Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-06-24

great things Of you over here, Edgar.
We hear that yQY have been on the
point Of proving most unpleasant
things With regard to our origin"
oh! there is no doubt about that"
the professor observed, Where we
came from and where we are going to
are questions which no longer afford
room for the slightest doubt to the
really scientific mind. What sometimes
does elude us is the nature of our
tendencies while we are here on earth.
There was a brief silence. The port
had been placed upon the table and cot
fee served. The servants, according
to the custom of the house, had de-
parted. The great apartment was
empty. Even Quyyt Vas Impressed
BY some peculiar Significance IN the
ong-drawn-out silence. He looked
around him uneasily. The growing re-
gard of that long line of painted war
,ors seemed somehow to be full OF
men. ace There was something grim,
too IN. the sight OF those empty suits
of armoT.
II NAV be IN, -erstitious," Lord Ash
leigh said, "but the, are times, espe s
cially just lately, when seem - ~ Inv
a new and hateful quality IA. Sie s,,. :
WIZ is it, wonder? ask you, "
think I .now. 1t is the conviction tfas
there fs ee,'ne alien presence, somes
thing distufbleg, lurking close at
hand" ~S
He suddenly rose tons feet. pushed
his chair back and walked 20 the vim
dow, which opened level TitS the
ground. He threw it UP and usteAed'
The others game over and joined hips
There was nothing to be heard bat the
distant hooting of an owl. and farther
away the barking Of some farmhouse
dog. Lord Ashleigh stood there WITH
straining eyes, gazing out across the
park.
There was something here" he
muttered; something whichshas gone.
What's that? Quest, your eyes are
younger than mine. Can youtsee any
thing underneath that tree?"
Quest peered out into the graytdark.
ness.
Il fancied I saw something moving
I'm the shadow of that oak" he mat
tered. Wait"
He crossed the terrace, swung down
on to the path, across the lawn, over
a wire fence and into the park itself.
IN, fha time ha lrant bic avac 6yad an
IA certain spot. When at last he
reached the tree there was nothing
there. He looked all around him. He
stood and listened for several mo.
ments.. A more utterly peaceful night
or more utter peace 1t would be hard
to- imagine. Slowly he made his way
back to the house
IT imagine we are all little nervy
tonight" he remarked. There's moth
ing doing out there"
They strolled about for hour or
more, looking into different rooms,
showing their guest the finest pictures,
even taking him down into the wonder
full cellars. They parted early. but
Quest stood, for few moments before
retiring, gazing about him with an air
almost Of awe, His great room. as
large as an Italian palace, was lit by
dozen wax candles in silver CANDLE
sticks. His fuur-poster was supported
by pillars of black oak. carved into
strange forms, and surmounted by the
Ashleigh coronet and coat-of-arms. He
threw his windows open wide and
stood for a moment looking out across
the park, more clearly visible now by
the light of the slowly rising moon.
There was scarcely breeze stirring,
scarcely sound even from the animal
world. Nevertheless, Quest. too. as re-
luctantly he made his preparations for
retiring for the night, was conscious
Of that Quer sensation of unimagined
and impalpable danger.
(TO BE CoNTINUED)