From Eleven To Three.

From Eleven to Three .

fOW Avildly the Avind bloivs ! Ifc comes in loud gusts , then goes sighing round tbo house , dying away in a moan , then getting louder it bursts into a Avail . Tho AvindoAVs are shaken as by unseen hands , and I can fancy the air filled with spirits in trouble trying to make an entrance . Heavy rain-drops arc driven against the AvindoAV , but cease like a sudden passion of tears , folloAVed by melancholy >* FS'fKc deeper than tears .

Ifc is NCAV Year's Eve , and I ahvays feel fanciful about the wind on this night . As these thoughts pass through my mind , sitting here alone , I feci over again the sadness of parting with many aiv old year , and I think to-night I Avill keep back sad memories by Avriting the story of au adventure I had twenty years ago in this very room . ManA' strange things have happened to me in my fifty years of life , but I think nothing stranger than tho CA-ents of that night—never at least havo I gone through more excitement and terror in a fcAV hours .

I Avas left a AvidoAV afc twenty fiVe , rich in this Avorld s goods , being sole possessor of this house , Avith tho estate of Cuinbermcrc , and moro than sufficient to keep up a good establishment . The house is a large one , and stands in its own grounds , a long aA-cmie leading up to it . Our nearest neighbours , tho Muri-ays of Holmlicld , lived a mile off .

On that evening they Avero giving a ball , Avhich had been long looked forward to by all the country side . We boing intimate friends , I Avas sending my servants to kelp in the festivities . Thoy Avere all going excepting the butler ; it had been arranged that he should remain to tako charge of the house , as he Avas an elderly and trusted family servant .

Until that day I had intended going to tho ball , but for some days I had been suffering from a sore throat , and the night having turned out damp and Avild , I had decided to remain at home ; no hardship to me , for I never cared for balls . That afternoon my maid had told mc that the butler ' s mother -was ill , and , after changing my mind about going out , 1 told him he might go to the village

to see hor as soon as AVO had finished dinner , we had a house full of visitorsmy sister Mabel , my brother , an aunt , and several young friends . It was a noisy , merry party that stood round the blazing log lire as Mabel and I camo doAv-n the stairs ; vcry SAvcet sho looked in her Avhite goAin and row of pearls . It vras a great disappointment to her that I was not going—she said she ahvays enjoyed everything so much moro Avhen I AA-as there . Ou this CA-euing I had meant to haA'e A \ -OI-II black velvet and my diamonds at Mabel ' s special reiiuest .

I Avas tho possessor of somo of tho handsomest diamonds in tho County , diamonds Avhich my husband had lavished on mc , and which I had not cured to Avear since his death ; thoy were lying HOAV in their cases on my dressing-table , and Mabel had looked regretfully back on leaving the room , saying , " Oh ! Mary , I am so disappointed , I had looked forward so to going with you to-night ; and I have never yet seen you Avear your diamonds . I do wish you ivere going too . " I kissed her , saying , "You Avill bo sure to enjoy yourself ; " and AVC hurried doAvn stairs , for tho others wero all Availing impatiently iu the hull .

A chorus of A'oices greeted onr tardy appearance , and after duly admiring the girls in their noAv gowns , I helped to Avrap them up , and bade them make haste and bo off as the carriages had been already Availing somo timo . Great commiseration Avas besto \ A * ed upon mo for the lonely evening I should spend . — they could hardly believe I envied no ono when left alono with a good book .

"Aro you not nervous ? " my aunt anxiously asked . ( I had nofc told them that Williams was going out ) I laughed asking "Whafc of—burglars or ghosts ? " Mabel declared I should be proof against both . " And if I do havo any such intruders to-night , " I added , " You will not have all tho excitement yourselves . " How little did I dream thon of all that AVOUUI happen before I saw

them again . They were off at last , and as Williams closed tho door after thorn , I said , " You had bettor go at once to see your mother , dou ' t wait to finish your work . " I had looked in the dining-room , nnd saw tiie dessert still on tho table . In another ten minutes he had gone , and 1 AVUS left alone . He had taken a latch-key assuring mo every place Avas securely locked and bolted .

After 1 heard the front door close , I wont to tho library for a book , choosing an old friend , " Vanity Fair , " and with it , sat down in thc drawing-room before a comfortable lire , prepared to enjoy the evening in my own way . It was

From Eleven To Three.

a long , low room , a door into the hall nt one end , and at tho other tiA-o doors leading into a conservatory , which conservatory opened into the garden . I AA-as soon deep in the adventures of "Becky" and laughing over hor mouthful of hot curry , Avlien I AA-as startled by a noise . Ifc Avas the rattling of one of the conservatory doors . After listening a feAv minutes I concluded ifc Avas tlio Avind , Avhich had risen , aud AV . IS blowing heavily in gusts . I remember

looking at thc timepiece Avhich AA-OS about striking eleven , and AA'as again beginning to read , Avhen I heard tho same noise repeated , and Avas startled by a moan . 1 felt a thrill of fear as I advanced fco the conservatory door , then assured myself that it must bo a cat—no one could be there at this time of ni ght . Such a thing -as a burglary had never been heard of in our neighbourhood . Tho doors had become stiff aud Avorc difficult to open ; I tried one , and then the other . It opened with a jerk awl I nearly fell over a lignro crouched on the step .

For a moment , I felt inclined to rush out of tho room and look thc door , but I Avas not naturally timid , and forgot my fears , for just then there AVUS a pitiful groan from the figure which I now saiv to be that of a Avoman . Bending over her , I asked Avhat AVUS the matter , and how she came there . When she heard my voice , she looked at me pitifully , and I noticed that she Avas trembling all over ; she staggered to her feet and Avith my help camo into fcho room .

She AA-as a tall Avoman with a commanding lignro , and , a face that might hiiA-e boon handsome but for a AVOVU , haggard look . No covering Avas on her head , and a cloak heavy with rain hung about her shoulders ; she had evidently AA-alkod somo AA-ay , for her dress AA-as covered Avith mud up to her . knces . Her teeth chattered Avith cold , as she held her large thin hands to the blaze . It seemed a long timo before she spoke ; Avhen she did ifc Avas iu a frightened Avhispor .

"Am I safe ? Is the door locked ? Listen ! is any one coming ? " After that came such another fit of slm-cring , that I found it useless to try to got any answer to my enquiries as to hoiv sho got in , and Avliorc she camo from . Leaving her crouching over the fire , I Avenfc for a glass of Avinc . This sho swallowed utmost in a mouthful and at once recovered speech . With startling suddenness sho jumped up , saying , " I have arrived afc last . '!—What a terrible journey I have had , but HOAV I am safe . "

Then , altering hor tone , " You Avill not let him tako mc ! Say you won't . He Avill shut me np in a dark room , and I shall go mad—Mad ' . AVIIO says I am mad ! " She glared round the room , then turning to mc , " I am sure you aro too Avell-brod to think mc mad ; and Avhen j-ou have heard my history , AVC shall be the best of friends . " Saying this , her manner changed again , and she sank back into a chair , seeming to forget AA-hero sho Avas .

During her silence I examined her face , and had not much doubt that tho poor thing Avas insane . I roused her to ask " What is your name ? whore hnvo you como from ? " She looked up , and , smiling , said— " I thought every ono knoAV me by this time , I am thc Kmpress Maria-Theresa . All Europe has been ringing Avith mv Avrongs for the last hundred ycars . "

If 1 had had any doubts as to her sanity , they Avero ended by this speech , cannot describe tho extraordinary changes in her manner—from fear to cunning , from dignity to indignation . She seemed soothed by my assurances that I had aliA-ays sympathised Avith hor cause , and she HOAV put on quite a royal graciousness . A year or tAvo ago , I had had some experience Avith a mad Avoman—a servnnt in my OAVII house , and had never felt any fear . My feeling HOAV AVUS ono of interest and pity , and I kneiv my best plan Avas to humour her . She soon began again , this timo in a lively

strain" You may be surprised to hear that I only left Austria an hour ago ; it is not generally known , hut there is quite a HOAV method of travelling there ; railirays are nothing to its speed . 1 Jmvo come by tho wind ! I AVUS signing a dcath-Avarranfc Avhen Die Emperor camo in , boning loiv ( I ahvays command groat respect oven from my husband ) . Here sho rose , and draiviug herself to her full height , said , " You have not yot made you court bow to mo . " I humoured her by making a deep curtsey , and she Avcnt

on—The Emperor said , ' the Avind has just changed to thc west , and you can get to England in an hour , ' —so Avithout Availing for my bonnet or my crown , I Avcnt to thc door , took a deep breath of Avind—so " ( Hero sho puffed out her checks ) "To the Avest AA'as all I had to say , and I find myself in your hospitable home . " After this extraordinary speech she sat gazing vacantly before her , then got up and began to examine ornaments and knick-knacks round thc room , saying every IIOAV and then "Ah ! I want this , " or , " I lost that years ago ! " " Just what I luiA-e been looking for . "

She put into her pocket anything sho fancied . Fortunately thoy A \ -cro things of slight A-iilue , but fearing sho might break some of my A-aluablo old china , I tried di \ 'erting her , and saying ivlitit first came into my head . I asked if sho

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