Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 123, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1903 — A DOCTOR'S MISSION [ARTICLE]

A DOCTOR'S MISSION

BY EMILY THORNTON

CHAPTER XlV.—(Continued.) No deep risked her weary eyes until long after midnight, she was so unhapjy and so unnerved by all the events of tho last twenty-four hours, and again and again nhe prayed that all might go well, and nothing terrible result from the loss •f that dreadful knife. Rising with the alarm of the usual Veil that rang to awaken the household., the poor girl again commenced, to review ■the problem that had presented itself to he w.orked out the night before. Once she asked the question: Should she worry Sir Reginald by telling him the accident that'had befallen her, or should she not? Before deciding positively,, she resolved to pay the corridor a morning visit, and by listening, study out, if all was going on as usual. This resolve she instantly carried into affect* Turning oneo more from her room, down the corridor, she placed her ear close to the panel, and listened intently to hear if any movement could be discovered within the concealed room. All was still;. Not the faintest motion was perceptible; therefore, feeling greatly relieved, she returned, quite sure that all must be well, and firmly rerolved to say nothing of what had happened, and while keeping silent endeavor to drive the entire circumstance from her •urn mind, and so be at peaea. The day passed on as usual, and when aight brought her to the shelves, she once more found to her satisfaction silence reigning, and felt that now, Indeed, all vras right Poor Ethel! She little knew the fearful consequences yet to ensue from her first blunder. The third afternoon had arrived, aijd nothing had transpired to lead her to apprehend the least trouble from that unfortunate occurrence. She had, therefore, regained the courage she had lost, and was fast driving the entire circumstance from her mind. This afternoon Sir Reginald had expressed a wish for music* therefore she had brought her guitar to his bedside, and had sung several ballads for his “I think.” at length he said, interrupting her, “that it grows cloudy. JTease look out and tell me if a shower is approaching:” Ethel arose at his bidding, and after examining the sky returned, saying, as abe resumed her seat: “There is. indeed. A very black cloud k lying in the west, which foretells a hard shower.” ‘Then pus aside your instrument and draw close to me. ns I have ,some private instructions to give you in regard to a new work to be done to-night. Are we entirely alone ?’”■ — c 1 “We are. Mrs. Fredon left the room to prepare you some nourishment, and your wife and niece are in the grounds,” replied Ethel, trembling, 6he knew not why. ‘Then listen intently to my instructions. If that storm rages about half»«t nine or ten o’clock to-night, you must visit the Haunted Tower and put in motion some machinery I have erected there." “O. Sir Reginald.” murmured the shrinking listener, "please do not ask that •f me.” “You just attend to my orders, and do what I tell you to do. Never dare dispute my will.” The baronet then proceeded to give minute directions for the lighting of each hght. and also for the movements of the frightful and hideous image there eoncealed. At its conclusion h? remarked: “Do you think you understand every particular of the work l now require to he done?” “I do,” replied Ethel: “but, sir, my aoul revolts from the whole thing. I consider It a wicked deception, and I beg you to excuse me from undertaking it.” “Who cares what you think about it! No one asked your opinion. Do it you 1 shall, so do not dare to utter another word against it.” “Sir Reginald. I have faithfully performed your wishes in regard to feeding j the animal, whose life you value so higher, knowing that to preserve the life of •Ten the least of God’s creatures is a duty. but I oaivseo no possible necessity for striving to impose upon the credulity of the inhabitants of this quiet place.” “That. I tell you, is my business and lot yours," was the angry reply. “You aw here simply to attend to my work, nod I have well paid you for doing so.” “I know thal; but surely 1 am at lib-, arty to point out an error in your wishes mad judgment. Sir Reginald, this thing that you ask me to do is wrong, and I •a treat you to carry it no further. You say you have done this yourself for tweu-ty-#ve years; surely that can answer any purpose you may have to effect by it. Please, then, be satisfied, and let this thing rest!” “I tell you I will not." replied the Wrooet. fairly purple from rage; “do Cnot see that your obstinacy is throwme into a terrible and injurious excitement I command you to' obey my I wkhes If you dare refuse, you shall i kavc my house this utglit. even though I know you hare not where to lay your hood- Do you hear?” “I do," murmured the distressed girl “Will you obey?” . No answer came, the only reply she nwril make being a burst of tears. Madame d by her silence and sobs, the baro■•t atoned ’up until, leaning upon his <elkacr, a thing he had been expressly forMMan to do, as it would jar his hip, fco his fist violently in her face, while he demanded in fury: , “Will yen obey?” T will!" she at last gasped, between her stbi. Poor girl! teeing his violent •xdtetnent, and remembering her aunt's hat charges, abe dared not tefuae. “Then see that you do U.” be rrt uriri■ori calmly, aa be sank back with a groan upon hit pillow. There waa no escape from the die doty that awaitad her, so at

Author of “Roy Russell’s Rule,” “Glenroy,” “The Fashionable Mother,” Etc.

her usual time she took the lighted candle in her hand and started with tearful eyes to attend ho the task before her. chaptefTxv After Dr. Elfenstetn had asked permission of Sir Reginald Glendennlng to search the Ilnunt,ed Tower he felt exceedingly puzzled over his future course. Resolved ns he was to penetrate the'mystery of that place, he could not understand how the thing was to be accomplished. In nil his visits to Sir Reginald, although reserved in manner, his every nerve had been on the nlert. He Jiad been told that the'room occupied by the present baronet was the one where Sir Arthur had met his sad fate. Knowing this, he fairly studied that room. HO noted its width, height and' breadth; the height of the two windows from the floor, the size of those windows, and particularly he noted the ope from which the ropa hnd dangled tttfct had been used to lower the body to the ground. He had several times walked to that window, ns if meditating over his patient’s caste, and looked out, surveying the ground below, aud the distance from it to the lake, which was visible through the trees. From the house, which he visited daily in his professional calling, he often drove around, examining the stables and outbuildings, and sometimes slowly went around the tower to view the ruined part, and to see if by any means he could ever effect an entrance. One day, it was the one on which Ethel started for the eventful walk, he in such a drive noticed a small, welltrodden pathway leading up to a clump of bushes. Instantly the thought struck him that behind those bushes, concealed from view, might be an open passage to the place, although he felt certain there was no doorway. The more’ he thought of this the more he was sure it must be the case. \\ liy that well used path through the grass if not for some such purpose? YeS; .-some human-feet -were-in tiro habit of an-” tering there, and he resolved to return to the place, under cover of darkness, and investigate those bushes. Full of this discovery, and futh-of-hop^ that he might yet penetrate to the mysterious tower, he touched his horse with the whip and drove hastily away. Rut just as he emerged again into the ramble, he saw Miss Belle Glendenning Sakjng at him from an upper window, and felt mortified that she should have noticed his ride around the premises, as conscience whispered it must speak to her of a prying nature. Feeling, however, that it was done, and could not now be recalled, he passed on, and proceeded to visit the homes of several sick persons who needed his advice and assistance. On his return it was that he suddenly heard a wild shriek of terror, and looking around, had seen Ethel in that dangerous situation, while the nearing train told of the death that awaited her. Springing to the ground, he had rushed to her assistance. Riid had wrenched apart those stiff fastenings and drawn her from her peril. * After he hnd left her at the Hall It was hart! to recall his truant thoughts to their proper sphere, but with sat teeth and a' firm resolve, he plunged into study, and active work, in order to be at peace with himself. The great suffering of a new patient even detained him by his side until, after midnight the second evening, and a third time had night folded the earth before relief came to the weary one, and Earle Elfemstein was at liberty to pay the lonely ruin the desirCd call. Then a violent storm was raging! This otorm was, strange to say. the first that had occurred in the evening since his night voew of the haunted tower, and its dancing demon, just five weeks before. Not wishing to be seen by any of the inmates, he did not venture out until after nine o'clock. Then the wild wind and drenching rain served to retard his progress so much that it was full quarter to ten before he felt the worn pathway and crept behind the clump of thick, wet bushes, where, once concealed from view, he paused to light a small dark lantern he had wisely brought with him. . Bj the Md of this lie proceeded to examine what only seemed a dull, blank wall. Close inspection, however, revealed a large stone that was loose, which he easily drew forth, making a clean, ■unobstructed passageway, through which a man could creep, and without besita* lion in lie went, landing directly upon an old, but still passable floor. Lowering his light, he paused to examine this floor, and found to his surprise. wet tracks upon it, that told plainly that very recent footsteps had passed that way. Following these, the young man walked in a direct line across the building, until he reached a door, which, upon trying, lie fouud to his chagrin, securely fastened* Even while lie paused to reflect upon his next movement, distant footsteps fell upon his ear, just beyond the door, and hurriedly he darted back, extinguishing liis light ns he did so. Just in time was this movement made, for a hand unhooked the fastening, openoil the door, and there, to his unmitigated surprise, stood Ethel Nevergail, the girl so much the object of liis thoughts since that narrow escape of hers, with a lighted candle in her hand, peering into the darkness beyond. Had the seen him? he asked himself, creeping like a thief towards this unfortunate house, and hearing his steps, had she come to warn him away? No! thought was absurd, and he soon saw that she came seeking Merely a covered basket, not observed-.until then, standing Just beyond the door. How pole die looked, as be viewed for one moment her sad face and —yea! surely. those were tears that fell from her beautiful hasel eyes upon her cheek.

The sight of those tears caused him tg take oncf step toward her, but she fortunately did pot see him, but drew to the d<j|6r, after securing the basket, and he then heard her little feet start down tjm corridor. Resolved not to be balked in his efforts to unravel this night one mystery at least. Dr. Elfenstcin pushed again towards the door, and to his joy, it this time yielded to his touch. Poor Ethel! this night for the first time had been required by Sir Reginald Glendenning to visit the tower and follow out directions he gave her in full, for producing the illusions that were to terrify the unsuspecting public. In great agitation then, and still weeping, shq.bad proceeded to the fulfillment of her loathsome duty, and in her grief and excitement, for the first time forgot to fasten the door, after possessing herself of the food. This forgetfulness accounts for the entrance of the doctor into the corridor, and enabled him to follow her advancing figure, softly in the) distance.

CHAPTER XVI. Wiping away her tears, poor Ethel placed the basket of food and knife upon the floor, by the entrance of the tower, as Sir Reginald had told her to attend to the business in that quarter before administering to the wants of the concealed quadruped. At last the weary steps were climbed, anud she stood panting on the broad landing, just below the upper windows of the place. It was standing oh this landing that her part of the ghostly work was to be performed.

Taking then a long handled torch, with which the colored lights above were to be touched in order to light them, she applied the candle to It, and reaching., up soon had every one illuminated and flaming away in the usual unearthly looking glare. In doing so She never observed the tall, silent figure of the man who had crept after her and now stood in the shade below, intently watching her every motion. , The stuffed form before her was next to be attended t-o* Taking, therefore, the lamp from within the head she lighted it, and putting it back almost exclaimed at the effect the colored light gave the eyes. Winding the crang slowly, she saw that it worked as she supposed it would, and soon the impish figure was swung aloft and stood dancing to and fro, to the terror and dismay of all outward beholders. With tears still falling over her pale cheeks, Ethel stood with her eyes fastened above, upon the swaying motions of that frightful looking image, when her heart almost stopped within her, and a wild cry burst from her lips as these words fell upon her ears: “Is it possible that this is the occupation of-Miss Ethel-Nevergail tbtsf stormy Right?” she saw advancing towards her, aud fully revealed by the lights above, the form of Dr. Elfenstein. "Oh, ddctor"' r she wailed, as she buried her face'in her hands, and burst into low sobs of shame and dismay, “how came you here to witness my disgraceful work?” Then suddenly remembering her charge, and true to the interests of her employer, she again seized the crank and, lowering the image, extinguished that head lamp, as well as the others, leaving everything in darkness but for the feeble flare of the one little candle she had placed upon the floor. -Then turning, she faced her accuser. ”1 came, no matter how; suffice it that I was determined to unpiask this daring fraud, and so allay the fears of timid women and children. Certainly in doing this I never expected to discover that Miss Nevergail was the prime mover in this outrageous piece of work!” Ethel listened to the cold, hard words in utter despair, then fluttering like a wounded bird to the side of the indignant man, she laid one small, white hand on his arm, whieli was shaken off in disdain before she could utter one of the following words; “It is the first time I ever did this thing. Oh, believe me; surely you must remember that I was in Liverpool when you saw that sight, the time when it last appeared ?” “l’es, that is true; I had forgotten. But that does not absolve ypu from to-night’s ghastly deception,” was the still cold reply. (To be continued.)