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Show THE one who fort. “Yoru was hear making those a_ great sighs that ef- escape Hl from thepiano?” said Bertha. “It is he, he that calls me; and since he has come we inust go to meet him.” So saying she.caught up the lamp and added: “Hollow me.” The nurse followed her like a shadow. They entered the garden and ap- WESTERN ceeded slowly. All at once the old ruins disappeared behind a hill, as if the earth had opened up and swallowed them; a few steps further and they reappeared as suddenly, while close at hand the remains of the ruined portico almost blocked up their way. From this position they could see the ruined walls, the crumbling partitions, Jane caught uttered a hold Bertha of cry WEEKLY. of terror with all and her strength, the father endeavored to rise, /Bertha welcomed him, if it be possible but being unable to support himself, to speak thus, with sad joy, and it was fell upon his knees at the side of his daughter. It was dence of not possible to escape the evitheir own senses. Whatever the sunken ceilings, and here and there the hidden cause of this mystery might amidst the bare stones the solitary be, the shadow that had just appeared flowers of the ruin: The arches that in the cloister was clearly the realimage, proached the pavilion. The pale light supported the vault of the chapel alone the identical person of Adrian Baker. of the lamp illumined Bertha’s face; it resisted the ravages of time. And Bertha, her father and the nurse The nurse would willingly have re- could not fail to recognize it. spread around her a fantastic brightuess that made the darkness surrounding turned at once to the cottage; as for His blonde hair, his pale brow, the Bertha’s father he would never have ;contour of his figure, his air, his voice, them all the more impenetrable. The nurse felt herself dragged along gone there at all if his own feelings had his expression—were all there before by Bertha; she advanced without her been consulted; but Bertha advanced their astonished eyes. _ own volition; aforce more powerful than through the ruins of the portico and it Was it the fantastic creation of their was necessary to follow her. _ terror urged her on. | perturbed senses? Was it an imaginary In this manner they crossed the garPassing under the bare arches which phantom, or was it a reality? Could all den and reached the door of the pavil-) threatened to fall down upon her, she three of them be at the same time under ion. Here Bertha paused and in alow penetrated into the chapel, to the very: the same hallucination? Their fixed voice called out: center of the monastery; and _ here thought, indeed, was Adrian Baker, and * Adrian!” among the crumbled walls and tottering | how many times do our diseased imaginaBut her voice was not answered. pilasters, they discovered four avenues, tions picture as real, things that are Then she entered. Jane caught hold which joined each other in the form ofa mere illusions. Thestate of their minds, of Berthato keep from fainting and square. That must have been the clois- the place, the hour—of course; the wind closed her eyes. / . ter; in the center of it were the re- produces sounds that are deceiving; the The rays of the lamp lighted the pa- mairs of a filled up cistern. lights and shades that mingle and conyilion, and the very solitude appeared Here Bertha seated herself upon .a found themselves in the mystic hour of amazed at the unlooked for visit. The fragment of cornice that was imbedded. twilight, people solitude with the piano was open and mute. in the accumulated rubbish. She strongest visions. And in the midst of “No one! exclaimed Bertha, sigh- seemed calm amidst that scene of deso- | those ruins, fast beginning to assume : ing. lation. The father and nurse approached| capricious forms and to move about, so “No one! echoed Jane, opening her her with faces white with terror; they to speak, under the first shadows of eyes. had heard the sound of footsteps in the night, it would not be surprising if they And it was true; the pavilion was chapel; more than this, Jane had seen| believed themselves in the presence of deserted. a shadow gliding along,she knew not how nor where, but was quite certain that she had seen it. There was no doubt; Bertha’s piano hadthe marvelous quality of sounding without the intervention of human hands. Such being the case it was essary, moreover, to admit velous an instrument nec- that so mar- must also be a consu.an ite musician, because manipulated with the skill that great professors alone attain to. But since the nurse cannot conceive how a piano can sound unless a hand moves the keys,she has concluded in her own mind that it is the ghostly hand of some invisible spirit of the other world, om |) ‘ais was hardly an admissible con- Bertha stepsand can these They are follow us; smiled and said: ‘Noise of a shadow! Well, what harm steps and this shadow do us? the steps of Adrian Baker that it is his shadow that accom- panies us. What is there strange in this? Do you not know that I wear him in my heart? Do you not know that I expect him, that [have always awaited him?” The father and nurse trembled at the name of Adrian Baker. “Well, my daughter,” said the first, ‘ve are far from the cottage and the sun is setting—-it is growing late.” “Yes, yes,” interrupted Jane, “let us the spectre of Adrian Baker. But the fact is, the shadow, instead of disappearing or becoming transformed as is usual with chimerical apparitions, acquired clearer and more exact outlines as it continued to approach them. It finally reached Bertha and gently clasped the hand that she extended to it. It was Adrian Baker, and were well- nigh made interminable by the terror that possessed them. On the other hand the days were everlasting to Bertha and she longed for night with anxious impatience. é She wished for pastime one afternoon. to visit the ruins of the monastery, and _ her persistency was such as to admit of no delay. Her father and the housekeeper decided to accompany her, and the three set out together. shone with the luster of supreme triumph. : “Tt is I,” he said with agitated voice. I, Adrian Baker—I am not aspectre that The distance from the cottage to the ‘monastery was not great, but they pro- Gy “Tt is I, Bertha, it is I.” “He!” exclaimed the young girl, holding out her arms in the air. iron grating, but they dared not enter; they glanced in uneasily and fled away in terror; they perched upon the branches of the trees and their sad chirpings seemed like moans. Breathing adeep sigh, which seemed to come from the very depths of his soul, Adrian Baker said with husky voice: “Unhappy me! I have killed her!”. “Ah! yes,” exclaimed the priest, slowly moving his head, “Divine justice!“Doubt kills!” [THE END.| er RE Re LIFE’S YEAR. What do the changing seasons bring?— Full nests the storms will render mute, And blossoms over-thick for fruit; Too soft a breeze, too blue Bertha wasso overcome that she was obliged to sit down, while Adrian Baker continued: “Rorgive me. I nave put your heart to a terrible test; but the doubts of mine were even mere terrible. Doubts of the world filled me with fearful distrust—and I wished to fathom the depth of your love. You have resisted absence and even death. Your love for me has not been a fitful caprice. You did not deceive yourself or me in swearing eternal A day the morrow shall deny,— The fickle, fair, delusive spring! There is no need of recounting what resounded among the ruins: “Bertha! Bertha!” occurred at the cottage that night: It The sun had just set and the twilight: was a night of sorrow, of grief and shadows, as if issuing from the ruins, anguish. A physician had to be summoned from the city. Bertha was dying. were beginning to shroud the mouldering walls and the broken columns. In Adrian Baker seemed wild with grief; the one of the angles of the cloister ap- unhappy father wept as if his heart peared a moving shadow. It advaneed would break; the nurse stole away where slowly until it reached the center,where she could give full sway to her overpow, the filled up cistern was. Here it stopped, ering emotions. and in a soft but clear voice pronounced a funeral In the éarly morning the physician returned to the city, having exhausted every resource to save the life of the dying girl. It was now necessary to summon the physician of the soul. Eagerly he walked in and found himself face to face with George, while the elder Grimshaw sat near. him. As their eyes fell upon him he noticed both faces grow a shade paler, while the father’s hands tightened on the arm of couch in the middle of the room, which his chair, and his breath came hard and was illumined by six wax tapers that fast. “George!” cried Richard, advancing filled the death chamber with melancholy splendor; the window was open and and holding out his hand, “‘you, at least, allowed the morning light to enter; the know me and welcome me home again!” “A most remarkable resemblance, autumn air, tearing the dry leaves from the garden trees, tossed them upon the truly,” said George sneeringly, gazing inanimate form of Bertha, as if the dead steadily at Richard without noticing the proffered hand. were rendering tribute to the dead. “Most remarkable,” echoed the elder Attracted by the light of the tapers a white butterfly stole silently in an: flew Grimshaw in a strained voice. “George! Mr. Grimshaw!” cried in circles around the head of the deRichard. “Oh, my friends, if you knew parted one. They kept watch over the dead through what I had passed, you would Tell me for maiden; the father, bending over the not trifle with me now. bier under the burden of his great pity’s sake, why do you act to me like sorrow; the nurse, bathed in tears that this? What do you mean?” “T mean,” replied George, touching a would not dry; Adrian, with eyes dry and brilliant, pale, immovable, silent, bell,“that your nefarious game is blocked, terrible; and the priest, with crossed young man.” “George, what is it? What do you arms and his head bowed upon his mean by those words? How have I bosom, murmuring devout prayers. Such was the scene the sun of that changed that even you, my oldest friend, morning. unveiled in Bertha’s room. schoolfellow, playmate, do not know me! The birds of the garden paused at the you cannot mean it for a joke, and yet—” comes from the grave—” the echoes entirely ceased, another voice these words: not long before the end came. The corpse was placed on his face clusion,-for the decision seems _ suffi- return.” cieltitly confirmed that spirits#possess no Bertha drew close to her father and hands. But the nurse did not stop for said, affectionately: such fine distinctions, and she was firmly “Father mine, lam not mad. Jane, I }, of the opinion that the spirit of Adrian | have not lost my reason. Adrian prom‘Baker went unrestrained through the ised to return to me, andhe will. I am cottage. Condemned, perhaps, to eter- waiting forhim. What madness is there nal torment, it took pleasure in tor- in this? I grieve you whenI do not affection. I wished to leave you in order menting the living even after wish to. I havea thousand times on to watch you, and I wished to die in ordeath. my knees besought God to wrest his im- ‘der to understand you. I have followed And it must be a prank, because the age from my heart, to remove from my you everywhere; I have not been far - serenade. is repeated every night.. The memory all thought of him; but God, from you a single moment. My sweet family, are aroused; they hasten toward who sees all things, who fathoms them Bertha, you have waited: for me living the pavilion, and the piano becomes si- all and is omnipotent, has not designed and waited forme dead. If you wait for lent; they arrive and findno one there. itso. Why? He alone knows.” me, I said to you, ‘your own heart will It was observed that the melodies BerHer father’s eyes filled up with tears, announce my return,’ and now you see I tha played in the morning were invaria- and the nurse hid her face in her hands have returned. I felt a profound tendervly repeated by the piano at night. in a vain endeavor to restrain the sobs ness for you, and a fearful doubt assailed Jane was assailed by constant terrors; that rose in her throat. me: Had myriches dazzled you? Forin the house there was no rest. BerBertha continued: ‘give me, Bertha. A knowledge of the tna’s father was at a loss to aecount for “It is indeed late now, but I feel very world had frozen my faith in woman. I such a marvel. His ...ud was confused tired. Let us wait a moment.”’ doubted everything, your heart, yourself and his heart filled with alarm. DayNaught was said in answer, nau ght even. light dispelled their fears, and it seemed could have been said in answer, for Bertha crossed her hands, and, raising to them that they were the victims of a their voices had wholly failed them. her eyes toward heaven, exclaimed sadly: vain delusion; then, arming themselves The three - maintained an unbroken “Oh, what cruel injustice!” with heroic resolution, they contrived silence. “Yes,” interrupted Adrain, “cruel inplans to penetrate to the bottom of the Suddenly they looked at each other justice! But you have reanimated me, dark mystery. with indescribable apprehension, for you have breathed into my soul the It was necessary forsome one to con- they heard a sigh, a human sigh, which breath of life.” ceal himself in the pavilion, and there seemed to rise from the ruins that sur“Ah,” continued Bertha, placing her await developments; in this manner rounded them. Could it bea puff of hands upon her bosom, “if it be too alone could it be known whose the wind that had wounded itself between late.” fingers were that played upon the the sharp joints of the broken walls and Then she turned and said to her father _ piano, was moaning from very pain? and nurse: Steadfast in this design they awaited -Bertha rose and lifting her voice, “T feel very cold, let us return to the the first shadows of night. But when called out: cottage;’’ and resting herself on the arm night came the courage of the strongest “Adrian! Adrian!” of Adrian Baker she turned to go. . grew faint; theair became filled with The others followed in silence. The Her voice broke upon the air and was frightful shadows, the silence with mysfinally lost in the distance; but before loving father understood all, but the terious sounds; no one ventured to go poor nurse comprehended nothing. out of the house. Their nights spent in watching, and they were The dawn had scarcely broke when a priest alighted at the door of the cottage. a sky, | What do the flying seasons bring?— The tumult of the thronging sense, The leaping blood, untamed, A fire that smites intense! through ‘heart _ brain, and | A fierce delight that grows to pain, And summer bloom that hides a sting! What do the passing seasons bring?— Ripe fruit that withers in its prime; Strong grain that drops at harvest-time; The splendid colors of decay; The fever-wasted autumn day In its gay mantle shivering? What do the fleeting seasons A lifeless desert, pale and vast, “Tt is no joke, as you find to your cost, my friend,” replied George as the office boy entered. “Tell Mr. Andrews to come in,’’ said George to the boy. ; “Here I am,’ said a gruff voice asa big, burly man ;tepped into the room and closed the door. “Arrest this man,” said George, pointing to Richard. ‘“He is an imposter and a blackmailer.” . “You make the charge, sir?” asked Andrews of George as he stepped up to. Richard. “Yes,” answered George. Before Richard realized what had happened, Andrews had snapped a pair of handcuffs upon his wrists, and said: “Come, young fellow, no foolishness. [ve got you now.” The touch of the steel aroused Richard. He looked at the handcuffs and shuddered. : Then he looked at George Grimshaw and cried: ae ; “My God! Can you do this thing, George!” George Grimshaw’s eyes fell for a single second before Richard’s gaze. Then he said: “Richard Arden is dead. You are an impostor, as I can prove.” For one moment Richard stood like one inatrance. In that one moment a mist seemed to roll from before his eyes, and a horrible suspicion forced itself upon him. “You villain!” he cried. | Then bring?— will | Andrews dragged him from the office, while George Grimshaw lay senseless and bleeding upon the floor. Richard made no resistance as the constable led him out of the building into the street. He did not notice that many persons With frozen silence overeast; Forgotten dreams of joy and woe Buried beneath the winter snow,— And, far, beyond, a hope of spring! who passed him, stopped and gazed after him in wonder and surprise. His mind was to busy with the sudden revelation of his friend’s treachery. The constable led him to the town jail and locked him in. : Foiled by Fate; Richard Arden’s “You'll have ahearing in the morning,” said Andrews, as he left him. “In the morning,” repeated Richard, “in the morning,” sitting down on the pallet which was to serve for his bed. Then he began to consider his position. How could he prove his identity? He | thought and thought, and the more he thought, the more the utter helplessness Fortune. bye ee RICHARD About Richard of his position forced itself upon him. CHAPTER XX. INTERVIEWS THE GRIMSHAWS. three to hours’ Ardentown. travel He got He was powerless. He could do noth- ing. brought off - at the station and walked up the street, across the bridges that spanned the river, and in a few minutes was standing in front of the warehouses on the wharf, whieh bore the sign “Arden & Grimshaw.” We pass over his emotion as each familiar object met his view. Suddenly he sprang to his feet with a cry of joy. “Skewes’ confession !”’ To be opened in Ardentown. That would undoubtedly prove that he had escaped from the Vulture and the rest of his story he could prove by Joe Land. Asthese thoughts ran through his mind he was searching in his pockets for the envelope ia which he had sealed the oe cate With a quick, eager step he passed confession. . «© How: glad he was that he had humored through the warehouse and knocked at the door of the private office. He had the dying skipper’s whim, and that he attracted no attention from the clerks had kept that soiled envelope through and other employes, who only saw a all his trials and travels. © He searched for it first in one pocket decently dressed young man going to the and then im another, until he had office on business. pcs “Come,” ealled a voice from within, searched them all; still he did not find which ke recognized as that of George it. Still he would not give it up until he4y Grimshaw. ! |