Year: 1879

dingy walls of the passage, had contributed not little to the horror of the situation, and |, I had resolved to light up all the rooms and passages this evening with brightness that would .banish all chance of a recurrence of such thing The non-arrival of these lamps had been almost as keen disappointment as the absence of Wyatt himself but even sin- gle candle burning in the hall would be some- thing.

 At first the very click of the pen heightened my sense of insecurity, it seemed to challenge 8 response with the unseen worl2 but at last the sound became familiar and even soothing The chime of the village clock at midnight , came to reimnd me that human beings were not so far off : the rattle of train in the distance passing down the line was even more grateful; became impressed with sense of the incompatibilty of such matter of fact things as railway trains with supernatural ap- partitions and for the first time that evening had succeeded in composing my mind, and concentrating my attention on the work be- fore me. My brain assumed something of it's normal activity. and Iwas getting interested in my work, instead Of feeling it to be the dis tasteful labour which of late had oppressed me- I felt as if could go on with it all the night through. Say what the doctors might about the importance for health of working only by pay, there was nothing like night work for cultiyating the play of fancy and imagination.

 Thus I felt for the moment rather than dis tinctly thought out the idea while the busy pen piled it's task. But what is that which suddenly makes the head fall nerveless on the paper, and leaves me bereft of motion save for the quick beating of my heart?

 Some one is moving in the drawing room opposite.

 instlnctively I felt that be it what it may, it is the presence of the night before.

 Now I hear the drawing room door open j; the rustling of dress in the passage. I started to my feet. At first it seemed as if my limbs would refuse to perform thelr of flee, but scizing a candle, 1 staggered to the door, and opening it wide looked out.

 Besides the candle 1 held in my hand, the light which I had placed in the passage was still burning 80 that, dark and dingy as the passage was, it was yet lighted up; and at the other end, in the act of turning to mount the stairs, is the same apparition as had appeared the previous night; the samefemale figure that had entered the house from the wood. Tall, 1 sight, and erect. robed in dark clothing, the face averted, and the head partly covered by a mantle, the figure was as clearly seen as if it had been daylight. Seen only for moment, as passing up the staircase, it disappears from I my view.

 Surely it must be real human being, for

 

 way up. Had stopped to think 1 could not have gone on; but under sudden impulse l 1 too hurried up the staircase after the appari- ton. Again there is no sign of any moving thing. The landing place and passage are void of occupant the passage door is locked. ] peep into the box-room and again find it empty. There remain only the rooms of Wyatt and myself and I enter each of these in turn, almost expecting as do SO to find myself face | tR Wifh in each case, 1 venture to examine them careful ly; but there are no hiding places; the search is soon ended.

 My first impulse after this is to knock loudly at the passage door and awake the two women; even the sound of my own voice would be a distraction in the horrid silence. But even in my terror 1 was restrained by shame Even if they thought me serious, they would put down my impression to mere ner- vous imagination. Mrs. Bond would think she had more right than ever to tax me with keeping late hours and living on unwholesome diet.

 It is an effort to go out again into the pas sage, still more to go downstairs; but 1 man. l age to do so. and also to look into the drawing room, the door of which is open while it was certainly shut before. The room itself shows | no signs of having been visited. There is no key te the door but shutting it I return to the dining-ro room, the lighted candle in which in vites me to enter, and sitting down again 1 try to compose myself Surely it be my disorder ed health that has conjured up thls vision. l was not always such coward. It must have been mere illusion that saw something. But | no. l was never more convinced of the reality of this object. And yet if it be visitant 1 fearful about it? Why should l not boldly face it? 1 miW do so if it comes again; if hear this sound again on the other side of the door, will rnsh out and confront the figure. and intercept it if incorporeal it will vanish perhaps; if it be real need not fear to grasp it. What a change has come over you, Phil | lip Merton, that you should be arguing in this way about it, and trying to screw your cour- age up to the sticking point! Be yourself, be man, and do not be afraid of aspirit, if spirit it be. Why should it harm you?

 By some such way of reasoning I did suc- ceed in composing myself sufficiently to take up my pen again, and make an effort to con | tinue my writing; not very successfully ln- | deed for while the hand was busy the ear was | on the strain TO catch the sound if it should l recur.

 And while in this state, the hand falls help less. the cold sweat bursts out, the very blood seems to curdle within me, as 1 am again I startled by the sound of something moving

 

 | just on the other side of the table Gosd God | why am l to be tormented with these herrid | visions? This time it is the figure of man. The light of the candle comes between us, SO that the figure is only obscurely made out in the darkness-the figure of tall, dark man. can just distinguish sort of cloak covering the figure; and the glance of searching eye under slouched hat

 sank back speeches. and powerless in my chair. felt my heart stand still, then begin beating as if it would burst.

 Suddenly sound issued from the appari- ! tien. It spoke

 How long have you been here?" The voice, although low and cautious, sounded harsh and hollow, but it treasured me. This was no apparition. This at least l was human being. And sinister though the man looked, the presence of one was sort of comfort.

 l made no answer, tor my voice literally stuck in my throat nor did I want to show the fear that possessed me,

 'I could not help myself" continued the voice: .'l stayed away; wandered here and there. l tried to get rid of it; but had to come back after all. I saw that you were alone, and 1 thought would come in You have got no evidence against me- the man continued, moving back as stood up for at the continued sound of the human voice my Pioot dtion hau ceaSed 1 Ou nave got no evidence against me. I don't want to hurt you, The added, as started back on the threat ening attitude he assumed. ''I don't want to hurt any one. have got enough of that on my mind to last my life Look here" he went on, in the same stealthy vsice ''I have been trampng all the day, and I'm damnably wet and thirsty Haven't you got drop of spirits in the place ?'

 It seemed to me from the mans manner that he had been drinking already; but to he engaged in the homely office of supplying li- quor was an agreeable diversion from the occu- patton of the igh'. Wyatt's brandy-bo was on the side-b arl took it up and was about to mix some for him with water, but he whispered to me impatiently from the window to hand him the bottle and glass. He poured out nearly half tumbler, and drank it off

 ''How long have you been here ?" he re- peated. as he sat down the glass on the win- | dow sill ''Onlv two days!" he said. as if to