Year: 1870

tions that Dote Erricson received the pa
per which had been sent to her. She sat
down, holding it in her hand, fully aware
that Father Greyson's cherished secret was
written out therein for her perusal and yet
hesitating to make herself mistress of it.


That secret had been great puzzle to
her, especially for the past day or two.-
How long it had existed she did not know !;
perhaps for years. it might be for only few
weeks. And yet there had always been
something peculiar in the manner of her
adopted father towards herself 1t had
troubled her before now. At last the whole
mystery was to be made clear.


The night was sultry, and her windows
were wide open, as she sat revolving these
thoughts. Every breath of air brought
into the room watts of perfume from the
helliotropes and geraniums on the balcony
outside. Her back was in that direction,
and she sat facing a pier-glass that hung
against the opposite wall


Several minutes went by, perhaps ten or
fifteen. She was falling into reverie over
that magic paper when slight rustling
sound attracted her attention. Looking up,
the next moment, she started suddenly to
her feet, fairly dumb with horror, for she
saw reflected in the glass tall, ghostly
form moving straight towards her from the
open window,


At first she could neither move nor cry
out-every faculty seemed paralyzed. Then
controlling herself by powerful effort, she
faced slowly about, and the spectral form
came to an abrupt pause.


She saw before her small form draped
in white, and black, burning eyes glaring
at her from what seemed to be deep hol-
lows in the face. A Short sharp scrutiny,
such as only brave women could have given
at such a time, soon convinced her that the
ghostly lineaments on which she gazed
were not the features of human counte.
nance at all, but of a mask.
This discovery sent the blood back to
her heart again. Of mortal visitant she
had but very little dread. Help was neal
and could easily be summoned. AT last
she found voice.


"Who are you ?" she asked. "Why are
you here ?''


The figure solemnly shook it's head, with
the evident intention of terrifying her more
than ever. Seeing that the movement pro-
duced no such effect, probably, and that
she was growing bolder every minute, il
advanced step or two, slowly raising one
of its arms pointing to the paper she hello
in her hand, and saying in a deep, hollow
voice that nevertheless had a strangely ia
Amiliar sound


"Theodosia Erricson, am come for thai
paper and you must give it up"


Dote was fully herself now. The angry
blood flushed her face hotly.


81 shall not" was her firm reply.


A low, nocking laugh broke upon hel
cara laugh horrible enough to have cur
died ones blood.


"You do not know a single line that tn,
paper contains!' her strange visitor asked


"No."


"Then open it and satisfy your curiosi
ty."


She made defiant gesture. ~ do no
intend you shall frighten me from SO doing
by coming here in that masquerade COS
tume," she said, slowly unfolding the docu
ment to show how determined she was.


AS she had suspected, it was letter from
Father Greyson. ~ am about to disclos,
to you the carefully-guarded secret of man,
years. dear Dote," it began. She had reat
this sentence and no more when she sud
denly felt violent hands laid hold on her,
sponge that gave out a powerful and sick
ening odor was pressed firmly to her nos
trils and held there then dizzy, dream,
sensation seemed to come upon her, an,
everything was blank.


When she came to realizing sense O
her condition, she was lying helpless upo
the floor, in strangely weak and langui,
state. Hcr visitor was gone, the lamp wa