CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE Cornell University Library f>R 4699.E842D2 The death-mask and other ghosts. 3 1924 013 456 953 Cornell University Library The original of tliis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013456953 THE DEATH-MASK THE DEATH-MASK AND OTHER GHOSTS BY Mrs. H. D. EVERETT. LONDON , ii^ PHILIP ALLAN ^ CO., QUALITY COURT, CHANCE^iY , LAWe!, W.C. 1920. PRINTED BY WHITBHHAD BROS., WOLVERHAMPTON. r-:''- ... CONTENTS. PACB The Death- Mask - ] Parson Clench 18 The Wind of Dunowe .17 Nevill Nugent's Legacy • 67 The Crimson Blind 92 Fingers of a Hand 115 The Next Heir - - - 128 Anne's Little Ghost - 188 Over the Wires - - 208 A Water-Witch - 223 The Lonely Road 253 A Girl in White 261 A Perplexing Case - 279 Beyond the Pale 298 THE DEATH MASK. ' ' Yes, that is a portrait of my wife. It is considered to be a good likeness. But of course she was older-looking towards the last." ' Enderby and I were on our way to the smoking-room after dinner, and the picture hung on the staircase. We had been chums at school a quarter of a century ago, and later on at college; but I had spent the last decade out of England. I returned to find my friend a widower of four years' standing. And a good job too, I thought to myself when I heard of it, for I had no great liking for the late Gloriana. Probably the sentiment, or want of sentiment, Ijad been mutual : she did not smile on me, but I doubt if she smiled on any of poor Tom Enderby's bachelor cronies. The picture was certainly like her. She was a fine woman, with aquiline features and a cold eye. The artist had done the features B 2 THE DEATH MASK. justice—and the eye, which seemed to keep a steely watch on all the comings and goings of the house out of which she had died. We made only a brief pause before the portrait, and then went on. The smoking- room was an apartment built out at the back of the house by a former owner, and shut off by double doors to serve as a nursery. Mrs. Enderby had no family, and she disliked the smell of tobacco. So the big room was made over to Tom's pipes and cigars; and if Tom's friends wanted to smoke, they must smoke there or not at all. I remembered the room and the rule, but I was not prepared to find it still existing. I had expected to light my after dinner cigar over the dessert dishes, now there was no presiding lady to consider. We were soon installed in a couple of deep- cushioned chairs before a good fire. I thought Enderby breathed more freely when he closed the double doors behind us, shutting off the dull formal house, and the staircase and the picture. But he was not looking well ; there hung about him an unmistakable air of depression. Could he be fretting after Gloriana? Perhaps during their married years, he had fallen into the way of depending on a woman to care for him. It is pleasant enough when the woman is the right sort ; but I shouldn't myself have fancied being cared for by the late Mrs. Enderby. And, if the fretting was a fact, it would be easy to find a remedy. Evelyn has a couple of pretty "' THE Death mask. a sisters, and we would have him over to stay at our place. ' ' You must run down and see us, " I said presently, pursuing this idea. " I want to introduce you to my wife. Can you come " next week ? His face lit up with real pleasure. "I should like it of all things," he said heartily. "But a qualification came after. The cloud settled back over him and he sighed. " That is, if I can get away." " " Why, what is to hinder you? " It may not s^n much to stay for, but I—I have got in the way of stopping here—^to keep things together." He did not look at me, but leaned over to the fender to knock the ash off his cigar. " Tell you what, Tom, you are getting hipped living by yourself. Why don't you sell the house, or let it off just as it is, and " try a complete change ? " I can't sell it. I'm only the tenant for ' life. It was my wife's. " Well, I suppose there is nothing to prevent you letting it? Or if you can't let it, you might shut it up. " There is nothing legal to prevent " me ! The emphasis was too fine to attract notice, but I remembered it after. " Then, my dear fellow, why not? Knock about a bit, and see the world. But, to my thinking, the best thing you could do would be to marry again." ' 4 THE DEATH MASK. I He shook his head drearily. " Of course it is a delicate ihatter to urge upon a widower. But you have paid the utmost ceremonial respect. Four years, you know. The greatest stickler for propriety would deem it ample. " It isn't that. Dick, I—I've a great mind to tell yfeu rather a queer story." He puffed hard at his smoke, and stared into the red coals in the pauses. " But I don't know ' what you'd think of it. Or think of me. " Try me," I said. " I'll give you my opinion after. And you know I'm safe to confide in." " I sometimes think I should feel better if I told it. It's—it's queer enough to be laughable. But it hasn't been any laughing matter tome." He threw the stump of his cigar into the fire, and turned to me. And then I saw how pale he was, and that a dew of perspiration was breaking out on his white face. ' ' I was very much of your opinion, Dick : I thought I should be happier if I married again. And I went so far as to get engaged. But the engagement was broken off, and I am going to tell you why. " My wife was some time ailing before she died, and the doctors were in consultation. But I did not know how serious her complaint was till the last. Then they told me there was no hope, as coma had set in. But it was possible, even probable, that there would be a ' THE DEATH MASK. 5 revival of consciousness before death, and for this I was to hold myself ready. " I daresay you will write me down a coward, but I dreaded the revival : I was ready to pray that she might pass away in her sleep. I knew she held exalted views about the marriage tie, and I felt sure if there were any last words she would exact a pledge. I could not at such a moment refuse to promise, and I did not want to be tied. You will recollect that she was my senior. I was about to be left a widower in middle life, and in the natural course of things I had a good " many years before me. You see 1 " My dear fellow, I don't think a promise so extorted ought tp bind you. It isn't " fair ! " "Wait and hear me. I was sitting here, miserable enough, as you- may suppose, when the doctor came to fetch me to her room. Mrs. Enderby was conscious and had asked for me, but he particularly begged me not to agitate her in any way, lest pain should return. She was lying stretched out in the bed, looking already like a corpse. " ' Tom,' she said, ' they tell me I am dying, and there is something I want you to promise. " I groaned in spirit. It was all up with me, I thought. But she went on. " ' When I am dead and in my coffin, I want you to cover my face with your own hands. Promise me tjfiis.' ; 6 THE DEATH MASK. " It was not in the very least what I expected. Of course I promised. " ' I want you to cover my face with a set particular handkerchief on which . I a value. When the time comes, open the cabinet to the right of the window, and you will find it in the third drawer from the top. You cannot mistake it, for it is the only thing in the drawer.' " That was every word she said, if you believe me, Dick. She just sighed and shut her eyes as if she was going to sleep, and she never spoke again. Three or four days later they came again to ask me if I wished to take a last look, as the undertaker's men were about to close the coffin. " I felt a great reluctance, but it was necessary I should go. She looked as if made of wax, and was colder than ice to touch. I opened the cabinet, and there, just as she said, was a large handkerchief of very fine cambric, lying by itself. It was embroidered with a monogram device in all four corners, and was not of a sort I had ever seen her use. I spread it out and laid it over the dead face and then what happehed was rather curious.