Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1888-06-22
FENLOW'S FOLLY.
BY JAMES NJ. MERRILL.

BY JAMES NJ. MERRILL.
1t stood up gaunt and bleak, and
bare, almost always in the shadow, that
solemn old building, a standing monu-
ment to the folly of one man who i'm
aglned he was to revolutionize the world,
or that part of il at least that revoIved
around Tidewind as a center.
$50 that is Fenlow's Folly" said
Paul Hildreth, as he stood beside the
beautiful Alma Dane and passed down
into the deep shadows of the gulch where
the immense stone building stood over
the little stream, and seemed a part of
the gloomy picture with which nature
had invested that lone spot.
Trees lining the hillsides shadowed
the p ace, save for a brief bit at noon
day, when the sun in his diurnal round
peeped for short time into the solemn
gulch.
"That is FenIow's Folly" answered
the girl, her solemn gray eyes shadowed
with the gloom Of the scene. Il have
often wondered what was inside those
old walls, but, you see, haven't yet
gained courage to make the exploration.
Perhaps you would 90 with me-"
Not for the world" he answered
with laugh. IT'S haunted, they say,
and L have no notion of shocking my
nerves by visit to the old ruin. Did
you tell me why it was builtp'
''FOr factory of some sort, but the
protector died before it was completed,
and no one cared to finish the work, since
Fenlow left no property"
Indeed"
There was pulling look in the ewes
of handsome Paul Hildreth, as he
plucked at his mustache and regarded
10 hrp +f
Folly, inde ed" he muttered. ssBy
the way, Cousin Alma, do you hear from
our mutual friend, Gerard Manning? [
supposed you and he would have joined
lives and fortunes before now"
81 hear nothing"
And yet the gloom deepened in the
gray eyes, and touch OF pallor shot
into Alma Danes cheeks. Why had this
reference to Manning so affected her?
The man at her side understood, and
bit his lip as h offered his arm, and the
twain walked slowly down the country
road. The walk extended half a mile,
ending at the comfortable residence of old
Squire / ane, whose broad acres were
counted by the thousands, and who had
laughlngly promised his only child Alma
a good fat duck On her wedding day.
Once IN her own room Alma gave vent
to her feelings in dry sob as she sank
low In the willow rocker and gazed hard
at the floor. Why did Gerard Manning
not come? This was the burden of her
grief. At length she came to her feet
and from drawer in the bureau near ex-
tracted a letter. She opened it and read
for the doZenth time:
My DARLING ALMA:-I shall be with you
on the Goth of June if l live, and then the
world shall know of our betrotha l have
prospered and expect to satisfy the exactions
even OF SO exacting a sire as yours. Many
kisses and good bye. GERARD.
A precious missive that. For the
dozenth time Alma pressed it to her
lips, then, W tn shudder, flung it from
her, and sank once more to the low chair
1t was now the 22d, and Gerard Man
ming had failed to appear. eff 1 am
alive will be with you on the 2Oth," he
had written. Could it be that he was
dead? Alma felt smothering sensation
at the thought. But no, if anything had
gone wrong with Gerard the telegraph
would have quickly informed her of it,
For two days her handsome cousin,
Paul Hildreth, had invested the squire's
home with his presence, and he had been
very attentive to his pretty cousin, who
had, on a former occasion, refused him
for the sake of the love Gerard Manning
had kindled in heart
Paul was more than ever attentive
during his present visit.
Il thought must come before setting
out for Europe" he explained. Il mean
to drown my sorrow in a foreign land"
This had reference to his hopeless
love for Alma. She pitied him as she
regarded the handsome solemnity of his
face, pitied and waited in vain the
coming of Gerard Manning.
''You have met Edith Walton doubt
less," said Paul, careles>ly, on the third
day of his visit. a. saw her riding with
Manning on the morning of the goth, as
boarded the train"
Il never met her." was Alma's solemn
answer. II don't think AIR. Manning
ever mentioned her name in my hearing"
"The sly dog. I suppose he wanted
to keep it secret, but the gossips do say
that Miss Walton is an heiress, and that
Gerard is desperately smitten. l might
have tried there myself, only, you see, 1
couldn't marry for mere gold. 1t isn't
in my ua,ure. l belie:e | am not con