The Penn's Grove record., 1885-06-06

asked. as | drove ner through Jne silddy
and romantic lanes on our way home.
"That is a charming place" replied.
"You must go and see it. It Is Arlie
Brake"
'Arlie Brake2" she repeated. 81 like
the name; it sounds interesting. Is
there nothing behind the trees, Grace
no house, or anything of that kindP"
no" | replied-"nothing but trees,
and tall gigantic ferns and briars.
There are numerous rocks and hollows;
| and | have heard some stories about It's
being a favorite place for smugqlers
having contraband goods to hide, but
whether they are true or not | would
not venture to say"
"How NIGEL" Lettie exclaimed, turn
ing round in her seat TO obtain a last
glimpse of Arlie Brake as 1t was shut
from her view by a turn in the lane. IL
am so fond Of dark mysterious places.
| should like to know whether there is
a story in connection with it,
81 have never heard of one" | said,
as l pulled up my ponies-Sir Edward
Melville's kid present to me-in front
of our pretty rose covered porch. Earle
came out to receive US, and very soon
Lettie and he were chatting away as If
they had known each other all their
lives.
When we were at school together, |
remembered that | used to consider Let
tie a chatterbOx; but now, as ] sat at
tea and listened to her humorous de-
scriptiOn of her journey, | could not
help thinking how pleasant it all was,
and how nice it must be to be without
a natural shyness restraining the flow OF
a bright and happy spirit.
The next few days passed very quickly.
Lettie was delighted with the sea, the
cliffs, the over-shadowed lanes, and the
pretty walk round cottage, and,
most of all, she was enchanted with
Arlie Brake.
ut is so pretty, so romantic, " she
said, as she seated herself upon a ROSS
covered stone. 81 should like to spend
a day IN dreaming here"
II think girls are all the same, Earle
remarked, reclining upon the fallen
trunk of a tree and lighting a cigar.
"Grace would SIT gazing at the sea, and
never think of anything else, for a
whole day; and now you would like to
come here and moon amongst a heap of
trees and ferns and hollowsl Do you
think your incoming will ever benefit
any of your fellow.creatures, Miss Pres
ton?fs
81 do not know; it might. Who can
telI2'' was the reply.
well, when it does, | will confess
myself mistaken my brother said.
And now, girls, we had better make
our way homewards; 1T is growing damp
here
And we very reluctantly followed in
his wake and wandered slowly towards
home.
On the day after our visit to Arlie
Brake sir Edward Melville fulfilled his
promise of driving over to the Clyfle
for US, and we spent a very happy day
with him and his kind, handsome old
sister at the Hall.
II never saw a more genial couple in
my life," Lettie observed as we drove
home in the evening. 1T has been a
splendid day, and l have thoroughly en-
ioyed looking at Sir Edwards beautiful
collection of %curios, dear, kind man |
Grace, l could do anything for Sir Ed
ward Melville" Lettie added in her
earnest hearty way.
Earle and | smiled at her. How lit
tie any of us knew then how Don it
would lie in her power, and hers alone,
to benefit our dear old friendl
One evening, when Lettie had been
with us about a month, she came to me
and said
"Grace dear, will you come with me
to Arlie Brake2 l want some of those
beautiful feathery terms which grow by
the little stream. / think they will look
so pretty with the geraniums in our
hair tonight"
Earle was to take us to the Redstone
ball. | looked up from the letter | was
writing.
81 cannot come yet" | replied; ''the
mail sails to morrow, and Hastings
would think something dreadful had
happened if he did not hear from me.
Besides, dear, is 1t not too late now to
go and get the ferns2"
Not a Bit" she replied; cit is only
eight O'Clock | should be back again
at nine, In plenty of time to dress. l
believe the carriage is not ordered until
half-past ten"
"Well, Lettie, | will tell you what to
do if you wish to get the ferns, and are
not frightened. Suppose you go to the
pIdho lOI lliClh Wy JOhAoCli l. ohussi NV
be more than half an hour over my let
ter, and l will follow you and be COM
pany for you home"
"A capital arrangement, % she said
81 will start at once"
About half an hour afterwards was
walking rapidly after Lettie towards the
Brake. | thought it was rather strange,
when | reached the little wood with its
rocky hollows, its fair wild flowers, and
tangle of briars and ferns, that 1 did
not at once see my friend. l walked
on, expecting every turn i'll the path
would reveal her to me, but she was no
where in sight. l looked at my watch;
it was after nine; and the dusk and
shades of night were falling.
"She must have gone home another
way - l said to myself, trying vainly to
understand the circumstance. III was
very stupid of me not to specify the di-
rection | would go. Perhaps she has
returned by Hollands Farm. If so,
she is at home now, and will be wonder
ing where | am" And, with a little
quiet smile to myself at u so com
|, pletely puzzling each other, | FASTENED
my steps, and soon arrived at the Clyffe.
Earle was standing in the garden
smoking when l pushed open the gate
and joined him.
"How long has Lettle been back2"
asked.
81 did not know she was at home, y
he replied. when | ret urned, half an
hour ago, | was told you were both out.
L have been here ever since, and GER
tainly have not seen her"
began to feel rather alarmed, aud
ran into the house to make inquiries.
None of the servants had seen Miss
Preston, and she Mas not in the house.
| returned to Earle sadly frightened.
Come with me TO the Brake, ~ said
''she must be there. Earle, perhaps
she has stepped on a Loose stone and
fallen into Que of those dangerous hol-
t lows; the poor girl may be lying there
with a sprained foot, unable to move
3 Do let us hurryl" And, putting my
~ -. ~ rla. : ma not off az "A rood