The Irish standard., 1888-07-14

to dispute his title TO be the best man on
dirt,'' he left the village, to carry to his
friends wonderful story Of how he had
made the editor quail.
The editor, meantime, sat in oblivion OF
his existence, when he was startled by
sob. Looking around, he was not little
surprised to See Miss Leethy Hopkins stand
ing just within the door.
ssWhy, Miss Hopkins, are you here's" the
wondering editor asked.
.sAh, are you hurt9" she sobbed, hysteric-
ally.
HNo,n he answered, in establishment.
sob, THAT is--sir-I was afraid that
violence had been done YOU" gasped Miss
Hopkins, sinking into chair.
~ assure you that am uninjured."
s'But he looked so furious!'
"Thece is little danger in looks"
'sAnd I had such dread Of him."
"He is gone now, and car do you no In
jury said the editor, misinterpreting the
old maid.
sOh, Mr.. Gray, II would not have had
him injure you for the world, and we were
talking so pleasantly, too, when he came
in.'
$50 we were,'' returned Allen. ~ be-
lieve we were talking about the mystery OF
Turkeys Point, were we not!"
ssNo, no-oh. you rogue, you know about
what we were talking" said Miss Leethy,
wiring her eyes and blush}ng profusely be-
hind her handkerchief.
If he comprehended Miss Hopkins he did
not pretend to, but in q cool, even voice
said: '..
III was gong to ask you something ABOUT
that cid house. on tine hil.''
eDon't you knew it is g forbidden topic7'
ayes, generally it Isl" he answered, with
! q sigh. cit is not every one that 4 wonld
talk with OH this subject, but as we 1ava
occasionally exchanged confidence on other
subjects, we might on this"
ooh. Of course" She managed TO blush
/ quite profusely now, and coyly pSnching at
the folds Of her dress, gathered them down
into narrow plaits,
81 thought you would be willing TO tell me
all you anew about the matter"
s'Oh. yes"
She sighed and gave him glance from
the corner OF her eyes.
sWhat is the name Of the man who lives
in the stone housea'' Allen asked, without
| noticing her look or making all effort to
| translate it,
ssSome say it's Collins, but he has a great,
! big French name, something Like he Col
| iieur, which they say is his real name, and
that he took the name Of Collins III place of
| 1t, because tits easier to pronouneo"
"Row many have they in family at the
rock housed"
ssThat 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 tnd ont
any thing from them.'
.tDid it never strike you that there is a
great deal Of romance about this singular!y
mysterious old house on the hill?"
1Yes, sir, it has, she answered; send I
believe that it would be an excellent theme
for a story"
"It might What do you know Of it9'
stOh, not much.''
"How long have you known that tall,
dark-whiskered u1ans''
~ don't know him at all.
tsYou mean you have no formal acquaintr
anceg"
mo, SIR"
"How long since you first saw hint"
"Three or four years ago."
"Had he been here before that time2"
Ut have heard that he had He has been
living at the Cid stone house on the hill, at
abort periods, for several yeavs."
81 believe you said that young lady
! was once seen within those wallss''
eyes, sir; that was only q few months
| ago. / have heard that she was seen again
within the last few days. Some one discoy-
cred her sitting on rustic seat beneath an
old oak, at 9 spring On the hillside, between
the village. and the rock house,
i'TVho is she?"
sNo one knows. sShe seems To be an ad.
litional mystery. It is generally supposed
that she is the daughter Of the dark
whiskered master Of the stone house"
sShe has no resemblance to him what
ever,S' interposed Allen.
! "Yeu have seen her then"
"From the description have had Of her,
she has no resemblance to him"
aNo; yet parents and chi1drez are some
times very dissimilar."
! sDo you think she has lived there loug!'
"No, sir, ste can not have been there
more than few months at most" an
| sWered Miss Hopkins. eShe was never
seen about the place until recently"
| ssHave you ever heard Of any children
| bejpg seen Or heard therean
"No, sir.'
ssDo you think there are any2"
"There are none. They would find it i'm
possible to keep child within those great
walls so quiet and silent that it would not
be aeen or head BY some one,' answered
| the school-teacher.
.Does that dark-whisk man make
frequent trips away?''
81 suppose he does-it IS seldom, how
ever, that any one ever sees him go away or
come back For weeks at e time he is not
seen, and then we know he Is away from
! the old house on the hill Then all OF sud-
! den he Is discovered walking about the
big house, or even coming to the village.
but making the acquaintance Of no one.
Some people think that ne is the chief Of q
bandltti ma goes aWay 70 his srsndezyousi
Eoccasion u Then there IS an old mother