The Argosy — page 204: what you’re looking at

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

Lhe Mysteries of Heron Dyke. 187 ‘‘ Katherine Keen!” breathed Ella, her lips suddenly becoming dry. ‘Impossible! ” ‘‘T should have said the same myself ten minutes ago,” returned the sick girl, as she strove for composure. ‘‘ But when I tell you, Ella, that I have seen her, and that I am in possession of my senses, I think you must believe me.” Ella Winter shivered, as though a cold wind were passing over her. Kneeling down, she put her arm round Maria’s waist. ‘“ Tell me about it,” she whispered. ‘‘T got warm after I had the tea, and soon fell fast asleep,” said Maria, in a voice hushed and trembling. ‘‘I knew nothing more until I awoke, suddenly and completely, with the strange feeling, which most people have experienced at one time or another, that someone was bending over me. My eyes opened widely as though of their own accord; and there, bending down and gazing earnestly into my face, was the face of Katherine Keen.” ‘* Maria!” } “T recognised it in a moment. The room was bright with fire- light, and I could not be mistaken. There was the fair hair, with the soft appealing eyes and the sad and serious look in them that I remember so well.” Did you speak ? ” ‘For a moment or two we gazed at each other; then I think my lips formed her name, but whether any sound came from them I cannot tell. The next thing I knew was that she was no longer there. I started up and saw a black-robed figure vanish through the open doorway and the door close noiselessly behind it. For an instant I thought I should have died.” ‘* Black-robed,” repeated Ella mechanically, remembering that this apparition had been always so described. | ‘She was in black from head to foot. Something black covered her head, which she held with the fingers of one hand under the chin. With her disappearance I sprang to the door, opened it, and rushed into the corridor.” “After her! You had courage, Maria.” “I had no courage. I was too terrified to remain alone, and was. hastening to you. She was not to be seen; she had disappeared. A lamp was burning at the farther end of the passage, but the passage was quite empty, quite still; not a sound in it, save the beating of my own heart. Oh Ella! I have heard of the dreadful mysteries of Heron Dyke, but I never thought to witness anything.” “Yes, Heron Dyke has no doubt its unhappy mysteries; has had them for some time now,” sighed Ella, catching up her breath with asob. ‘And I know not how to solve them.” (To be continued. ) GONG OO CO