Silent guests

A mysterious thing, the human mind. Can it keep a secret indefinitely? Here I find myself committing to paper things which I had determined never to divulge--sacred things long...

We stood before a doorway of dark wood, heavy but not pretentious, and showing some carving in the subdued light thrown by a lamp enclosed in glass and set into the heavy jamb o...

What an unfortunate family skeleton I had unwittingly intruded upon. Evidently this was a repetition. What possible ailment could in the flash of an eye transform an animated gi...

Leaning back in his chair, with unseeing eyes cast upward, Craighead paused so long that I feared his mind had altered; then drawing his hand across his forehead as though wipin...

The river was a sheet of glass that afternoon. Elaine suggested that we take the punt, a broad flat-bottomed, square-ended boat, and go out and spear garfish, schools of which w...

The sun was pretty well down over the west when I found Elaine in the great hall. I had slept through the day. She had ordered dinner in the library, and was awaiting me. “How d...

Sleep would not come. Were they all crazy in this mysterious house? Had I, through contact, lost my sense of reality? I certainly saw a shadowy man standing over Hugh, yet how c...

Summoned half an hour later by the Chinaman, all smiles, I met Elaine and Hugh at the foot of the grand stairway, an embarrassing moment for me. A momentary casting down of her...

I solved the mystery of the opening of the sliding door while Hugh was absent. As he had not used his hands, I tried out treading on different spots on a Persian rug lying in fr...

I was awakened by the yelping of hounds; my windows, extending to the floor, were open. As I stepped out onto the veranda in front, Elaine’s silvery laugh floated up. I peered t...

Two weeks--the day had passed so rapidly--there was so much to observe--this peculiar household of ex-convicts, so quiet, so well-ordered; a great farm producing a good revenue,...

The lecturer did not present an appearance but the priest came on Friday contrary to Hugh’s understanding. The day set was Sunday but nevertheless, he was heartily welcomed, his...

Elaine came next day, but not alone. The sister was more like Hugh; had blue eyes and dark hair--a beautiful woman whose thirty-odd years--I shall not be too exact--with their i...

I was pressed into service next day. The priest had sent for Hugh and requested that I come along. We set out early; the men were silently going about their work. It was a relie...

Alone, all alone, I dined with Estelle, now the hostess, and her husband, and yet in this household I was alone. My rising hour was regular, now that I was in charge. Eight o’cl...

September, season of fulfillment, that seventh month of the old Roman calendar now held for me a wonderful significance. Here was August with its dusky brush spreading over fiel...