The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-08-22
A STRANGE COINCIDENCE
Come into the garden, Maude,
For the black bat, night, hath flown;
Come into the garden Mauden

Come INTO the garden, Maude."
The young fellow who was merrily
whistling this well known air broke off
suddenly, just as he came near high
wall bounding some Enclosure. 1t was
night 90 o'clock had just struck from a
steeple near; moreover, it was moon
light, the cold, clear moonlight of a chill
evening in the early spring. No violet
had yet opened its sweet leaves to per-
fume the air-the year was still too young
for that; but one or two primroses had
unfolded their pale yellow heads in shell
tered hooks. and sanguine folks were be-
ginning to hope that warmer days were
at hand. Was it the presagc of spring
or the light-bearted, joy of youth which
made Frank Conyer whistle so cheerily as
he paced along the high road between the
village of Dornton (wherc he had been
dining with an old college chum) and
his uncle's house, which bore the name of
Forest Grove, and to which he had re-
turned after long absence. Perhaps the
influence of both youth and coming
spring impelled him to enliven the still
air as he stepped along quickly, free of
heart, unburdened by care.
He had turned out of the high road
now, and got on to the turf-soft, springy
turf, which ran under the wall aforesaid.
And as he ceased his whistling he was
passing door in the wall
What was it made him pause so sud
denly and look round His action was
involuntary, unprecedented, as the graf
ing of a key in the lock of this door, and
next, the opening of the door itself natu-
,-,n =
doing he came face to face with a girl, a
very young girl, who could hardly be
termed "grown up" What followed
happened so quickly that Frank was
fairly bewildered, and was left standing
in amazement under the garden wall.
81 have been listening for you ever so
long!" said the girl, oh so long and l
have been so frightened But you
promised to come for the letter, and here
it isl Now, | must fly! Don't lose a
moment in letting Margery have it.
Here here it is ~
And in agitated haste she finished by
thrusting note into the astonished
Frank hand, and then vanished behind
the garden wall, turned the key in the
lock, leaving Frank more puzzled and
bewildered than he had ever been during
the three and-twenty years of his life
Good Heavens what am to do with
this" said he to himself, as he stood in
the shadow of the wall, grasping tight
the missive which had been thrust be-
tween his fingers. What can do:
Who is NIargery p What am to do p
'Read the address, shot the follow
ing instant through his brain.
But this was not Immediately possible,
for the shadow where he stood was deep,
so he struck across the path into the
moonlight; but clearly as the cold rays
flooded the open space, the address on
the envelope was written in so faint and
running a character that it was not easy
to dcciphcr it,
Miss Margery Hoods SO much he
could make out, but the two or three
words baneath he could not read.
"By Jove, this is an adventurem broke
from Franks lips. Il must make fol
the nearest cottage"
Away he went through brakes and
briar and fern over the cold, damp grass,
till he struck into the high road again,
when turning down lane, he saw light
glimmering at a short distance
Frank quickened his steps, soon com
ing to an humble tenement whose thatch
ed roof and latticed window looked pic
turesquc enough in the moonlight.
"Who be therel" said a quaverina
voice in reply to Franks summons.
"Let me have light please, and here
is siXpense for you" rejoined the young
man.
ga light2 Your welcome, young sir
said the old woman, "Will you pleas,
to walk in?"
And then Frank read by the glare of I
tallow candle the address
"MIss MARGARET HOOP,
1.-The Silver Birches,
"Thornby."
81 know where that is" though
Frank "And this letter was to hav
been given to her by somebody or othe
for whom | was mistaken. Well, then
must deliver it myself-that is plail
enough The Silver Birches, at Thorn
by; and Thornby is a couple of mile
off. ="
Putting the promised sixpence into tn
old woman's hand, Frank started OF
with quick step for the place designat
ed "The Silver Birches."
All the way he went he ruminated o.
the strange adventure which had be
fallen HIM. He was involved in som
secret-some love affair, doubtless
without any volition of his own; bu
since the letter had fallen into his hands
needs must that he should deliver it.
81 ought to have had my wits abou
me. ought to have detained that grl
and questioned her. But it all happene
in moment Well, let me see the en-
of it.
On he strobe, and in something MOI
than half an hour flor he was fleet {
foot, and possessed all of youths ell
ergy), he reached some park gates, and
belt of trees, through those bare branch'
looked dim and fair under the mOonshiT
a many-gabled domicile
Twice had he asked his way in pas