Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-04-17

themselves admirably.
you've admitted your friendship for
this Virgins person that's enough,
he said when had concluded. Il adj
wise Won to leave the house Ut once.
tell YOU he's got To- hc eliminated from
the situation Understand that do
not threaten Won with violence, but
will not promise to abstain from visit
ing heavy punishment upon that tel-
low. And Won: y chimney doctor? |
am a man of considerable knowledge
of the world. and say t. You very
candidy that don't believe there is
any such profession.
Then let me tell you," replied. not
without heat, that am n graduate il
architecture. am your sisters guest,
and as she is perfectly competent to
manage her own affairs | shall stay
here as long rs it pleaSeS her to ask
me to remain And now, one othrr
matter. How did you gain this roof
tonight. when by your own admission
you are not ON such terms with your
sister as would Justify You in entering
it openly"
The moonlight did not fail to convey
the contempt in his face. but thought
he grinned as he answered quietly:
You don't seem To understand,
young man that You are entitled to 20
explanations from me You strike me
as singulary fresh young person. II
would be Il positive grief to me to feel
that my conduct had diSHleaScd yon.
And now. as the night grows chill, |
shall beg you to precede me into tue
house by the way you came.
But first" persisted, "let me ask i
question. 1t is possible that You yout
self have some preference among your
daughters several Suitors. Mr.. Hollis
ter. Would YOU object to telling me
which one YOU would choose for Miss
Cecilia?"
Beyond question the man for Co
ella. if have any voice in the matter.
is Lord Arrowood."
"Arrowood," | exclaimed You sur
prise me greatly. saw him at the
inn. ana he seemed to me the most in
significant and unintereStiuS one of ,,e
lot"
That proves YOU person of poor
gifts of diSccrnment. Mr.. Ames." And
his tone and manner were quite rem
iniScent of his sisters ways and his
further explanation proved him even
more worthily the brother of his sis
ter.
'AS | was obliged" he began, low
ing to an unfortunate physical hanGi
cap. to abandon my art. that of 4 ma
rine painter. | have given my atten
ton for number of years to the
study of the Irish situation. met
Arrowood by chance in the highway
yesterday. and | found that he holds
exactly my ideas. which favor Irish
independence" This certainly had the
true HOLSTER touch.
And So" Bassford Hollister con
Guided, II naturally incline toward
Arrowood, though he is so poor that
he was obliged to come over in the
steerage to continue his wooing of my
daughter"
He let himself down into The dark
trunk room. waited for me courteously
and walked by my side to the stair
way, both of us maintaining silence.
l was deeply curious to know how he
had entered and whether he expected
to go down the front way and out the
main door. We kept together to the
third floor hall. | could have sworn
to that. Then suddenly, just as we
reached the stairway, out went the
lights, and we were in utter darkness.
l smothered an exclamation, clutcheG
my matches and struck light, and
as the stick famed slowly / looked
about for Bassford HOLSTER. But he
had vanished as suddenly and com
pletely as though a trap had yaWned
beneath us and swallowed him. /
found the third floor switch, and it
responded Immediately, flooding the
stair well to the lower hail. but ! nei-
Their saw nor heard anything more Of
Hollister.
Astounded by this performance. con
tinued on to the lower floor to have &
look around, and there, calmly reading
by the library table. sat Miss Octavia.
Late hours, Mr.. Ames!" she cried
Il supposed you had retired long ago.
Pardon my troubling you, but may
l inquire. Miss Hollister, how long you
have been sitting here"
The clock on the stair began to strike
II, ard she listened composedly to Il
few of the deep toned strokes before
replying,
"Just half an hour thought some
one Knocked ut my door about &n hour
ago, The lights were on and | came
down, saw a magazine that had cs
capped my eye before and here YOU find
me-"
Some one Knocked ut your door"
81 thought SO. You know. the sery-
ants have an idea that the place is
haunted, and | thought that if | sat
here the ghost might take it upon him
self to walk | confess to a slight dis
appointment that it is only you who