Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-10-16
Sflttt Gale.
[From the Atlantic Monthlyl
THE BEST ORIGINAL STORY OF THE
DAY.
THE KINLOCI ESTATE,
AND now 1T WAS SETTLED.


The disappearance of Lucy Ransom did
not loEg remain secret it rang through the
town aud was accompanied by all sorts Of
rumors. Some thought she had eloped but
the prevailing opinion was, that she had been
tempted into q fatal error, and then, in the
frenzy Of remorse and shame, had destroyed
herself, in order TO hide her disgrace from
tho world. Slight hints were now recalled
by many Of the poor girls acquaintapce,-
hluts Of love, unrequited and hopeless,--of
base and unleeling treachery,-of remediless
sorrow, appealing TO the deepest sympathy,
aud not the less because her heart found ut
| tersncc in rude and homely phrases. This
idea Of seIl-destruction gained the more cur
rency because no one had seen the least trace
| OF tue girl after the twilight OF the preceding
! uigbt, and it was deemed improbable that she
could bave made her way on foot the whole
distance 10 the railway station without being
sven by some one. And when it WAS repor-
ted that boy had found a shawl not far llom
tho dam, the public became SO much aroused
that il was determined TO make a thorough
seureh. The pond aud canal were dragged,
aud the bank OF the river carefully explored
for miles below the town The search was
kept up far into the night, the leaders being
provided with pitch-pine torches. At every
bend, or eddy, or sand bar, or fallen tree,
where it might be supposed that drifting
body would be stopped, the boldest breathed
faster, and started at the FIRST glimpse of a
white stone or peeled and bleached poplar
trunk, or other similar object, proved to what
they expected, yet dreaded to see. But il
was in vain. Lucy, whether alive or dead
was not to be found. Her grandmother hob
bled down TO the village, moaning piteously
but she could get little consolation, least oI
all from Mrs. Kinloch This incident made
u lasting impression. The village boys, who
remembered the search withsshudaering her
ror, avoided the river. aud even Hugh found
means to persuade Mildred to give up the
pleasant road on its band and lake the Eli
district for their afternoon rides.
Meanwhile the time for the trial OF the
ejeetment suit was rapidly approaching, and
it was difficult TO say whether plaintiff or de
lsndaBt showed the more signs Of anxiety
Mr.. Hardwick's life seemed to be bound up
dependence; he had growen old by its fam
ing forge, and he eould never feel Mt home in
any other spot. ~ Youpg trees may be NOV
ed" be would say IAN old one dies in trans
planting" 1t was noticed by his friends tha
the stoop in his shoulders was mora decided
his step less elastic, and his ordiDarya flow o
spirits checked.
Mrs. knloch, too, grew old unaccolntabl,
fast. Her soft brown hair began to whitep
her features grew sharl, and her expression
quick, watchfull, and intense. Upon beinl
spoken to, she would start and iremble in he
whole frame; her cheeks would glow momen
tarily, ard then become waxen again.
Impatient at the slow progress Of her SON
wooiug, and impeled now by a new fear tha
all her plans might be frustrated, if Mldrei
should happen to hear any rumor touching
The cOus0 OF Lucy's disappearance, Mrs. Kin
loch proposed to herself to assist him NOR
openly than she had hitherto done. She wa
not aware that anything duplicating Hugl
had been reported, but she knew enough o
human nature 10 be sure that some one woult
peeriDg into the mystery which she divinet
by instrnct, but had not herself dared to ex
, plore. so, finding favorable opportunity
she sat down beside Mildred determined /,
read the secret Of her soul for she made M
question that she could sean her, as che nigh
the delicate machinery OF the French clock
noiselessly moving under the crystal cover
Mildred shuddered unconsciously, as sh
felt her step-mothers thin fingers gentl
smoothing the hair upon her temples still
more, as the pale and quiyeriug lips wer
pressed TO her forehead. The caress was no
a feigned tenderness. Mrs. Kinloch reall
loved the girl with such love as she had 4
betow aud if her manner had been latterl
abstracted or hsssh it was from pre- -occnpa
tion. She was soon satisfied that the suspi
cioa she dreaded had DO. found place in tn
, girls mind Leading the way by il0pefcspti
BILE approaches she spoke in her soitest tone
OF her JOY Ut Hugh's altered manners, be
hopes of his future. and especially OF her de
/, sire to have him leave the navy and settle o.
shore.
"How happy we might be, Hugh and we,
she said. 'ii We could live here in this colnfol
table home, and feel that nothing but deaf