St. Joseph County Independent, Volume 16, Number 26, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 3 January 1891 — Page 3

THE SKELETON. — BY AUGUST GRAY. 'Mid gilded walls and stately halls I pass the time away; I have great wealth, enjoy good health, An'd many servants pay. I have a wife to share my life, Whom servants wait upon, * And by my side doth ever hide An unseen skeleton. \ My wife’s fair face doth match the grace V And beeuty of her form; XWith pleasant smiles, through many miles We’ve passed, of calm and storm. Erach well-aimed stroke some barrier broke, lEaeh gem more friends have won, Anoxaeh success hath come to bless Me arid my skeleton. Sometimes I cry “O God, draw nigh And drive this fiend from me!” He never Leaves, but closer cleaves And laugii-Kxultlngly. Oh. aching hoarH'-^Js but your part To bear till life it aotjo: Will I be free, when they bury me. From this grim skeleton? The poor pass by, and gaze and sigh, And wish they might exchange. Toil on! Thank God you have to plod, Nor wish for guest so strange. Oanst thou find he who lived to seo A youth’s and manhood’s sun, Who hath not sighed, looked back, and tried To hide a skeleton? These words hath pain burned In my brain: “Hold on! holdfast! holdout!” I’ll struggle on till life Is gone, Or give the victor’s shout. Oh, God! Abide close by my side, hast ever done. vlch, hew poor! behind gold doors I dwell with a skeleton. Linden, Wis. Dr. EMms Mission 1 RtMkilile Romict. BY EMILY THORNTON. CHAPTER XL A ^INUUDAU REQUEST. “Has shjy come?” asked Sir Reginald Lrlendeu^fng of Lady Constance, as ho distinctly heard a carriage stop before the d^r ( an d his own coachman’s voice to the horses. has; shall she be brought directly to }» ir presence?” ^fyes; and see to it that no one enters ^‘"sroom until they are summoned, as I wi »h to see this girl alone. Do you hear? ^wLne! entirely alone!” replied the Baro“You will be obeyed. No one shall disJ»turb you. Shall I order Matthew to put Jr up the horses?” “No; tell him to wait for further no- * tice!” •« Lady Constance withdrew, an jvery soon re< Tened tho (Apr, to usher .1 and present to her sick Wsband Ethel Ncver.gall, his sister's adapted niece, then instantly retired, closfhg tho door behind b he r - , , i ’ Very beautiful looked the young girl as she stood by the side of tho bed, her veil thrown back, revealing '‘MFRPWRBWbu ■■hi rau üßgih'Dot Half-haughty greeting, “I grieve to see so holnloss! Have von inst hj'ex In-

you so imw you jusl oecn injudre?” “Yes; this morning I was thrown from my horse, and am to lie here helpless for months. I sent for you, then. In answer to a letter received a few moments b<*ss^ fore the accident from my sister, written "before her death. In that sho asks me to give you a homo for four months In return for any service I may wish rendered. I sent, because I need assistance ^immediately of a very peculiar nature. 4A re you willing to undertake it, at a fair ^yalary?” _ “Probably I can tell bettor when I h&ar what the duties will be." “ Before I tell you that I wish you to har*d me the small Bible you see upon thaft table. ” With wondering eyes Ethol retwhed hhnJhe book. “ r nhe duties to bo performed are of a purely confidential nature. No human being f^ust know what I tell you, whether you acrept the charge or not. Wife, nepho' .niece, man servant nor maid servant must ever know that you do more than road to and amuse mo, write my letters, and attend to my daily busim ss Affairs. The true duties will be performed in half an hour each evening Alone. Will you swear on this ^ook to keep my secret?” “I will swear if you will assure me that _ these duties can be done with, a pure conscience, and that they are perfectly P'oper for me to do. ” ’ , “I assure you you can do them with

pe.*fect propriety. Will you take the oath?” “I will,” came from the lips of the, trembling girl, reluctantly, it must be confessed, but still it came, because of the promise given to her dying aunt that she would riot refuse his offer. “Then kiss that book and repeat after mo those words: ‘I, Ethel Nevergail. I swear I will tell no person the nature of , my nightly duties, and that I will perform । them to th? best of my ability.’ ” ^^d^Bfthel shuddered, yet did as he required: and, after kissfne the book, r<>peated the words. “Sit down, now, and come very close, so you can hear, while I whisper the secret, for ‘even walls have ears' has sometimes been said. • 1)0 continued, “listen to me intently. I have in my possession a very rare animal, one entirely unknown. It, is the property of a friend, and I am seerotly taking care of it for him. Heis absent now abroad searching for more wonders to add to a collection. On his return he is going to exhibit all, and expects to realize a fortune by doing so, I which. I am to share. Now’, although ' ■wealthy, I love money, and always have: ! therefore I take every care of this 1 ! ^ature in order to obtain more gold. ! human being, save myself and its ' ■ ^wner, is aware of its existence. It is I hidden in a mine I part of this house—in defect, In a concealed room, the existence * of which no one knows but myself, and in close connection with, but not ’in a place we call ‘The Haunted Tower.’ “This tower is not haunted, really, but I pretend that it is, in away J shall tell you of some other time, in order to keep prying eyes from off my treasure. “Now, what I wish you to do is this: myself have always fed this ape, or r ourang-outang, for it possesses some of their nature, and if he is not attended to he will starve. About tea every evening you are to do this for

“A basket is always standing in a certain place in tho ruined part. A person I pay well comes every evening, under a promise of secrecy, and puts food in it. You must get this basket, go through a long covered corridor that connects this tower to the main building, and opens directly Into a small hall or passageway near your room, and the door from your room is hidden by a wardrobe. “Open it and pass through, taking a knife of a peculiar shape that you will find in a bookcase drawer in your room, together with plenty of candles and । matches for your use, also there; and to this drawer I will give you tho key. “You will find several of these knives put there, for fear one might accidentally get broken. Tako one, with a lighted I candle, I say, go down the passage to the 'iwcr, ti'en count on the wall from tho door that- ^ods up tho tower stairs, backward, three panels; into a seeming crack that you will seo there insert the knife-point, and then turn it around three times, when tho panels will fly apart, revealing a small opening, whore a set of revolving iron shelves will bo seen. On these place tho food. Water is in the room, where the creature can help himself as ho wishes it. Keep and restore the basket to its place; also bo sure and keep the knife. Push then the shelves and they will turn slowly around and come back to you with tho plate empty. “After this, replace tho panel, and return to your room silently. That will ho all for about two or throe weeks, when I shall add a small service, such as placing a light of a certain nature in the tower, and winding up a little machinery. Will you do all this?” asked lie, eagerly. "Yes ” half moaned the poor girl, whose soul shrank in h >rmr from tho task, “if you assure mo 1 will not bo harmed by the beast. ” “You never will; he is chained to a heavy iron bolt; Insides, this room he is in has no windows ar d<>ors (being lighted from tho ceiling), and there Is no mode of reaching hint, save by those shelves. I could not; you can never even see him or be soon by him. hen my friend returns, and wants him, wo will unscrew tho iron shelves, and so take him hence. “Will you stay now, as ho must be seen to this very night?" asked Sir Reginald, after a pause. “Yon can send for your trunks when you wish. I will pay you twenty pounds a month.” “I will stay.” “Them please ring tho ladl you seo yonder, as I must Inform my wife.” The bell brought a footman, who took the desired message, and Lady Constance soon apixuircd. “Miss Nevergail Is to remain. Sho is to be my amanuensis, reader, and assist you ami the i irse, generally, in my cam. I wish tho rm ’ ' next this prepared for her immediate use.” “Why that, one? It will not be wise to put her there. ” “Wise or not, there she goes, so have it in readiness. Also, tell Matthew to put up the horses, as they will Ih> m eded no more to-day. CHAPTER XII. ETItEI. AND HER SEN DUTIES. In about an hour a servant maid entered, tsi say that tho room was in readiness, and she would h ud Miss Nevergail to It, If sho wished. Taking up her bonnet, ami wraps, the *Y»ung girl passed t(^titdmll ,i M adjoining, she i*

objeerWfxoltS daily use. 1 As soon a3 the maid had withdrawn, ; Ethel commenced an examination of the implements Sir Reginald had mentioned. The bookcase he had spoken of she knew had bean carrhsl thither from the library for her use since her arrival. The drawer to which he had given her a key of a peculiar shape was a secret one, found, as he had whispered, behind the books, and remembering his directions, she proceeded to opon It, after carefully locking her door. There lay the three singularly ^hajs'd, targe knives, with long, sharp-pointed blades; there, also, was a china wandlestiek with three or four dozen wax can- i dies. Matches were in a large tin Nix, , ready for constant and instant use. Refastening the dr. wer and replacing the books, the young girl proceeded to ' the wardrobe on the opposite side of the room, and unlocking it, she saw at the back a door. Ndted on h r side, which gave her an immediate feeling of security. Softly drawing the N>lt. sho looked out into a small passage that led merely from her own room to a similar door inside a wardr *be she had seen In the baronet’s. Ihese two rooms communicat' d with this little passageway from the inhabited part of the house, and these alone. Di-rectly-opposite her door was a smaller one, which she at once knew must lead to the Haunted Tower and deserted i

> rooms belonging to this singular old mansion. I She did not open this, but retreating । to her own apartment through the wardrobe, bathed her face and hands, smoothI ed her hair, and once more turned toward the room of the invalid. At the threshold, however, she met old f Mrs. Frodon, the nurse, who had been in the family for years, who whispered that the baronet had fallen asleep, therefore, she might walk around the grounds if she chose. Feeling That the fresh air would revive her poor shrinking spirit, Ethel tripped down the broad staircase and stepped upon the piazza. As she did so, she almost ran against a gentleman just entering. Raising her eyes to apologize, she I found herself face to face with Dr. Elfenstein, the kind friend that she had parted with a few weeks before. He was as much astounded as herself, it seemed, at. her unexpected appearance. ■‘ls it possible that this can be Miss > Nevergail?” I “It is, indeed; but I can scarcely bei Heve this my friend, Dr. Elfenstein. 1 How is it we mot in this unexpected 1 place ami manner.”’ : “I was about calling on my patient. I j Sir Reginald Glendennipg, when, instead i of being received by a servant, Miss I Nevergail comes flying toward me. How Is it you are here? I see by your black ' dress that your aunt must have passed * ' away! Hut come out upon the piazza as you were about to do, and tell me yourself.” I’assing from the door to the shadow of the trained vines, followed by the physician, the young girl related the occurrences of the last few weeks. “Did I understand that you were to remain here some time?” “Yes. I am to be Sir Reginald’s secretary, amanuensis, and reader. For this, and helping to amuse him, I am to

receive a good salary, and will have a homo for tho summer.” “I am very glad to hear it,” exclaimed Earle, kindly,' “It seems like a pleasant spot, and 1 think this pure, fresh air will benefit your health and spirits. 1 also have settled here, having bought a practice.” ~ “Shall wo go to Sir Reginald now? returned she, at tho end of their animated conversation. “I presume ho is awake by this time,” “Yes, at once, and I hope I shall find him more easy than ho was tlds morn* Ing.” “Sloop Indicates some degree, of ease. Do youthink lie will bo helpless long.” “I am sorry to say it wil’ bo months I before ho can leave his bed. Even then, I fear he will be a cripple for years.” “Poor man! This lias boon a sad act I* dent for him,” replied Ethel, in tones full of sympathy. Dr. Elfenstein made quite a long call, as lio had much to do to make tho baronet <wnfortablc for the night, and us Ethel saw him handle the injured man so gently, and soothb him with kind, encouraging words, sho felt that he must possess a heart of almost, womanly feeling, and her interest and admiration deepened, even b'fore his visit was concluded. Alter Earle Elfenstein withdrew a lato dinner win announced, and in tho din-ing-room Lady Constance presented to Ethel her nephew, Robert Glendennlng, and niece. Bolle, his sist r, the former greeting her with rather an insolent look ; of admiration, the latter with a bow ex- I presslve of haughty contempt From that moment Ethel saw that neither of these young people would promote her happiness while she remained under this ‘roof. Mr. Glendennlng did c< nv.is.- with her. but it was with such an evident air of

condescension that tier replies were brief and cold, while h's sister remained silent I during the whole meal, with the e.xcep- j tlon of answering one or two quest lons asked by Lady Constance, which answers were given in a old, mechanical way that told of a mind preoccupied and absent. The truth was this young lady was surprised and not at all pleased with the Introduction of such a rarely t*auttful girl Into the homo over which she held sway. She was IntoßMdy proud and selfish, and felt that there might bo an influence exerted ujon her Kw admirers that might Interfere with her prosj>ects. The prospects particularly in view fit present were the vxlnning of the heart and hand -f the new physician lately 1 i settled In tho place. She had I introduced to him at the 1 | borne of a friend, ami had admired his 1 elegant bearing, handsome face and i quiet manners, ami Instantly hod ro solved to lay siege to his heart With how meh ov *■" this siege was ’ to lie carried on time alone Could determine. After leaving th*- table the ladles ro- । paired to th* piazza, followed by Mr. Glendinning. As Belle pan-d to pluck from one of the vines a few flowers for h* r belt, Lady C st * turnojl I Iki ••• d H marked: “( auppotm you have no friends In this I vMnHy, having just avlv«d." Eth*d hm’Uted, while a faint blush J suffused band cheek as sho replied: I “I Im Ap/sound one here v« ry unesI pectedlyW r "Ah’ Whom a^ked hor iadv^'.n jw^rrrrnf’ We erv^-xt

। the -ann> v. -Md, ami a* my < aunt wa~ taken very ill during the troyago he attended her, and, consequently, we be- amo well acquainted." Instantly Belle's attention was rivet.st by these remarks, ami with a mi* er -ho exclaimed: •■I pr^auoxx, then, you waylaid him this afternoon In order to renew the acquaintance. " “Pardon me!” replied Ethol, with dignity. I uu)lay no one. We met casually on this piazza as he wa-a! ont ent* ringtosef Sir Reginald, and conversed for a few moments. ’’ "It Menis to me for the future, when । my uncle s physician visl:s him. It would be well for you to n momlw r that you now occupy the position of a subordinate, and th- n fore -himld not put on th.' airs of .in equal to attra. t h > attention:" was the rude aid unladylike nply. ledle, interpos'd Lady Constance, who, with all her fault-, was naturally kind-hearted and just, “you forget that Miss Nevergall In coming to us docs not cease to be a gentlewoman.” “Or. a gentlewoman’s poor relation!" w as the cutting answer. A remarkably beautiful one, howcvadded, teasingly, “you must take . are or she will carry off some of vour beaux." ■ I he indignant girl gave him a glance ' of withering scorn, but merely said, with an angry toss of her head; Ui . ♦ 1.- I ...

। her beware how sho interferes With me in any way. A word to the wise is sufficient.” Ethel could scarcely control her indignant feelings, as she listened to these insulting remarks issuing from the lovely lips of the girlish speaker, but after an effort she did control them, and without a word turned away, and again sought the side of the invalid. But she found him irritable and hard to please, and the moments passed in his room became intolerably’ long, and she sighed for the time to come when she could retire to her own apartment? oven though she knew a strange ami annoying duty would follow her th.-re. Finally the baronet told her if she was weary to go, adding harshly: “I am tired already of gazing at your pale face, ” then more kindly, as he saw she was startled by his rough way of speaking: “I hope I shall feel better In the morning; if so, I should like to have you read to me, or, as you understand music, will ' listen to a song.” [to be continued.] -■ ... — That the commercial practicability I of solidifying petroleum, upon which I ; doubt was cast some time ago, is estab- | i listed, is proved by the exhibition of 1 Prof. Millefleurs, before a meeting of I Parisian scientists, of several bricks of i petroleum, which lie has produced by an original process. The bricks were hard enough to be handled without inconvenience, yet soft enough to be cut with a stout knife. They burned slowly when touched with a lighted match. Prof. Millefleurs claims that they are non-explosive and inexpensive. Every man should have an aim in life, but he shouldn’t spend too much time aiming. The quick lot gets the pigeon when the trap is sprung. j

k reverie. by e^-aud g. aulanson. — I am drifting way in a beautiful bark Far out on Sboundlcsssea, And tho sweoiiof tho waves o'er the sounding deep; Has a inystlUul charm for mo. But tho heart that is sheltered with purplo and gold Is colil In lb? splcndi r and pride. And the waves ij their revelry mock as they pais. And bitternesj sweeps with tho tide. Thore aro botf^Mful isles and lowers of love. And glist’nlng fount tins of tears, And pitiful wWcks of sorrow and shame That pass with the licet Ing years. TV.oro aro treacherous depths where tho waters whirl, M’hore hato ami sorrow stay, Where the shattered wfecks on the breakers of fate Are silently drifting away. They tiro drifting away to rest with the years Where the sunlight has faded and gone. To wake in the.morn at tho judgment bar In the light of eternity’s dawn. Oh, voices of love, that falter and break, And speak of tho past ever more, Your echoes lead yu ’ncuth the uuy-star of hope I* Till they break on eternity's shore. Anita, lowa I Motels sffissioii 1 Remarkable Bmate.

DY EMILY THORNTON. CHArTF.It xm. THE EVENING TASK. A* an elegant clock, with old cathedral ’ chimes, struck tho hour o’ ten, Ethel, ■ with a pale fa-e, and trembling hand, I i Ijghtcd a candle, possessed herself of th*' ' strango-looklng knife, then opening the wardrobe, and diawtng back the bolt, stepped Into th*' passage and from thence i thru gh tho small door in the opposite ■ wall. As this opened, sho looked timidly around for tho outran o tn the i lined ) norns In which she was to find th*' i ba-ket of foo 1. Sho found hetself as -tsm as th*' small passage was left, in a l«»ng, straight, dark gallery < r corridor, that led di- • reetly t * w hat > r Reginald assured her wn* the Haunt 'I Tower. At th*' end where sho st**sl. how. v* r, on the i -fthand side, wa* ado r. fastened with an ohi-fasUlon*'*! Ir* e hernk. This led to ; ruin, and with a O ati; g heart sho of- n*' ! it Cl* by the door *he found a small covered basket that she knew must contain what she -ought. GraspinCef qul* kl) she again fastened the di»>r. as Sir B«-gfnald had instructed her lodo. Mi*l pas-el down th*' corridor. : There .’w found the entrance to tho | tower, nmf r> - hing to take twmo bright, sinishlny day to visit this spot, j 4^ • a* '*• ha I b* < n directed, t ) . re>l im-w mu»t

be w! a* 4 ■ -tI• p the point of the r'Tr The turned thrvo times, when theE (mis parted and there lay the •helve*. * opening'then the basket, sho found fowl In small pieces. consisting of broken b.Murlts, bits of chid n, potatoes, ami quite a quantity of meat cut In mouthful* This she placed on the shelves upm the w.xxi.n plate upon which it was heajM d. Then gently “hos ing tho J shelves, they slowly whirled around, and w hen the «amc side n turned to her tho ’ plate stov . ipon jt empty, ready to bo I placed again in 'he ba-k t. “Ih.it ape must have teen trained,” she thought, “to empty the plate and ret urn it!" Then she Inwardly smiled at his in- ! telligcneo. She 11-t nod for a moment, but all was ' still. Shoving to the panels, she found that they r* lo> \ed themselves, taking ■ up candlestick, knife and basket, sho placed the latter against tho outside door, fastened it securely, and r< a lied her own room in safety. Once bolted in, th*' poor girl gave a I sigh of relief, anti dropj>e 1 into a chair ‘ to calm hcr-df before she could proceed ' to return the candle and knife to their < , places. Ihe task required of her had teen a ! singularly unpl* asant one. She was a j brave young girl, and had endured but I few feelings of fear, but she had trembled, because the thing required so much

| secrecy. I She disliked mysteries of all kinds, and ■ her honest, open nature revolted from . the whole work. Had she n<H so'emnly promised her j aunt to assist the baronet in any erv- | ice ho might require, in order thus to j secure a safe honle and just guardianship, she would never have consented to the task she had now formed. “However,” she reflected, “there is certainly nothing wrong in a man’s keeping seciyt hi> p- session of a valua- > ble animal dS Ion? as he could attend . ■to his wau^ liimseij. ’ But when he , could not, y® thought his best mode | would ha' ieen to send for its owner. I But wheriTw the owner? Probably'so far off that the creature would die un'ess cared for, therefore there really seemed no other way. All this did not distress her so much as the words Sir Reginald had said about the Haunted Tower. This duty was easy and simple, and, as far as she could j see, silly, but not wicked; but preteadI ing a place haunted, and using strange j lights and machinery to keep up the evil i { appearance therein, she felt was deceitI ful and wrong, and she shuddered as she | thought of his words, that after awhile । he should require this assistance at her hands. She did not fancy, as has been said, any part of her evening tasks, but that was almost more than she could undertake. But how could sho avoid it now, when her word had been pledged? iiow refuse : at the time, when urged by a nervous, suffering, and unstrung human being ; just terribly wounded, whoso life almost . depended on being kept perfectly quiet? ; In view of his fearful situation, she j felt that she could do no less than under- 1 take to relievo him of his intense anxieties on the subject, and could see no way s of shirking the obligations laid upon f her. ’ , One thing, however, she decided to do, । 1

she should take some morning hour to I explore the ruins, and that Haunted I £ Tower, so that she might become accus- t tomod to all the dangers and peculiarities i of the place before other offices were re- J quired at her hands. | With this resolution still in her mind, ; sho restored the candle and knife to the i secret drawer, ami then sought the luxurious bed that awaited awaited her, and there fell at once into a pleasant sleep, from which she never aroused until tho bright rays of another morning sun stole into her room. Springing up, sho dressed as soon as possible, and opening her door found, by questioning a maid, that tho family did not rise until late, as their breakfast . hour was from ten to eleven. All being quiet in tho room of the in- : valid, sho returned to her own apart- I ment, and fastening tho door securely, !

resolved at once to start upon her exploring expedition, as sho felt that sho would be for at least an hour and a half unobserved ami mistress of her own time and motions. It was now half after eight. With a little of tl.o trembling nervousness of tho night before tho brave girl opened the intervening doors and stepped into tho corridor. f All was folded in the same solemn stillness that made the place oppressive on the previous night. Sho resolved to explore the ruined parts before she sought the tower, therei fore unhooked t I AS SllC SO SllO - L ered basket was still there. The door opened directly into a small rickety hall that led into several large rooms, all dusty, moldy, and more or less dilapidated. Broken windows, torn wall papers, bare rafters, seen through immense places where ceilings had fallen, were every where visible. Some rooms

were filled with broken furniture, pieces of old china, and fragments of time-worn, cast-off clothing. All, even the floors, were in an advanced state of decay. Ethel looked at these dilapidated objects ami found herself wondering why Sir Reginald had not had tho whole pulh d down and removed? Its destraction certainly would heighten tho value of property, while its presence *mlv spoke of neglect ami untidiness. On*' thing she observe<l in her ramble there was an easy mode of egress ami j ingress to tills part into the hall, and marks of recent footsteps on the floor j told that this formed tho entrance place 1 to the person who prepared and bought j the food sho was nightly to place on tho iron shelv* s. Another thing struck her; in all the । promises there was not the slightest ap- ( eaYaneeof the eom ealed rt om. In which sho knew the treasure was secreted. Only a bare, blank wall appeared upon the -Ido where she knew it must bo. Retracing In r steps after all had boon examined, -ho unfastened tho door, and । then sought tin* Haunted Tower. Tho door leading to this was closed, J but not bolted, so she opened it, ami i cros-lmj quite a largo square place, sho began ascending a long flight of stairs. The steps wore steep, and not at all ea-y, and she became very tired before she r* a* hed the top, but pressing on, she did r« n* h it, but not before she paused to rest u)H*n a I mud, flat landing; paused, | too, with horror, at an unexpected sight ' that there presented Its.-If. , It was tho stuffed image of a man, | fixed upon wires, that worked upon the same principle as the jumping-Jacks amuse children. W?' rht«, bowovor. was nearly as larc .

, ~ , „ ~ VV it > |(U life; Its head was hollow, with red mJuss ■ in plpce where the eyes would be, so thart a lighted glass lamp, placed within, would give a faming appearance to those eyes. Front each side horns projected, and she could easily imagine what the whole terrific effect must be to an outside beholder. This figure, she saw, could bo elevated and put in motion by winding ' up a crank to which it was attached. Arrangements for different colored lights were also on * very hand. Aft r carefully examining all the ma- I • hin.-ry until -Im ; erfeetly understo d । its workings ami the whole wii’ked plan to give supernatural appearance to tho I tower, Ethel passed upward until she | could gate without hindrance upon the । tail windows of this lofty place. Then exclamations of delight escaped I her, for there she could catch an unob- I stntc»*'d \ lew of the grand panorama that j stretched for miles and tulles away on every side. But she did not linger, fearing sho I would be seen by some of the villagers, : and her presence report'd to Sir Reg- i i inald. This visit she knew would be displeas- | [ ing to him, if he wished it to be a place ! i that should till every heart with fear, in j । order to keep visitors from it by day as i well as by night. After, then, one more glance around 1 on the glorious scene that lay before j her, she descend* d. glad that she had'

j been there, had scon the true inward- । ness of the place, for now it certainly could never have a feeling of terror with j which to inspire her heart. Lot any person ever speak to her of the 1 f< arful sights scon in that lonely Haunti cd Tower, she could turn away unawed, I knowing the whole thing to be a de- i ception, a heartless imposition, a wicked 1 fraud. CH API KB XIV. DAII.Y PROGRESS. I ■ Day after day passed, during which j Ethel became quite accustomed to her routine of work,and quietly persevered I in her duties. Nothing difficult to accomplish was required at her hands; nothing beyond spending a couple of hours each morning in her own room, writing letters, of which an abstract was taken from Sir ' Reginald’s own lips; then an hour or '

two, just as he felt inclined, reading the daily papers for his amusement. Very often would he find a chance to whisper the question: “Do you perform your evening tasks regularly and well? Does all go on as safely as I could wish?” Then when the answer camo, "All goes well,” he would seem so satisfied and relieved that she felt almost happy in "iving the information. About a month after her arrival at Glende»nlng Hall, she had been reading one afternoon a work in which he was particularly interested, when she was interrupted by the entrance of Dr. Elfenstein. As the baronet motioned to her to remain where she was during the interview, the regular nurse being' absent, and as the Doctor might need some things from her hand, she became intere-ted in the conversation which er, sued. P r ' k^P^eln was rather a small talker, and this natural reserve ! tended to make his professional interviews at the Hall I rief, and nsuaUy eou . . lined closely to his medical work.

But this morning ho seemed to llsgoji ami converse quite freely upon many of the topics of tho day. Finally ho com- 1 menced giving an account of tho severe storm that had swept over the country the night before the baronet’s accident and ended by relating his own adventures and what he had seen in tho tower. “Sir Reginald, I thought I would tell you this ami ask if you can explain tho meaning of the spectacle then manifested?” “I cannot,” was the reply Ethol watched for with anxiety. “I am told by people far and near of strange appearances in that tower, but I have never seen anything of the kind there myself, therefore put no faith in the story.” I "But you may believe me, sir, when I assure you such things are really to bo j seen there. Now, in order to satisfy my ; mind and perhaps enable mo to explain

tho mystery to the frightened inhabitants, I crav > your kind permission to visit the. premises. Have I that permission?” “It is impossible for me to grant it. When these things were first whispered about twenty-five years ago, we, as a family, were exceedingly annoyed by constant visitors to the spot, and tho thing became so much of a nuisance that it was closed forever from all inspection. No, you must not ask this, Doctor, as I cannot consent to the place being entered after being so long sealed. As it is, take my word for it and be satisfied. It is ? merely a vagary of the, brain, an optical - delusion, something to be for1 Dr. Elfenstein said no more, but in- ° wardly resolved to pay a surreptitious s visit there, if net a permitted one, as I this mystery he determined should be un- ■ raveled. • As he roso to leave, he happened to s glance toward the young girl opposite to

him, and saw her head bent low over tho book she held, while a sad and pained expression bad floated over her speaking face. Bidding them good-morning, he rode away, wondering “why Miss Nevergail should have seemed so deeply moved?” After the reading had concluded, tho baronet said he would excuse her further attendance upon him, therefore she started out for a ramble over the grounds. She had not gone far before she regretted having done so. as she was joined । a short distance from the house by Robert (rlendcnning, a man she instinctively ' disliked. This afternoon he seemed particularly i disagreeable, as he fell into his usual patronizing way, only embellishing it by gross and fulsome flattery. The truth was this young man was a great admirer of a pretty face, and from the first look into Ethel’s speaking eyes, and upon her rare beauty, he had acknowledged that he had never seen a person that so exactly met the standard of the beautiful he had raised in his soul. Rut her proud bearing in his presence, I her shrinking from his approach, gave ' such evidence of her dislike that he felt ! irritated, and consequently determined td annoy her in every way possible during her stay at the Hall, through a spirit of teasing. This flattery, ho saw at once, was utterly distasteful, therefore persevered in its use. “O my dear Miss Nevergail, the fates certainly have befriended me, this time! To think that I should have met thus your beautiful self, just as you s.art on a ramble, is too fortunate for belief! Which direction shall be go, for 1 at once i . £ 1 ‘ U I satuooaq o

•„ . . j “Mr. Clendenning. you will excuse me, if I decline your services. I came out for a quiet walk by myself, and therefore shall not certainly trespass upon your time.” “Pardon me, my angel, my time is of no consequence at all. I must insist upon accompanying yen, as I could never allow so lovely a lady to stroll around 1 without a protector.” “Sir,” safid Ethel, now really losing patience, “there is no danger certainly to be met with in your uncle’s grounds. But since you aver otherwise, I shall instantly return. ” So saying, the young girl wheeled ab.ut, and began rapidly to retrace her steps. “You will do no such thing,” was the insolent reply, as Robert sprang to her 1 side, seized her hand, and drawing it firmly under his arm, held it tight, and thus drew her back to the walk. “When I propose walking with a charming girl, I usually do it.” “Whether your presence prove agreeable or no?” “Whether my presence prove agreeable or no.” “Sir, release my hand. I have no desire to go further. I shall merely add that your presence is disagreeable, and your words of flattery almost insulting.” “Notwithstanding that, my dearest girl ” “I am neither your ‘dearest girl’ nor your ’angel,’ and you have no right to

i address me in that style. I am your : uncle’s secretary and amanuensis, and । am here merely to carry out his wishes, J and work, not to be attended by you i f i any way whatever,” returned the [ indignant Ethel, once more disengaging ' her hand, and ret eating toward the j house. “Miss Nevergail, go, since you are so determined, but remember, although you decline my frienship, nothing you may do will provoke my enmity, and before many days you will ;pend hours in my com^iaiiy voluntarily.” Ethel made no an.-wer, and tin? next moment re-entered the hall, leaving the chagrined youth to his bitter reflections. [to BE CONTINUED. I An Amateur Detective Agency. Sweet Girl—“Fa, the house next door was robbed last nl«-ht.”

o ' Pa—“ Merc y! Next door ?” I Sweet Girl—“ Yes, and the burglars ’ have been in two or three houses on | this block within a week.” ’ ' Pa—“l know it. I know it. It’s ter- ; ■ rible! But what can we do ?” 1 Sweet Girl I was thinking it might i be a good plan for Mr. Nicefellow and me to sit up a few nights and watch , for them.”— New York Weekly. Old and New Schools. Small Boy—“l’m too sick to co io ; school to-day.” b Mamma —^Then lie down and I’ll send for a doctor.” “Dr. Pellet'?” No. He s a homeopath. I shall send for Dr. Castor, the allopath.” “Never mind, mamma; I feel better. Where's my books'?”— Goo I Neus. We lon’t Know. i Somebody wants to know why circles i please the eye. We don’t know, any : more than we do why rings control in j politics.— Rum's Horn.