The Springdale news., 1888-11-23
CHAPTER XI
A DESPERATE DIFFERENTIATION.

A DESPERATE DETERMINATION.
 Allen smiled The nan from Billy's Creek had cultivated his ill-temper until he vas enabled to fly into passion on the slightest notice. Some men do this, appar ently, for no other reason than to make themselves miserable.
 Growing tired of the silly fellow antics, the editor turned to his desk and tired to bury himself in his business. But notyvith- standing the many exciting and lud1c2ous events, his mind WAS not wholly won away from the mystery which seemed to be real ly bligh1ing lis life, and kept his thoughts from business. In his busiest moments, amid the most exciting events, the cry: In Heavens name spare hims' rang on his ear The sweet, sad face of the mystic girl, whom he could not but love. seemed always before him, pleading with her large blue eyes for relief
 "Who are you? Who are you!' he asked himself again and again as the vision rose before his nind. Ten thousand tormenting 1ionds seemed constantly aggrayating him with their doubts and fears
 Il will know the worst he declared to himself. " If have to beard the lion in hls den. 1 will know all. .
 The stranger from Bi1ly's Creek was for gotten. 50 wholly was Allen absorbed with thou ghts of the stone house on the hill. The rustic bully had grown weary with cursing and striking the air, and, as no one seemed to dispute bis title to be the best man oH dirt. he left the village, to carry to his friends wonderful story of how he had made the editor quail.
 The cditor meantime, sat in oblivion of his existence, when he was startled by q sob, Looking around, he was not a little surprised to sec Miss Leethy Hopkins stand ing just within the door.
 Why, Miss Hopkins, are Sou here3" the wondering editor asked.
 !" An are you hurt!f she sobbcd, hysteric- ally
 :, No Ee answered. in astonishment
 "Oh. that is-siy-I was afraid that violence had been de ! you" gasped Miss Hopkins, sinking into q char.
 "I assure you that I am uninjuredn
 /" But he looked so furious:"
 "Therc i5 little danger i'll looks =
 "A And had such dread of him v
 :" Hc is gone now, and can do gou no in- jury, said the editor misinterpreting the old maid
 "Oh. Mr Gray. IT would not have had hIn injure you for the world, and we were talking so pleasantly, too, when he came in
  licvc we werc talking about the mystery of Turleys Point, were we not:n
 :" No, no-oh, you rogue, you know about what VIC wore talking said Miss Leethy, wipng her eyes and blushlng profusely be- hind her handkerchief
 If he comprehended Miss Hopkins he did not pretend to, but in q cool, even voice said
 .'I was gong to ask you something about that old house on the hill :,
 '' Don't you know it is q forbidden topcoo''
 "HcS, generally it is, he answered, with sigh, 'It r. not every one that 1 would talk with on this subject, but as we have occasionally exchanged confidence on other subjects, we might on this.
 s'Oh. of course.n She managed to blush quito profu5ely now, and eoyly pinching at the folds of her dress, gathered them down into narrow plats.
 II thought you would be willing to tell me all you knew about the matter"
 ''Oh. yes"
 She sighed and gave hifn a glance from the corner of her eyes
 IVY hat is the name of the man who lives in tho stone house." Allen asked, without noticing her look or making an effort to translate it.
 ''Some say it's Collins, but he has great. big French name. something like De Col licur, which they say is his real uame, and that he took the name of Collins i'll place of 1t. because it i5 easier to pronounce.
 How many have they in family at the rock house."
 That is very difficult to ascertain Some say there are several others that there are not many. They have good many servants, but, as all talk French, no one can find out any thing from themh
 Did It never strike you that there is q great deal of romance about this singularly mysterious old house on the hill?e
 ''Yes, sir, it has" she answered. .'and I believe that it would be an excellent theme for story
 It might. What do you know of ita'
 ''Oh, not much"
 "How long have you known that tall, dark-whisker6d man3'
 II don't know him at all
 You mean you have no formal ac1uaint- ance.n
 No, sir. n