The Washington times., 1918-07-23
The Wolves of New York
A STORY OF LOVE AND MYSTERY
Harold Used To Be Away a Good
Deal and When He Returned He
Was Horrible to See.

cried, I'VE shall be at liberty to
talk I've been in such a state OF
Impotence that l could hardly. con-
troll myself. You must forgive me,
Lillian. II l am nervous and ex-
citable-not quite myself Such
strange things are happening in
this house. God knows Pm not
superstitious- never believed
there were any ghosts even at Ad-
derley-I don't believe there is any
thing Of the sort new-but all the
same I can find no explanation for
what is taking place.
Esther Pleads Forgiveness
There was never anything about
this house to brighten peopIe-it
hasn't even got a haunted room
yet the servants are leaving be-
cause they declare there is some
thing wrong. Some OF them say
Mrs. Borradale is 'walking'-that
is their expression. Oh, Lillian. DO
you think you can help me?
know it is not kind OF me TO bring
you to such a place; but have so
much confidence in you, and you
know so much about me and my
wretched affairs-I really could
not help, myself. VIII you forgive
me and do your utmust?"
Lillian did her best to comfort
her friend with cheerful words. II
was all nonsense to talk of ghosts,
she said: there was enough trouble
among the living Borradales with
out thinking OF interference from
the dead.
Lets go to a more cheerful
ROOM" she said, ~and sit before the
fire, costly, as we used to do, and
you shall tell me all about it,"
Every WELL" said Esther YEARLY.
but I want you to look at these
pictures first" She took a lamp
from the side tablet had a red
shade, which deadened the light,
and which Esther removed. Then
she raised II so that Lillian could
see one Of the pictures. 1t was the
portrait OF a handsome man OF the
Jacobite period.
at is OF him that they tell the
story of the Curse" said Esther.
Look well at his face"
"He Is handsome" said Lillian,
though his face is rather thin and
his eyes hollow. He looks As II
he had known trouble"
Placing a Resemblance.
do you see any resemblance BE-
tween him and Harold"
None whatever"
mo. There is no resemblance
I'm sure-Fm certain there is no
resemblance. But now come and
look at the picture OF Harold and
his mother"
Esther led the way to the further
end OF the room, where the more
modern pictures hung.
There is Harold" she said, hold
ing up the lamp once more las l
told you, the picture was taken OF
him just before l knew him, and
when there was no handsomer man
than he in America Look at II now
1t is some DEVILS work"
Lillian examined the picture care
fully.
aAre you sure that it is Harold7"
she asked.
"Sure? Why, I have known the
picture ever since have known
Harold. It was just like him-the
blue, honest eyes, the full face, the
waving hair, the broad shoulders.
Just as he used to be. And look
at it now"
1t seemed, indeed. that some
subtle change had been wrought in
the picture. The face was thinner,
the ewes more deeply set, and the
shoulders sloped. 1t was Harold,
and yet it was pot Harold. II
bore a suggestion OF a likeness 10
the other picture, vague, indehn-
able, but still noticeable. Further,
II suggested another likeness TO
Lilian's mind.
Esther" she said, in an awed
voice. "it is like the other Bora
dales-those OF Adderiey. There
was a strong resemblance between
them all.
Harold was different but now I
I see that he must have been like
his brothers. This portrait proves
It"
at has been tempered with"
cried Lillian eNcitedly. Il tell you
It was never like this. II was Har-
old-the Harold / loved-till few
days ago. This picture was once
such a comfort to me, Lillian; l used
often and often to cbme and look at
IL when / wished to be reminded OF
Harold as he was. But they won't
even allow me that solaCe-they
must disfgure it and make ii hate
full Oh. why do they do it-why?"
They" queried Lillian. Whom
70 you mean
II don't know replied Esther in
a whisper. but there must be
somebody behind all this. Harold
cannot be altering these pictures
himself Resides the change has
been coming on since he last went
away"
Have you not watched"
PONeFIess to Act Alone.
IT dare not" Esther's voice was
low and frightened 81 am a wo-
man. and alone. There was no one
TO whom I could speak-and the
servants had begun to whisper
among themselves OF something I'M
natural going on in the house. I
don't know II they have noticed the
picture yet; they never defined their
fears very definitely even when
they gave warning. I tried 10 take
Mrs Meredith into my confidence;
she knew about the servants. and
had been getting nervous. l could
see IL. What did she do2 Deserted
me immediately"--Esth spoke Bit
terly-"left me TO face these terrors
alone. II was cruel Of her-cruel"
81 might have noticed these pic
lures at your wedding. Esther" she
said. ut Is strange did not do
so. BY the bye, what ring is that
on HarOld's finger?"
at was his mothers. I think Il
belonged 10 her husband. She gave
it to Harold. and he always wore it