The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-08-11

! Of his property. Tom simmons. having heard
o. n. determined - ''spOil The trade" II he
had 10 .,'urc al the property IN Turley's
Point tNdO 10. 4 large number u tho
citizens ~ Turlcy's Point seemed 20 be
watching each other, trying 20 prevent
their neighbOrs' succoss even 20 their own
detrimcnt. As nearly cvcry body seemed
/ pulling against every body else, The busl-
ness outlook q the village was not bright
! On Sunday Afternoon Alien Gray deter
mined 10 set AL waraings and rumors Of
danger aside and take a stroll 10 the hill on
which the mysterious stone house stood II
was q delightful day, and hc found the
woods pleasant The trees were clothed Ia
their richest grccn, and wild flowers nodded
l their saucy heads In the gentle breeze which
stole through tho forest. Tho nimblo SOUR
/ rels ran before him, friskcd about among
\ the branches or chattCd from sOmo lcafy
| retreat He followed an old disused car
riagc road, once macadamlzcd and an cx-
ccllcut thOrOughfarc, but now IN "a dilapi-
/ dated state, and partially ovcrgrown with
/ grass The grim old forest On either side Of
/ him seemed dark and gloomy.
/ Tho distance was much greater than Allen
/ had supposed. Though the top Of the old
\ stone house could be seen from the village,
/ he lost sight of n the moment he entered
l tit NbpA lltAFAAE l'aA1'NA W l'-7N az AA4D AbSb
/ Of long hni, hc discovered a narrow but
wcll-worn path leading OF az right angles
through inc trees, and decided 10 follow IT,
/ Through "A forest Of grand old moss-cOvered
oaks, winding about among huge masses Of
rlrk which In centuries past had tumblod
from tho blum above, the path took tts
] course until be found himself AT "a delight
/ ful spring Of clear, cold water AZ the foot Of
the hill Here Allen paused and gnzcd about
| him.
On his right beneath a wide-spreading
| beech was an old rustic scat II had ovi-
| IDENTIFY been there u great many years
! Lovers may have sat there and brcathed
vows with only the gray old forcstsO hear
| them, long before he was born.
At one time the whole forest seemed 20
have been "a grand park, but allowed TO
run wild, It had become labyrinth OF taD-
gled underground and viucs. Throwing
| himself on the rustic scat Allen gazod into
the spring, which, gushing out from tho
sido OF the hill, formed a sparkling rivulct
that gimmcrcd over bed Of many cosOrod
pebbles This cool retreat was IA haven OF
rest 10 the tired editor, and he ilattcrod
! himself that here nc might frequently
find security from the prosecutions und an
noyances Of poets and politicians.
But the afternoon was wearing away, and
as he had determined 20 visit that mystic
rlous old stone house, lro could waste no
more time at the spring.
AS hc rose 10 return 10 the main road,
something bright on thc side Of the path
caught bis eye. He stopped 10 see what IL
was, aud discovered n golden chain partly
covered with leaves and dirt. He drew IL
out aud found buried beneath tho leaves,
but attached 20 the chain, "a golden lOchct>
II was ladys loctct aud Allen knew ut u
glance that IL did not belong 10 Gny ono III
Turley's Point.
"What shall / do with it," no asked him
self. "Kccp il ana advertise ita That Ia
the best i can do; but suppose open IL and
take pccp within.n
He pressed his thumb on tho spring and
tho lid flew open, revealing only short
tress Of soft, golden hair, which had evi-
IDENTIFY been clipped from the head Of IA child.
"That reveals nothing" said Allen, clos.
ing the lochct, putting 1t in his pocket and
starting back 10 the road, tapping the leaves
with his slender cane.
Reaching the main rond ne ascended the
hill toward the great house. The road be-
tween tho spring and top of tho hill bore
some evidences Of recent travel. lIo had
nearly reached the top of the hill when ho
found IA lady's kid glove lying ut the side OF
! the road.
The glove was too small and Of quality
too fine 10 belong to any of tho women
whom he had met in the village.
"Of two things / am certain, soliloquizcd
Allen. "Thcrc Is IA lady at the stono house
on the hill, and she takes strolls."
Allen began 10 wonder what kind of per-
son she was. Was she young or old, beau
tiful or uglyi
Tho top OF the hill was reached, and he
found himself on "A broad plateau with a
largo, magnificent mansion before him. A
high wall on the top Of which were sharp
Iron pickets, surrounded house and grounds
US far as he could SEQ The gate was tall,
surmounted 10y high arch supported by
pillars of stone. All the nursery stories OF
enchanted castles which no had ever heard
or road came with wonderful freshness TO
his memory. There was something 50
grand and yet 80 weird In that imposing
pile, reared Us 10 seemed in tho very heart
Of the wilderness, that Allen was inspired
with focling Of awe, IL not fear For somo
time he stood gazing NJ the vast building.
Then he went "a little nearer, and from "a
slight ominencc could sec fountains playing
on the lawn, while the gentle breeze camo
TO him linden with tho fragrance OF sweet
est flowers. Notwithstanding the grandeur
and beauty Of the house and grounds, there
was something so weird and strange about
them that he felt strongly incliued TO TO
treat.
"Oh, pshaw am getting almost ns silly
and supersttious "a the villagers" said
Allen TO himself
After examining the front as well "a ho
could he decided 10 walk completely round
IT. Those people might hnvo good reasons >
for living lives of sccusiOn, and be would
not question their rights. That they were
people of refinement and taste the palatal
residence and fairy-liko grounds wero am
pie evidence They might bc even better
than represented. The pooplo at the village
had doubtless misconstrued their conduct,
nnd given their neighbors on the hill worse
names than they deserved
With these thoughts In his mind Allen
wandered around 10 tho rear of the great
mansion ana halted. The great wall In
closed about ten ceres and from what littlo
Allen could see Of 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 Wow of the garden.
a weil-worn path, leading from the garden
gate TO the river bluiT a fourth Of milo
away attracted Aliens attention, and,
wearicd with gazing ~ tho house, ho
thought 20 90 ~ the bluG and watch the
sunset
He had almost reached the great cliff
when ho CamC 20 "a sudden halt aud stood