The Springdale news., 1888-10-12

"What shall do with it." he asked him. self. keep 1t ard advertise il. That is the best can do; bat suppose l open it and take q peep within.
 He pressed his thumb on the spring and the lid flew open, revealing only q short trcss of soft, golden hair, which had evi- dently been clipped from the head of d child
 That reveals nothing" said Allen, clos ing the locket putting it ia his pocket and starting back to the road, tapping the leaves with his slender cane
 Reaching the main road he asccaded the hill toward the great house The road be tween the spring and top of the bill bore some evidences of recent travel He had nearly reached the top of the hill when he found a ladyas kid glove lying at the side of the road.
 The glove was too small and of quality too fine to belong to any of the women whom hc had met in the village.
 Of two things 1 am certain, soliloquizcd Allen. "There IS a lady it the stone house on the hill. and she takes strolsn
 Allen began to wonder what kind of per son she was Was she young or old, beau- tiful or ugly3
 The top of tho hill was reached, and he found himself on broad plateau with q large, magnificent mansion before him. \ high wall, on the top of which were sharp iron piellets, surrounded house and grounds as far as he could see. Tho gate was tall, surmouuted by high arch supported by pillars of stone. All the nursery stories of enchanted castles which he had eyer heard or read came with wonderful freshness to his memory. There was something SD grand and yet so weird in that imposing pile, reared as 1t seemed in the very heart of the wilderness, that Allen was inspired with feeling of awe, if not fear For some time he stood gazing at the vast building. Then he went q little nearer. and from | slight emnencc could see fountains playing on the lawn, while the gentle breeze came to him laden with the fragrance of sweet est flowers. Notwithstanding the grandeur and beauty of the house and grounds, there was something so Welrd and strange about them that he felt strongly inclined to re treat
 oh, psIaw, am getting almost as silly and sup2rstitIOuS as the YIIager5,3 said Allen To himself
 After examining the front 2s well as hn couid, he decided to walk completely round 1t. Those people might have good reasons for living lives of seclusion. and he would
 
 people of refinement and taste the palatiaI residence and fairy like grounds were am pie evidence. They might be even better than represented. Thepeopie at the village had doubtless misconstrued their conduct, and given their neighbors on the hill worse names than they deserved.
 With these thoughts in his mind Allen wandered around to the rear of the great mansion and halted. The great wall in- closed about ten acres. and from what little Allen could secof the grounds they seemed in excellent order. The wall in the rear was boards two inches thick and eight feet high. and through the cracks the editor had q very good view of the garden.
 Awell-worn path,eading from the garden gate to the river bluff q fourth of mile away attracted Aliens attention, and. Wearied with gazing at the house, he thought to go 10 the bluff and watch the sunset.
 He had almost reached the great cliff when he came to sudden halt and stood transliNed with amazement. There stand ing on q grass plot, gazing across the dark river beneath. was q beautiful gIrl about eighteen years of aga. She was very pret- ty, with large blue eyes, a wealth of golden hair and q form winch might have been the envy of d sculptor.
 Her eyes Were fixed upon the river. and she was not yet aware of his preseuea. As the rays of the setting sun fell upon this angelic being, Allen thought he had never seen one SO lovely. That she was an inmate of tlls wonderful house seemed to give all