The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-01

ordered the picture removed. Then sh.
opened the ball with such grace THAI
she charmed all who behold her. After
about an hour size whispered to the
prldcgrootn, WHO extricated himself
from the dancers and vanished from ths
scene. Wv
Tho instruments were playing thei.
loudest strains. Tho dancers were ir
the height of their Northumberland
through tho castle rang cry SO fear.
i and dance.
All stood motionlcss, but when ths
dreadful cry rang out again Colonel
/ Ashton snatched n torch from thu wa1i
ana, followed by few other near rela.
uycs. rushed to tho bridal chamber.
When he tried to open the door hs
round opposition from something that
lay against 1t. He forced 1t open, and
found the body Of tho bridegroom WING
there. flooded with blood. In tho
chimncyplace crouchcd Lucy-hcr head.
gear disheveled. her clothes torn and
dabbled with blood. and her eyes
glazed. She gibbered. made mouths
and pointed, with bloody fingers In
maniac extiltation. AS they bore her
from the chqmbcr she looked down Ia
tho spot whence Bucklaw had been re-
moved and said. Erinning horribly:
so you have ta'cn up your bonny
bridegroom"
The terrified guests fled from tho
castle. leaving only small party OF
bucklaw's friends. who stayed to watch
over Nun. The surgeons found that
he had been stabbed dangerously, but
not fatally. and. In fact, no recovered
IN time. But neither then nor ever In
the future would lie SO much as hint
at the dark happening OF his wedding
night. He soon shut off all inquiry
| by announcing that he had neither n
story TO tell nor an Injury to avenge,
and that he should consider any uues-
ton on the subject as equivalent 10
an Invitation to duel
However. his story was not needed to
throw light on the tragedy. 1t was
only too eviden. that tho bride had lain
IN walt for the man who had been
forced on her and had stabbed him with
her brothers poniard. which she had
contrived TO secrete. She never re-
covered her reason, but died within
two days.
The day after her funeral Colonel
Ashton rode before sunrise to the
seashorc OF VOLTS Cras and looked
eagerly and iInpatiently toward that
tower. Presently he saw horscman
riding fast toward him. 1T was the
Master OF Rayenswood. bound for /.
meeting that he had prun..a
brother.
from the eastern battlements OF the
tower old Caleb watched his master.
"a he saw him ride. urging his horse to
the utmost, along the strip of beach
that lay at tho foot of the great crags
"a strip OF beach narrower than usual,
for an easterly gale had driven the adj
vancinE tide almost to the cliffs.
Caleb saw him spur along the sands.
and all at once the prophecy rushed on
his mind that tho last Lord OF Ravens
wood should perish on the Kelpies
flow, the deadly qulcksands that lay
half way between the tower and the
place where Colonel Ashton, frantic for
revenge. was waiting.
The two men watched the rider with
equal intensity from their different
stations. They saw him reach the IA
tai spot; but they never saw him pass
II. To Ashton 1t seemed as IL the rider
had suddenly dissolved into nothing
before his eyes.
Colonel Ashton galioped to the place
and there met Caleb, who had ridden
down from tho tower. No trace of
horse or rider could be discerned All
that could be seen was that the bounds
OF the quicksand had been greatly ex-
tended. and that the Master of Ravens
wood had ridden headlong into It.
Only one vestge Of his fate appeared
a large sable feather from his hat,
which the tide carried to Caleb's feet.