The Argosy — page 114: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Mysteries of Heron Dyke. IOI the girl had made no fresh acquaintance; either of man or woman —she was thoroughly well-conducted in every way. Miss Winter’s own sitting-room and her bed-room were in the north wing. She had chosen them there on account of the beautiful view of the sea from the windows. Katherine slept in a room near her. On the evening of the fifteenth of February they were both in the sitting-room at work; Ella was making garments for some poor children in the village and had ‘called Katherine to assist. Katherine had a headache; it got worse; and at nine o’clock, Ella told her she had better go to bed. The girl thanked her, lighted her candle and went; Ella, who went at the same time to her own room to.get something she wanted, saw her enter her chamber and heard her lock herself in: and from that moment, Katherine Keen was never seen, alive or dead. Before the night was over, Ella—as you will hear her tell presently—had occasion to go to Katherine’s room ; she found the door unlocked, and Katherine absent, the bed not having been slept in. Her apron, cap, collar, and neck-ribbon lay about, showing that she had begun to undress; but that was all. Of herself there was no trace; there never had been any since that night. That she had not left the house was a matter of absolute fact, for old Aaron had already fastened the front door, and there could be no egress from it. In short it was a strange mystery, and puzzled the world. Where was she? What could have become of her? The matter caused no end of stir and commotion. Old Squire Denison, very much troubled at the extraordinary occurrence, instituted all kinds of enquiries, but to no purpose. Every nook and corner in the spacious house was searched again and again. Aaron Stone, cross enough with the girl often-times beforehand, seemed troubled with the rest; his wife declared openly, her eyes round with terror, that the girl must have been “spirited” away. The grandson, Hubert, was away at the time, and knew absolutely nothing whatever of the occurrence. del Si But che sister, Susan, had a tale to tell, and it was a curious one. It appeared that that same morning she had met Katherine in the village, doing an errand for Miss Winter. Susan told her that a letter had come from their brother—a young man older than themselves, who had gone some years before to an uncle in Australia—and that she would bring it to the Hall that evening. However, when even- ing came, snow began to fall, and Mrs. Keen would not let Susan go out in it, for she had a cold. Presently the snow ceased, and Susan, wrapping her cloak about her, started with the letter. As she neared the Hall the clock struck nine—too late for Susan to attempt to call, for after that hour her visits were interdicted. She hovered about a short while, lest haply she might see one of the housemaids hastening home from some errand, and could send in the letter by her, or perhaps catch a glimpse of her darling sister at her window. ‘The sky was clear then, the moon shining brilliantly Connicboooks (CO) im