The Springdale news., 1888-11-30
CHAPTER XVIII.
''TaAT CAN NEVER Ba:: -


 ''THAT CAN NEVER BE
 Simmons and Strong found the bitterness of personal defeat somewhat sweetencd by the knowledge that their enemy had gone down #ith them. Moro5e. gloomy and ill., natared, each went moping about the streets, cursng his own ill-Iuek, and won dering what blight had come over their town that It could not be saved from ineY- itablc ruin. Allen Gray had come at last to realize that Turkeys Point was doomed, and all hls endeavors to save 1t were worse than useless.
 II will give it up" he said to himself, as he sat 3t his desk one day. '' It is no use to try 10 do any thing for these foolish people While they ara so bhndly jealous and en- VOLS of each other. If stranger comes here to purchase property or engage Ill business he i5 discouraged 1 will sell out the paper and go to other fields where 1 shall have moro favorable surroundings.n
 But property m Turkeys Point was not ready sale, and he could find no one bold enough to venture to take the editorial helm of the ttcSteiH RcWtblie.
 During the sumner just passed Allen continually hoped amid the heat of political conflict and .; failing business to entirely forget all about the stone house on the hill But as the weeks rolled on he found the image of one of the inmates of that nysteri- ous building becoming daily more fixed in his mind and more and more q part 0f him- self. Try as lie would it was impossible to efface that image from his memory.
 He=had taken frequent strolls to the stone house. but not soul Was to be seen. It seemed as utterly deserted as if on an isl and which had been uninhabted for ages. The fountains were dried up, and weeds were growing in the garden.
 ''Thcy are all gone, taking that bhghting, whitening mystery with thcm.a said Allen, q few days after the election, having re turned from stroll to the top of the hill. :" I will forget her-I will leave the neigh borhood, and in other fields, amld different scenes and people, begin life anew
 As autumn advanced he made vigorous efforts to dispose of the paper but without avail. Summer seemed to finger in the lap of winter, and those days of ripening fruit and golden harvest were continued longer than usual.
 Ono evening when the moon shone bright ly from a cloudless sky and the landscape seemed more lovely than by day, Allen de cidcd to take one more stroll. His many aiilictfons had taught him to love solitude. Miss Leethy Hopkins, in her efforts to capt Ere the young editor, was growing de5- pcratc, frequently driving her victim to the solitude of the forests where, free from her sckening nonsense, he could commune with nature at his own sweet will.
 In no place was he more secure from in- trusion than on the quiet hilltop where the old mansion, like some vast castle, was set up as a guard for the village. Allen went straight up the hill to the front gate, in- tending to sit down on the stone steps and enjoy few moments reflection free from the cares and annoyanceS of the world.
 But when he reached the gate and glanced through the iron bars, he was astonished at the transformation The moon was bathing the scene in flood of mellow light. All signs of neglect were re- moved, and flowers were blooming and fountains so long dry and silent had found their voices again and were laughingly gush- ing out the brightest sparkling water. The air seemed full of life and gladncss.
 From an open window came the strains of piano. Allen was entrauced at the French air that f1oated on the evening breeze from the window of the house. Even as he list cncd enraptured the music ceased, the door opened, and slight form, with a light shawl thrown over her shoulders, came down the white-pebbled walk to the gate. Allen instinctiyely shrunk back so as not to be seen.
 Crouched in the shadow of the wall he was again thrilled at sight of that angelic being who had seemed to become q part of himself. Bertha opened the gate, and, drawing the silk shawl about aer shoulders, passed down the old turnpike humming plaintive air. der head was uncovered, and, her wealth of golden hair hung loosely about her shoulders, was made the speft of the breeze.
 ''Where is she gong:" he asked himself Slowly he rose, following her. He could not give any reason for his course, save that he was impelled by some inward impulse.
 Had he conquered his heart' Certainly not, for now that he was near her again those same strange wild emotions which had so completely taken possession of him before were all revived with n-fold power.
 Still humming the plaintive French air, she wandered down the old long-deserted road until she came to the path which led to the spring. Following, Allen soon saw her seated upon the old rustic seat. Behind large square stone, which ages ago had tumbled down from the bluff above, he