Evening star., 1917-08-19

all light up to now, It was at this point
she was to light her candle and place it
on the floor, that in returning she
should not miss the staircase and get
fall.
She was now in great room. but she
was warned to be careful in traversing
1T and not upon any pretext to swerve
aside from the right-hand wall till she
came to a huge mantelpiece. This pass
ed and a sharp corner turned. she
ought to see somewhere in the dim
spaces before her streak of vivid light
shining through the crack at the bot
tom of the b1ocked-up door. The paper
should be somewhere near this streak.
All simple. all easy of accomplish
ment. If only that streak OF light were
all she was likely to see or think OF.
air was no longer blank-she could see.
Then suddenly she saw why. In the
wall high up on her right was win
dow. 1t was small and all but invisible.
and on the inside with the cobwebs of a
century. But some small CLEANS from
the starlight night came through. max
ing phantasms out of ordinary things.
which unseen were horrible enough
and half seen choked her heart with
terror.
Il cannot bear it, she whispered to
herself even while creeping forward,
her hand upon the wall II viii close
my eyes" was her next thought. 1
will make my own darkness, and with
a spasmodic forcing of her lids to-
gether, she continued to creep on, pass
ing tho mantelpiece, where she Knocked
against something which fell with an
awful clatter.
This sound. followed it was by
that of smothered voices from the ex-
cited group awaiting the result OF her
experiment from behind the impene-
trable wall she should be nearing now
if she had followed her instructions
Alright. freed her instantly from her
fancies: and opening her eyes once
more she cast a look ahead, and to her
delight saw but a few steps away the
thin streak of bright light which mark
ed the end of her journey.
1t took her but a moment after that
to find the missing page, and picking
it up in haste from The dusty floor.
she turned herself quickly about and
joyfully began to retrace her steps.
Why then was it that in the course of
a few minutes more her voice suddenly
broke into wild, unearthly shrek.
which ringing with terror burst the
bounds of that dungeonlike room. and
sank, barbed shaft. into the breasts
of those awaiting the result of her
doubtful adventure.
Florence Digby, in her short and shell
tered life, had possibly never known
any very great or deep emotion. But
she touched the bottom of extreme
terror at that moment, as with her
ears still thrilling with Violet's pierre
ing cry, she turned to look at Mr.. Van
Broecklyn, and beheld the instantane-
Gus wreck it had made Of this seem
ingly strong man.
rs she hurt" faltered Florence
STOPPING, to listen. Can you hear any
thing-anything?
For an instant he did not answer;
every faculty was absorbed in the one
sense; then slowly and in gasps he be-
gan to mutter:
Il Think hear-something. Her
step-no, no. no. step. All is as quiet
as death: not a sound-not a breath
she has tainted. o God, o God! Why
this calamity on top Of ALL
A small far sound began to make
itself heard. growing louder as she
waited, then becoming faint again, then
once more, till 1t resolved into an ap-
preaching step. faltering in its course.
but coming ever nearer and nearer.
-
She's safe. She's not hurt sprang
from F1orence's lips in inexpressible
relief. and expecting Mr.. Van Broeck-
Iyn to show an equal joy. she turned
toward him. with the cheerful cry.
"Now. if she has been so fortunate
as to find that missing page. we shall
all be repaid for our fright"
sorry sight was Violet, when, help
ed by Florence. she finally crawled into
view through the narrow opening and
stood once again on the cellar moor.
dust of years, she presented a helpless
figure enough, till the Joy in Florence's
face recalled some Of her spirit. and,