The Florida agriculturist., 1889-01-09

threw down the paper and turned to go.
Hold on, Mr.. Lem; allow me to show
you something about that article which has
escaped your observation"
"What? he demanded, savagely, as if he
would have liked to annihilate the editor
"Don't you see at the bottom of the
sketch the words Detroit Free Press"
"Yesn
swell, this article was clipped from that
paper, and the writer of it never heard Of
you, and when cut it out to use in our pa
per, did not dream that it would wound
your feelings"
Mr.. Lem scratched his bald head, and
cursed himself for not having seen it be-
fore; finally, after exacting promise from
the editor to say nothing about it, he left the
Office His name remained on the subscrip-
tion books, and in few weeks he became
Aliens steadfast friend
That evening Allen again found himself
strolling toward the great old house on the
hill. Oh, how dear had that spot become to
him. Scarce moment passed that the
sweet vision he had seen on the. bluff,
bathed in the golden hues of the setting
sun, was not present in his mind. Like
guardian angel she seemed lowering over
him, sleeping or waking Even as he bent
harassed by politicians and perplexed with
poets, she seemed ever near, looking over
his shoulder and smiling that sweet angelic
smile, which he had never seen on any
other face.
He had made many inquiries about the
mysterious family on the great hill, but his
interrogatories were met with looks or ex-
clamations of horror. No one in the village
cared to discuss the subject. One day the
large, dark -whiskered man who was repre-
sented as ruling supreme at the stone
house came through the village, and Allen
noted the expressions of terror on the face
of every one as the mysterious stranger
passed. Had he been peStllence he would
not have been more avoided.
s'I will not be in time to witness the sun
set from the b,uff,' Allen thought, as he
toiled up the hill, "but if can only get a
glimpse of her | shall feel amply repaid for
what I may undergo IN climbing this hill''
The tardy moon still fingered below the
eastern horizon, as if it had discovered
pleasant fields and scenery, which it was
10th to leave. The twilight shades were
darker in consequence OF Luna's absence
than they would be in the middle of the
night. All about the tired editor rose the
great forest.
Allen wildly recalled his recent journey
up the long disused turnpike, and wondered
if Bertha still wandered the rugged paths
about the spring His tagging footsteps
were quickened with hopes of renewing the
pleasure he had experienced on hls first
visit.
''Oh, Bertha, will see you this evening
again!" he involuntarily asked himself as
he reached the top of the great hill and the
stone house burst into view.
Vast and somber in the solemn gloom of
twilight stood that mammoth pile, towering
up like some grand old castle. Allen, to
his surprise, found himself seized by some
strange superstitious dread, and his heart
beating wildly. He paused but moment
at the front of the house, and, as he had
done before, passed around to the rear of
the building.
Darkness had made wonderful change
in the stone house. 1t seemed more grim,
terrible and awe-inspiring, and he could
half believe that it was really haunted.
Was it because there was no room to drive
those deceitful shadows aways Or did the
evil spirits conceal themselves within the
dark walls during the daylight, that they
might revel in the darknesss He reached
the rear wall, and standing at the gate,
gazed through crack, hoping to see that
beautiful being who had charmed him on a
former occasion.
Suddenly there rose upon the air pierc-
ing shrek, which seemed to chill the blood
in his veins Despite his courage, Allen
could not refrain from quaking with
strange, supernatural dread Before that
awful shrek had died upon the air, the en-
tire house seemed lit up with blaze. 1t
eoo,,o<,d nc If ouorN Tuind0yU had b0cOmo n