Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-12

ielI u EOiBe u Try uSSl'dSstuS 1
myself Tomorrow Tw going 70 see /
your brother. It's regular. you know. (
I'm going 10 tell the head OF your
clan that you are coming over to |
Shaw. heart ana hand
OH she exclaimed ''You-you- .
no. no. You must DOT do THAR
But my dear. you are going TO
marry me"
"Yes-I-suppose So" she uurmured
heipIessly. That isn't what ! meant.
| mean it isn't necessary TO ask Cecil
Ask me: III consent for him
Half an hour passed Then be went
TO the window and looked out into the
storm
You must lie down and get some
sleep" be insisted. coming back to her
The storms letting up. but we can't
leave here for quite while I'll sit up
and watch. I'm too happy to sleep"
She protested. but her heavy eyes were
his allies. Soon he sat alone before the
fire: she slept sound on the broad
couch in the corner. a steamer rug
across her knees. A contented smile
curved his lips as be EaZed rehectively
into the flames. He was not thinking
Of Mrs. Renwood's amiable ghost
How long she had been asleep Pene-
Iope did not know She awoke with a
start. her flesh creeping. nameless
dread came over her: she felt that she
was utterly alone and surrounded by
horrors. II was a full minute-a sick
ening hour. IL seemed-before she real
tied that she was in the room with the
man she loved. Her frightened eyes
caught sight of him lying back in the
chair before the dying fire in the chin
ney place. The lights were low, the
shadows gaunt and chill
terrified exclamation started TO her
lips. Her ears again caught the sound
of some one moving In the house
some alien visitor. There was no mis-
taking the souDd-the distant sepulch-
raj laugh and the shutting of feet. al
most at the edge of the couch. II
seemed
"Randolphr' she whispered hoarsely.
/ The man in the chair did not move
She threw Off the blanket and came TO
a sitting pasture on the side OF the
/ couch. her fingers clutching the cover
/ ing with tense horror. Again the soft
rumblng laugh and the sound of foot
( steps on the stairway. Like fash she
sped across the room and clutched
4 frantically at Randolph's shoulders.
He awoke with an exclamation. star
Ing bewiGered into the horrihed face
above
"The-the ghost she gasped. her
eyes glued upon the hall door He
Ieaped TO his feet and threw his arms
about her
You've had n bad dream" he said
What beast was To fail asleep.
Lord. you're frightened half out OF
your wits Don't tremble SO. dearest.
There's no ghost Every one knows
"Tisten-liSten" she whispered 70
GethrT they stood mouOn!eSS. almost
breltlIe~> before the fire. the glow
from which threw their shadows across
the room 10 meet the mysterious In
vadcr
Good Lord" re uInttcred, unwilling
TO believe his ears There Is some
one III the house TVe-Tve heard
sounds here before. but not like these"
Distinctly to their startled ears came
the low. suhdued murmur OF a human
voice and then unmiStakable means
from the very depth ~ the earth
from the grave. it seemed
DO you hear" she whispered oh
this dreadful place. Take me away.
Randolph. dear
Don't he afraid" he said. drawing
her close There's nothing super
natural about those sounds They
come from lips as much alive as ours
I'll investigate" He grabbed the heavy
poker from the chimney corner and
started toward the door. She followed
close behind. his assurance restoring
in measure the courage that bad
temporarily deserted her
IN the hallway they paused to look
out over the broad porch. The storm
had died away. signing its own re
QUEEN in the misty treetops Dawn
was not far away. a thick fog was
rising to meet the first glance OF day.
In surprise Shaw looked at his watch.
her face at his shoulder. 1t was after
o'clock
Ghosts turn in at midnight dear
ne said. with a cheerful smile They
don't keep such hours as these
But who can il be- There are no
tramps i'll the mountains. she pro
tested. CHANGING over her shoulder ap
prehensively.
Listen! By Jove. that voice came
from the cellar"
And the lock is broken" she ex.
claimed But how silly or me