The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-04
CHAPTER III.
DIG secret AID the Towe.


first, though there were days when the
mistress Of Luck House seemed 10 disap
pear into Il vault-like silence broken at
night by those strange cries that had first
sent the girls blood to her brain with
horror. She had asked Keziah about
them, only TO be told with curt white
lips that she must have been dreaming.
and that no one else ever complained OF
hearing noises.
The only ray of light that penetrated
the gloom that hung over Luck House
was the presence Of Sir Douglas. and,
though Rosemary saw very little OF him,
II made her glad 10 hear him whistling
TO his fox terrier. Chips. or 10 hear his
finn crisp step beneath the windows OF
Lady Mallaby's boudoir, where she would
sit and read to the old lady. one day.
however, she was going downstairs TO
perform her usual task when she was
met by keziah who told her that Lady
Mallaby would not require her that day
as she was staying in bed knowing that
the old servant objected 10 being cues
toned. Rosemary did not detain her. but
| when keziah had disappeared downstairs
| she determined TO seek out Lady Mallaby
and ask 70 be allowed TO nurse her, as
| she had had some little experience when
nursing her father in his last illness. sud
/ denly she remembered that she had never
| been TO Lady Mallaby's bedroom. and had
/ no idea IN what part of the house il was,
! though II must be IN che OF the front
/ rooms But the rooms on the first floor
/ were empty, and. after a fruitless search
/ IN others. Rosemary gave il up. as she
/ was afraid to ring the bell for KeZiah.
/ As She went upstairs to put on her hat
! and coat 20 80 out To- a walk she came
/ face 10 face with a girl Of about fifteen.
| VINO was buslly engaged washing the stair
/ case down, for Luck House boasted no
/ carpets on the third floor stairs.
Are Won 2 new housemaid?' Rosemary
/ said smiiingly
NO, miss; I'm staying ere with Aunt
/ keziah. the girl murmured. blushing
/ with the effort of speaking 10 a real
| lady.
/ WelF' Rosemary said. 81 wonder can
/ you tell me in which part or the house
1 Lady Mailaby's bedroom is. I can't find
/ it anywhere"
Her leddyship's bedroom The girls
/ eyes expanded with an expression Of ter
/ ror. NO, miss - leastways Il dent
/ know she siammered, growing crimson
with confusion.
/ ! see Rosemary said with a smile.
| and as she passed on TO her room she
wondered what II was that had made the
/ girl so frightened 10 speak
4 am certain she did know" she muir
/ nured but If Keziah has forbidden her
1 70 speak 90 any one Ii IS not fair 70 the
! girl 10 get her into trouble. But I should
/ dearly love 20 find some one TO talk 10 80
i she went on. Il don't feel as thought 7
/ were companion 10 LADY MaIlaby. But
( this life Is better than walking about
/ London looking for work. or perhaps
/ meeting that awful man Who made me 20
+ through that dreadful mockery Of mar
/ riage"
/ As The thought passed through her mind
/ the shiyere8. II was quite a long while
/ since she had let the memory of that
/ hideous ceremony disturb her. but some
/ how to-day she was ke6uly conscious OF a
/ renewal Of the first horror that had
gripped her.
/ She shook it of impatiently "Oh. 7
/ must 70 out for a walk: I am growing
I nervous and stupid. I have nothing 10 do
I with Rosemary Fenchester; my name is
/ Rose French"
/ A few minutes later she was strollinc
/ about the grounds of Luck House. finding
/ herself in queer out-0f-the-Way paths
/ that reminded her Of the maze at Hamp-
1 ton Court Presently she came to a little
gate. almost hidden beneath the ivy and
/ creepers that hung down on either side OF
/ the weather-beaten post that supported
! IT, Rosemary glanced curiOusly at it for
| a moment and was about 20 turn back
! when she caught sight of a paddock that
/ had evidently not been fastened, for II
/ gaped wide, and the little gate swung
! loosely on its hinges
There must he something very pre-
! Cious hidden in this part of the grounds
! for lock to be on the gate" she muir
/ INJURED. IF ] venture a little farther [
! may find myself in an enchanted castle"
She pushed open the gate and was soon
/ inside. gazing about with eager interest
! At first she saw nothing but a high kind
| Of box hedge on either side of her. the
! only sign that there had been some one
! before her that day being the footprints
! OF boot which she judged, from the
! size 10 be a mans.
Presently she uttered an exclamation Of
| surprise. A sudden turning in the even,
| winding path had brought her almost up
! to quaint-looking tower that must have
/ been used years ago as a watch tower.
| but which now looked like some buried.
! ivy-clad monster Of architecture.
! How delightfully."- quaint she MUIR
/ INJURED. It's like Il fairy palace. I won
| der who uses it, for there is a tiny wreath
Of smoke coming out OF the chimney
above the trees
Suddenly she heard the sharp bark Of
| a dog. and recognized il as that of Chips.
| She colored hOtly at the idea that she
would soon come face TO face with Sir
/ Douglas, who perhaps would resent her
| having intruded upon his sanctgm.
[ ~ 4
a thick clump of underground. and wait-
/ ed with beating heart for the sound of
! the footsteps she knew by instinct. From
! her hiding place she could see without
! being seen. and presently she caught
! sight Of sir Douglas tan figure coming
! toward the tower, his face grave and
anxious. He stood for a moment outside.
/ then gave a low. peculiar whistle and 20
/ her surprise Rosemary saw a door open
/ in the tower and a man beckon 10 him.
! ''As soon as the door closes ] shall run
as quickly as I can, she murmured. II
hope Chips will so in, too; he is sure to
bark If he sees me-"
As she gazed through the branches
| with anxious eye she gave sudden start
of amazement and fear for there broke
out suddenly upon the stiffness the
/ strange cry that had twice disturbed her
at night in Luck House There was no
installing the sound 1t was peculiarly
! low, moaning one, sharp and shrill to-
ward the finish. as though the person.
whether human or beast, were some one
trying 10 get away from some restraint.
As she listened 70 IL Rosemary felt her
nervs tingling with oppressed excite
meni. Who or what was it that disturbed
the gloom of Luck House with such
awful cries? AS she listened to the rep
! tition of the cry Rosemary covered her