THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 301, 21 December 1907, Page 3

THE STORYTELLER.

i *>.. <THE SILENT HOUSE. lEAVES FKUM A LADY DISPENSER'S DIARY. It must have been three or four months after my " locum" work wn liampstead Koad a thing of the past, when I found myself in quarters with Dr. Holme*, the only medical nun in the sleepy little village of Clevedon. It was certainly the last place where one would expect to meet with adven tores, bat all the same, something very exciting did happen. One day I was in the surgery with Dr. Holmes, when the parlourmaid came to my that a Mr. Eliot was waiting to aee him in the consulting-room. The doctor raised his eyebrow >, and then nodded to me. I "1 told you so," he said. "That boy's been here every other day this week—he'll have a complete breakdown before long. Hew as necrotic as he can be, not to mention the consumptive tendency. Why on earth wont he do what I tell him?" He strode up and down for a second or so, and finally went off to hi.- patient with a weary shrug or his broad should#TS. I wished 1 couH eee Francis ; EliOt; he sounded interesting, and just | then everything at Clevedon was a trille i dull.

Clevedon is a quaint little tow.: perched on the Sussex Downs; a beautiful spot where many people go in the spring and summer for their health, as the air is wonderfully drv and br»cing. Clevedon Manor, the Kliots' place. Res some miles away, a lonely, desertedlooking pile of grey stone, standing bleak and bare on the Moor Road. Sometimes I wißh I were back there, breathing the glorious air of those downs, laden with the scent of heather and gorse, and now and then, as I sped part on my bicycle, a peep through the maze of pins trees of the water that lay at the foot of the Manor House—and at other times I shudder as I think of the great, grey place—the Silent House, I called it—and feel thankful

that I never need pass that way again. The surgery door swung open, and Dr. I / Holmes returned.

" The boy's not well," he began. " I must go and see him to-morrow, but he must get away, and with some suit ahle companion. Hia cousin's not the one for him. He'll go W his head if lie ■top* there. Medicines won't do him •aj goodl" " I suppose he will go away, then, won't he?" I remarked. Or. Holmes twisted rouud.

"That's just what he won't do,"- he Exclaimed, almost viciou-ly. "He insists on remaining half-buried Li that ]iole of his, poring over some wretched family tone*. Xo wonder he sees ghosts!" "Ghosts!" I exclaimed, startled. "Does that dreadful house contain ghosts!" fie laughed. "They are nothing but dreams, of touise," be said. " His cousin, Lady Angela, tells me the whole family is subject to nightmares. And he's an unnatural sort of creature, yon know, Miss Eastings—he's never had a chance of glowing hito s a man. Ilia parents both died when he was a.baby, and left him in charge of an eccentric old man, Bob Henty, who would not let him go to school with other lads, or even have a single companion, so far as I can make oat When old Henty died, a year or so ago, the hoy was left practically alone, with the place on his hands. Then it waa he came down here to live, and Lady Angela, who's his next-of-kin. was the only relation to come to his aid. The rest all hated his mother, I believe, ami this is their way of showing it!" I sat over the surgery fire late thai evesnig, thinking about this Strang - story. Mrs. Holmes, seeing the light still burning, came to ask if she con 11 lelp me. She thought I was extra busy, and, was surprised when she saw no signs of work.

"I'm thinking about Mr. Eliot," I said. "I fed so horribly sorry for him. Why doesn't his cousin take hiuTaway and ' give him a jolly good timet" Mrs. Holmes knelt by the fire, warming her hands. -"1 tfani.Jmow," she said. "Lady Angela Eliot is a puzzle to mc. (if coarse she's fond of Francis—she must or she wouldn't devote herself to him as she does, and yet "

She paused. She had a way of stopping like this, and it left so much room for conjecture. The next day was Sunday, and I went with Dr. Holmes on his morning round, 1 so that Coles, the chauffeur, might have a holiday. The Manor House visit was a lengthy affair. I became tired of sitting in the tar alone, even though I bad a book, and I wished someone would come anil talk to me. But there was no one anywhere near apparently, and not a sound came from the home. The trees were at still as on a hot summer's day—even the birds scarcely seemed to sing—such complete silence filled me with a sense of desolation. I could not detect any sign of humaD life, until something made me look to the extreme left of the great pile, and there at a large window stood a boy of perhaps sixteen. His eyea were intently fixed on me. it was an attractive face, but almost giriwh, with its pink and white complexion, and fair, waving hair. I guessed It was Francis, and just then-the door opened and Dr. Holmes jumped into the oar. He waved to the boy at the window, and we were soon far away on the moor. Ths doctor was, strangely silent; I

think the case bothered him a little; iot- myself, I was glad, to be among the heather and gorse again—something in the air around Clevedon Manor chilled mel

It most have been annul a week arter tMa, when, one afternoon, just as I was leaving the surgery, I was told that Lady Angela Eliot had called, and wa i

asking for me. I had never met her. so I thought it must be a mistake: hut it was not.

She greeted me with every appearance of friendliness, and though 1 was | quite prepared to see someone very beautiful, it still gave me a thrill of astonishment to look at her. She was a wonderful picture. Her face was as clear-cut as a cameo, and almost as white, in sharp contrast to the coils of black hair that encircled the small head. She was tall, indeed of a large build, and I suppose she must hav« been about thirty. Every movement was graceful and dignified; her featarea, I thought, had borrowed the perfection of the sea-shell; she should have charmed me utterly, but, when our eye* met, something in me recoiled, and a feeling almost akin to fear swept over me.

She said she had a great favour to Mk—would I help her! I could not imagine her asking a favour of the King himself, but I listened while she continued: " It's just a whim of mv cousin's." she said, "and now that I fear lie is ill. Ido all that I can to gratify him. lie fa wondering so much if you will come and see him—ever since last Sunday, when he saw yon in the car. he has talked about you. Is it too much to tdc you to come one day!" I was quite taken by surprise; her vofcw was soft and entreating; out of all proportion, it seemed to me. when it was such a email thing she had to Mk. I hope I don't go about suspecting people—l don't think I do, but certainly I did not feel she had given me her real motive for this visit. I said yes. I would come if she thought it would do him good, though I was at a loss to see how it could.

"I'm so #orry he i* ill like thk" I Bald. <r l* he going away later on':" Her answer was very emphatic ** Dr. Holmes himself says then* U no air like thin amongst the moors—nothing t<i equal it for client complaint- *uch in Franri* suffers from~so why should ie go from home when he hates the idea po ?"

T felt I had «ald the wrong thing. Evidently she did not wish him to go. and it vrtis not for me to point out that if was hi* nerves, and not hi* d«di«\ate ch*«t. that froubW I)r. TTolme*. We talked «n a ltttlr, and tlnMi 'he *«ked m<» about my work, finally -ayJng that she should so like to Dm fcUrjjery. T wa* rather proud of thi* Kttle den Of mine. so T show*! nip hoard*. drawers, instrument-. »-.ibineK And drewing-case, and her inters neve r once flagged I was wishing ; t would and that she would go, when -!"■ turned Tound suddenly: "Do com* baek to tea now." -die -aid M can take you in the ear. and it wil! I* •urh a fturprUe for Francis." T demurred a moment—T should have liked to a«k Doctor or Mrs. Holmeabout it first, but T line! no ready excuse. 9Ad »o I said I would go with her.

"Come and see lira. Holmes," I suggested, while 1 get ready." " She's out. I met her as 1 came in," was her answer, sinking into my old armchair. •• I will wait for you here. 1 like the smell."

She was still bitting thrre when I returned, live minutes lut-■ a picture of calm beauty and pattern--'. and yet the only strong feeling I li.'-I for her was one of repulsion and iislikc. Wasn't it curious!;

Francis and I liked ■ .oh other from the very first. It w.i- a queer friendship, starting in sucl: ~ funny way, an.l for some time I could not conquer my aversion to the house/and its surroundings, but after a v/iile I grew used to it, and went there quite often with the vain idea of cheering up Dr. Holmes' patient. He was always delighted when 1 ap-peared-somctimes lie would meet me in the porch and sometimes his cou-li would not allow him to come out, am 1 would find him in his own sitting-root, m the left win?. 1 Mieve I did ■ m' [ good for the time, but be was not re ll v getting any better-in fact".- I felt he was daily getting worse. His nerves we!v in a shocking statehe eon Id not endure the silence that reigned all r-nind him. yet the least sound startjd him terribly; hut thoii.-h Lady AngM had warned me of the ghost-taleMiH.il she said his imagination hadfljured up. it was sometime before li» alluded to it.

At la,t one day-he was looking more wretchwl t||an USUlll — (Ul| , ( wiy sitting m his room alone, when he produced an old, tattered book, and pointed to a picture in it.

"Uxk," he whispered, "that's the Clevedon ghost. She lives in these walls -she wanders here at night-it's she that s killing me—l know it is!" His voice had sunk to almost nothin™ —he looked about him nervously. ° My old fear of the place began to creep over me again, but I pulled mvself together.

"There aren't such things as ghosts'" L 3a 'd glidedly. I expect people thought it _ wouldn't do to have a place like this without one, especially as there are sliding panels here and there, so tlicv just made her up!" And 1 laughed. I ike you to laugh," he said meditatively • pretty. Angela never 1 ' i , Hn t a J ok(l " He laid a thin hand on mv arm. " She came last night— right through this room, and through the door to my bedside-in one hand site carries a bright light-just like this picture, and long plaits of fair hair hang down to her knees!"

He Has talking rapidly; lie was very exerted, and I tried to 'soothe ],i,„ "I don't believe it," I said. "It's a dream, fit for a story-book!" 1 walked round the old,oak-panelled room; it was more like a hall in size, and at one end was a door leading into another huge place, his bedroom. I i m . ■Jgined him lying there at night, with the door between tli; two rooms left open, and the moonlight perhaps streaming in at one of the windows left uncurtained in tlie sitting-room, and playing Sad . I , ! av ? c " ith feverish imagination! Dont lie a goose!" l wont on. -J should burn that book, and just forget you ve ever seen it-then go away and g< " j J '"i'Py, ■mil you'll eoino back ready to laugh yourself!" But he Was enormously influenced bv his cousin's will, and sh.', 1 knew was determined to keep him at Clevedon. so lie only shook his head at mv little >peech.

"\ou would believe me if vou saw her, I suppose?" he said. "Ves, if I did. But I'm not afraid of ?■!«*; s " tlle - v nevpr let me see them! « by, 1 shouldn't mind evcling over this moor at midnight all alone!" I regretted my random speech instant- \ I cant think what made me sav i'.

•Then do it!" he said, a scarle&unt glowing on each cheek. "Conn-f over the moor and watch by this house alone at midnight, and I promise never to believe in the Clevedon ghost again!" AH right," I said, but my heart sank Down in the hall I met Lid.v Angela. Sometimes 1 fancied she was nnnoved at seeing me, but the instant she had created this impression, she set to work to dispel it. I was just saying good-live, when she called me back. Miss Hastings," she said. '• I wonder if you could darken Fran-is' medicine for him ? It's a silly thing to ask, and perhaps you had better not mention it to nini. hut he is so whimsical—he savs it's nothing but water!"

It was curious that the boy did not toll me this .himself, hut at the same time there was no room in mv mind to wonder aliout it, so perturlied' was I at the thought of that midnight ride. (Stupidly enough, but luckily. ;ii- you will -ee. I forgot to mention it to Dr." Holmes for some few days—when I did, he smiled, and we sent him a fresh liottle coloured with "sarsoe co. - ') I shivered when I thought of that dark, lonely moor road; how could I do it? And yet hadn't I promised? Some days elapsed, and I avoided the Manor House. But Francis sent word liy Dr. Holmes saying how much he ■ wanted to see me, so I went, though very reluctantly. I hated him to think

I was frightened, and I thought I should see it in his eyes. But lie didij't allude to it at first—he lay on his sofa looking so weak and ill that I felt alarmed about him. "N hy am I to have black medicine now?" he asked me, picking lip the fresh bottle which had been sent the evening before. "And scented with lavender, too?" 1 was surprised at the question, but the lavender 1 raffled me. "Lavender!" I said. '•There's no lavender in it!" The bottle stood near me, and for answer he pulled out the cork. "Smell," he said.

There was no doubt about it—it was quite strong of the scent. I couldn't speak for a moment, for shrttr surprise! This was the new mixture that I had darkened—what mistake had I made?

I rapidly thought of the prescription —there was nothing ill it with any scent whatever! And what was there in the surgery containing lavender? Nothing: nothing but one bottle in the poison clipboard, refilled some little time ago--the dark red solution of arsenic, which I knew I had not touched since!

Quite unreasonably, a picture of beautiful Angela Eliot in the surgery Hashed before my eyes—an awful idea seized me. 1 picked np tile battle: it slipped, and half the medicine lay on the floor.

"f am sorry," I cried, mopping it np with my handkerchief. " I will send you some more to-night. Don't take anything else if it doesn't come in time. How stupid of me not to remember howit smell!" I put the bottle in my pocket, with the little that remained in it. " I'm going to take this back for the number." [ remarked. "And will von leave it here at twelve o'clock tonight?" he asked, with a -mile.

I felt myself tlllsli -v.irlet. So 111' dill | think I was frightened and wouldn't come!

" Xo." I answered. " I won't waken the household so late. l!ut I will come to-night, as I said, and to-morrow you will have to keep your promise!" I don't think I have ever felt so horrible as I diil that evening on my way back to the surgery. Half my brain reeled with a sickening idea that had seized me aliout that lavender-smelling mixture —the other half was haunted with a growing terror of the moor at midnight.

Once at Dr. Holmes', T flew to the poison cupboard. That one bottle was half empty! Why had I not noticed it before? Why had I never troubled to have that broken lock mended? I

couldn't tell. Half dazed with a dread of 1 scarcely knew what, T waited impatiently for the doctor. But lie didn't come to the -urgery that evening: he was dining out T and in my fear of what might happen before the morning, I scribbled <lll a note of paper: I " Please don't send any medicine to Francis Eliot until I fee yon." Ami I returned to mv room, bewildered

•nd wretched. Who was it told me Lady Angela would -unroll fo all Francis* property when ho died? And how many miles was it across the moor at midnight? I iried to eoneentrafe my thoughts, to think rationally, Tmt everything was uhirl'ng round and round in wild con-

fusion. | I wonder if lam a coward? At a •uarter to twelve [ Mole out of the rot - Mg<* door, quite coM with fright. Mrs. '•rry. n»y hindlady. was fast a-leep. I I ':ik-w li.iw T wished I were, too!

Th* ni-ht was inkv black the light from my lamp -eenir-d to make it blneknr. wlrl- a sound from a -waving hraneh ihnfv.t made me fall of]' mv bicvcle.

\'erv -onn I had ?eff the few houses behind; th re was nothing but a black, 'vi'nlm-r road -black inas-ps of firs here •nd there—black distance.

A feeling of mereasing told me J rnu-t hp on the hill nr>ir the Mnmr Hon*?; there were no lights to distinguish it. I rode through the old iron

gates, my heart heating fast, and stood opposite tlie front of the great, grey place. The silence was awful—the gloom nppaling, tut I set my teeth, and determined that I would not fly instantly. I began to count. Sixty will do, I thought. One—two—three—four a light in a window, Francis' big, hare window! Had he heard inc. I stopped counting—my gaze was fixed on the left wing. I saw a woman pass moving slowly, in long, clinging white —a tall woman carrying a blight light; long plaits of fair hair hung down on either side, and her features were clearcut as the cameo! She was gone in a moment—gone through the open door, and before 1 had realised the full horror of what L saw, there came screams of A- r and then a pathetic cry: "Angela! Angela!" :'or a moment 1 could not collect my tli.uglitsj when I did, 1 , they were for I'Y'iicis. Sonicoi e must go to Mulsh old 1 awaken the house! I was close to the big, grey-pillared porch; I groped for the bell and pulled it feverishly. What a feeble sound it made! Suppose no one heard 't ? Suddenly I thought of the fire b> II; I lan round the house, and in a moment I had found the rusty chain, and was clanging the huge thing up in the roof, until the night echoed Willi the noise I came back to the front again-saw lights dancing to aad fro at the windows and heard startled voices. People were running to Francis' room—perhaps they thought lie was dying, and that his cousin hail rung the alarm bell from inside to call them.

I istood there watching, sick with horloi at what 1 had discovered. I still could smell lavender; lily thoughts rushed helter-skelter, but always centriii" round a white, clear-cut face. As 1 stood there, motionless, 1 heard a wellknown sound, and-TJr. Holmes' motor rushed up to the house! He saw me, but T couidn't explain my presence. ('<> to J'raiK'is,' J said, and tli*vi T nank. a silly heap, on to the grass. I hate fainting—it's so ignominious; but I suppose things had been a little too much for mo.

It appears thai my note had alarmed the doctor, uuea■ as he already was ab,nil the ease—ln- had just come' home and scarcely read i! when the sound of my furious ringing reached his ears. He knew the bell, and < me to the spot instantly. Fortunately lie- was the Eliot*' nearest neighbour—in fact, the village itself lay so far away that unless my ringing had been both longer and stronger. no one there could have heard the alarm, for which I was truly thankful. A crowd of country people would have Iktii very trying just tflen. lie went straight to the boy. The place was alive with servantsall terrified out of their wits, of what, tliev didn't know! Francis was in a state of collapse, and when he saw the doctor, begged him feebly to take him away with him.

But where was Lady Angela ? Xo one could find her—she had completely disappeared, and not even her maid, who slept next door, could shed light on the mystery.

Francis shuddered at the mention of his cousin's name, and nothing could induce him to stop In the house that night.

The first thing T remember is the sudden stop of the car at my lodgingsFrancis sat opposite me, his hands over his eyes.

It was a horrible night—l was glad when daylight, came, and I could hurry to the surgery to make things a little clearer to Dr. Holmes. But I found that was already done—evidently the boy had lain awake that night, thinking of my coming, and had recognised in the Cierecion ghost his own cousin Angela! It took very few words from me 1q explain my note, for Dr. Holmes' eyes were completely opened, and he had a! most guessed at the inclining liefore 1 sluiweT him the little medicine remaining in the bottle. He looked very grave. '■ It is to be hoped Lady Angela Kliot will disappear for a long, long time." he said at last. "Tt will lie easier for us."

.My suspicions were only too true. The medicine was saturated with that solution of arsenic, the colour, of course, being quite concealed in the dark mixture, and there's no doubt one or fwo doses from that bottle would have been fatal.

I suppose Lady Angela's plan had been to throw all blame on the dispenser of the medicine; it was clumsily done, and the kindest tiling possible is to think of her as insane.

When t last heard from Mrs. Holmes. Francis was travelling with a friend of old Bob Ilentv, and the Manor House was for sale. There was no news of T.adv .\igfli: she 1 .id hidden licrsel' well.