
Hello there Is a cupboard here" said
Lionel.
And so It proved The cupboard door
was papered over with the same red vel
vet paper as the walls. But Lionel found
key, turned it, and ente. ed a large, deer
closet. He fully expected TO encounter q
burglar but the place was empty. Hs
lifted the candle, and looked all round
This closet was not used apparentIy. fol
clothes or any other purpose It was ar
empty. dark place. The wells were Gov
cred with a dull yellow paper.
SOMEBODY was here said Lionel
There must be another door. or a stair
case. Or
He began to search. but he found moth
ing. No stairs, no second door. Then h'
came into his room and locked the door o.
the cupbosrd. and put the key in hi:
pocket. lie then went to bed, bewiidereC
and wondering. Soon ne fell asleep. and
did not awaken till daylight looked in Al
his window.
He rose and began 10 dress somewhat
carefully: for. after breakfast, he was Il
proceed at once 10 that house where ths
haunting eyes which had looked at hin
from the embers last night shone ant
softened in the sweet. warm reality o.
life.
The sublime ever touches upon the RI
diculous. Lionel dropped cake OF soap
II fell at some distance. just at the doc'
Of that suspected cupboard. he crosset
the room, STOPPED 20 pick 1t UP. Io. anS
behold the door was ajar. Ii had beer
forced from the inside.
He rushed TO the door OF his room
witch he distinctly remembered locking
and trying the previous night. 1t wa
not only unlocked. but ajar. Somebody
then, had succeeded In escaping WAS b.