Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1912-06-21

merize me? Why do you force me to
come to you"
'You have impaired a very CHASTITY
secret to me-" rejoined. 81 have
not yet decided what shall do about
it."
The appearance OF Mr.. Perowne put
stop to our conversation. Miss En-
derby ran forward to meet him. She
looked quite composed, and spoke
lightly to him. Il am coming 70
breakfast with you. grandfather" she
said. He nodded pleasantly and we
three returned to the house. From
that moment Miss Enderby avoided
me. As far as l could tell, her eyes
never met mine. That night, too, I
had no strange desires to rise from
my bed. Miss Enderby did not In
trude on the hours devoted to slRm-
Der. The story she told me, however,
still troubled my mind. I felt puzzled
how to act. It was either true, and
the woman was a murderer, or she
was mad. True or false, the matter
had lain In oblivion for Is years, and
/ did not feel disposed to cast a
shadow over the Christmas festivities
| by taking any steps in q most I'M
pleasant business. During the week
which supervened between Christmas
day and New Years day Miss Ender-
by was in and out of the house con-
tinually. / began to notice subtle
change In Constance; she did not look
well, once or twice thought heard
her sigh, and the bright, laughing
light Of her eyes was subdued. On
New Years night there was to be
grand ball, to which the county was
invited. The evening before got a
chance to speak with Constance
alone.
"You are sad about something;
what is the matter?" / asked her.
Her face clouded over. Il am I'M
happy because am disobeying moth
er." was her reply. Louisa has mes
merized me again. She asks me about
you, and-but there she is coming
Please do. not tell her said any
thing"
She fitted away and turn ed in an
other direction. Next day we dined
early. and went up to my room after
dinner to rest for short time before
the festivities Of the evening began.
was seated by the fire reading, when
a light tap sounded on one of the
doors of my room. Before had even
time to say "Come in" the door
opened, and the slight form of Con-
stance Perowne stood on the threhold.
She was in her ball dress, and looked
at me vaguely; there was a peculiar
expression in her eyes. 1t needed but
a glance to show me that the girl
was in state of trance or mesmeric
sleep. / went up and spoke to her.
what is the matter?" / asked.
What do you want?"
There is a box Of old silver in a
safe at the back OF one of the panels"
she replied. II have come to fetch
it; grandfather wants it."
She looked past me, answering my
questions, but not apparently seeing
me. Now, in my examinations of this
curious chamber had carefully in
vestigated the contents of every panel
except one; that one, to all appear
ance, had no spring, and l had not
been. able to open it. To this panel
Constance made her way. Without
hesitation she pressed her finger
against an ornamental trail of ivy
which had been painted on the wood
work, and the panel revolved back
revealing inside long and narrow
safe made Of solid iron. The safe
was about three to four feet deep.
i Constance went in, and began to pull
forward heavy iron box which stood
on a shelf.
i 1T is too heavy" she painted, turn
ing to me.
''Let me help you," said.
Just as If she were in en- ordinary
state, she stepped out of the safe, and
went in. She stood on the threshold.
the box, and as I was In the act of
so doing, suddenly found myself in
complete darkness. The spring door
of the panel had come to; was shut
| up in a living tomb
The place was not only dark and
narrow, but also, / was quite certain,
almost sound proof. 1t was a safe
built of solid iron, and doubtless her.
medically sealed. | guessed quickly
what had happened. Miss Enderby
had planned this terrible catastrophe;
she had made Constance her tool, and
had sent her to entrap me in the iron
/ chest. / knew that unless could
| find a prompt mode of exit my hours
were numbered; nay, more, that l had
but a few minutes to live. l would
swiftly absorb the air in this mar
row chamber, and in very short
time die of asphyxia. I felt in my
pocket, took out a silver case which
contained matches, and struck one.
Already the confined space of my
cell was taking effect upon me; there
was a buzzing in my ears, my heart
throbbed wildly, and | painted as one
does in the throes of suffocation.
CHANGING dizzily around saw just
over my head and behind the iron
box what looked like bolt. / tapped
l <T,o xx,o11 ~ %hfo sounded hnl.