Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-02-21

twenty. His ace WAS dark, his black hair
hanging in long, wavy masses to his shout
dcrs. His upper lip was adorned with
black mustache. His dress was plain, yet
Of fine cloth, and his rather small feet were
encased in heavy shoes.
One of his hands had q blood-stain across
It where it had been scratched by twig.
Miss Penroy, believe" SAID the young
man, lifting his gray cap with q smile that
revealed rows of even white teeth.
eyes. sir" she answered, opening her
honest gray eyes wide with establishment.
"You are stranger to me-" she con-
cluded, after q moment.
81 suppose so. But few people in and
about Stonefeld, or Lone Hollow, know
Louis Fingal; even you never heard the
name venture to say.''
81 never did until this moment,' ad-
mitted Grace, blushing prettily under his
earnest gaze.
'You may learn more of me in the
future" he said, leaning thoughtfuIly on
his handsome rifle.
not come to the housea Grandfather will
be pleased to see one who has befriended
his pet grandchild. It all seems strange to
me. You werc up in a tree. do not fully
understand it even now"
She shuddered and chung more tightly to
the sapling for support, while her honest
gray eyes regarded his handsome face
questioningly.
81 was in the woods cunning, looking for
deer. I know that old hunters some
times watch q deer-trail from an ele-
waited perch-my brother always did, and
he was one Of the most successful Nimrods
in the West"
Sand were you perched up there watch
ing for a deer?" questioned innocent Gface.
sThat's about the truth of it,'' he adj
mitted. II
"But there hasn't been a deer in these
woods in years." and she laughed for the
first time. a;la|
II must begleave to differ with you there,
Miss Penroy."
"But I know" affirmed the girl 81
have lived at Lone Hollow for years and
years -"
"And never saw deerp'
"Never." -
Yet have been here but one day, and
have seen as pretty a one as could wish to
look on. I sat entranced watching the
beautiful creature, consequently forgot all
about my rifle.'
There was q quizzical smile on his face
while a mischievous CLINT sparkled in his
eyes. 81.
Her long lashes dropped, covering her
gray orbs. She bit her lip in some confu
| sion. His full meaning dawned on hel
brain, and she did feel annoyed, and Ger
| tain1y would have been offended had not she
owed so much to the youth before her.
"Never mind, Miss Penroy," and his
merry laugh rang out pleasantly. 81 did
not mean to give ohense, I see that this
fellow is stirring. Shall bind him and
turn him over to tie authorities for punish
ment, or do you prefer to overlook his
rascality?"
Grace regarded the fallen tramp with 8
little tremor of disgust and fear.
"1-I think will not punish him further
If he RECEIVERS he will not forget the blow
| and
"Cf course. We will leave him to the
tortures of an outraged conscience" inter
rupted Fingal, lightly.
"Are you sure that he is not mortally
injured2" questioned the tender-heartec
Grace.
81 am sure of it. Even if he was NOR
tally hurt who would weep for hima'
"He had mother once" was Grace's
| soft answer.
| $50 had we ALL sighed Fingal, his light
mood vanishing suddenly. "But there's NJ
danger of harming such fellow as thi:
with an ordinary thump; their heads art
thick.
He bent down and made q brief exami
nation.
ssNo harm done," he said at length, com
ing to his feet. ~ believe will accompany
| you home. There's one resident at Lone
!; Hollow whom wish to see."
{ "a friends'
| "No; an enemy"
| 81 can not conceive of such thing" de
| clared Grace. 81 am sure all the inmates O.
my home are good people,"
perhaps you don't know Lura Joyce a.
| well as do''
"Lura Joyce."
The girl uttered the words in evident sur
prise.
.'You have met Miss Joyce, have 20,
not?''
''Never. We have been expecting her a
Lone Hollow, however. She is my cousin,
| suppose"
Fingal, in q disappointed tone. 81 an
| sorry, for have q bone to pick with tina
young lady. Perhaps had best not 60 Il
! the house."
"But grandfather would be pleased to SCI
you, urged Grace, who was really quite pre-
| possessed in the young mans favor, in spit
| of the fact that he wore long hair and wa
very plain spoken.
After little reflection Fingal continued
| in Grace's company, and the two in q littl
| time came in sight of rambling ston'
dwelling built upon an elevation that occu
pied the exact center of q vast basin, who's
| sides were covered with trees and bushes
CHAPTER II.
AT LONE HOLLOW.
| As we have said, rambling stone man
sion doomed up on the summit of q mount
| that occupied the center Of an immense
| basin or hollow.
| The elevated land was not raised as higl
as the surrounding country; on the con
| trary, the hills about the basin were full.
up to line with the highest point of tn,
roof on the dwelling in the hollow. 1t wa!
| fully mile from the spot where the CIR
and young man stood to the farther side O.
| the sink beyond the dwelling.
The country presented q weirdly wild ap
pearance, not q human habitation being Wis
| ible save the stone house in the hollow.