The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-05-17

!-lu s. " man leaping, dancing and yelling
"a a hilltop about hundred PAGES away,
swearing he was the best man on dirt. It
was the man with the horsewhip from
Bnly's Creek.
CHAPTER XVI
DESPERATE DETERMINATION.
Allen smiled. The man from Billys
Creek had cultivated his ill-temper until
he was enabled to fly into passion on the
slightest notice. Some men do this, appar-
emily, for no other reason than to make
| themselves miserable.
Growing tired of the silly fellows antics,
the editor turned to his desk and tried to
bury himself in his business. But notwith-
standing the many exciting and ludlcrous
events, his mind was not wholly won away
from the mystery which seemed to be real
ly blighting his life, and kept his thoughts
from business. In his busiest moments,
amid the most exciting events, the cry: sin
Heavens name spare him!' rang on his
ear. The sweet, sad face of the mystic
girl, whom he could not but love, seemed
always before him, pleading with her large
blue eyes for relief.
"Who are yous Who are yous" he asked
himself again and again as the vision rose
before his mind. Ten thousand tormenting
fiends seemed constantly aggravating him
with their doubts and fears.
81 will know the worst" he declared to
himself. eff I have to beard the lion in his
den, will know all.'
The stranger from Billy's Creek was for
gotten, so wholly was Allen absorbed with
| thoughts of the stone house on the hill. The
rustic bully had grown weary with cursing
and striking the air, and, as no one seemed
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.
"Why, Miss Hopkins, are you here?" the
wondering editor asked.
"Ah, are you hurt!" she sobbed, hysteric-
ally.
"No,' he answered, in establishment.
"Oh, THAT is-sir was afraid that
Violence had been done you," gasped Miss
Hopkins, sinking into chair.
II assure you that I am uninjured."
"But he looked so furious2"
"There is little danger in looks.''
"He is gone now, and can do you no in
jury" said the editor, misinterpreting the
old maid.
ooh, 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. 81 be-
lieve we were talking about the mystery Of
I'urieV'S Point. WorS we nOt2o
mo, no-oh, you rogue, you know about
what we were talking" said Miss Leethy,
wiping her eyes and blushlng profusely be-
hind her handkerchief.
If he comprehended Miss Hopkins he did
not pretend to, but in cool, even voice
said
II was gong to ask you something about
| that old house on the hill"
"Don't you know it is a forbidden topic?"
eyes, generally it is" he answered, with
a sigh. "It is not every one that l would
talk with on this subject, but as we have
occasionally exchanged confidence on other
subjects, we might on this"
ooh. of course" She managed to blush
quite profusely now, and coyly pinching at
| the folds of her dress, gathered them down
into narrow plaits.
II thought you would be willing to tell me
all you knew about the NATTER
ooh. yes"
She sighed and gave him glance from
the corner of her eyes.
"What is the name Of the man who lives
in the stone house?" Allen asked, without
noticing her look or making an effort to
translate it.
''Some say it's Collins, but he has great,
big French name, something like De Col
Eo1,r& ,saht r., l. -,
that he took the name of Collins in place of
it, because it is easier to pronounce"
''How many have they in family at the
rock houses''
''That is very difficult to ascertain Some
say there are several others that there are
not many They have a good many servants,
but, as all talk French, no one can find out
any thing from them''
did it never strike you that there is a
great deal of romance about this singularly
mysterious old house on the hill?"
eyes, sir, it has," she answered; sand I
believe that 1t would be an excellent theme
for a story"
''It might. What do you know of it?"
''Oh, not much"
elbow long have you known that tail,
dark-whiskered man?'
81 don't know him at all''
"You mean you have no formal acquaint-
ance!"
'sNo, sir''
"How long since you first saw him?"
"Three or four years ago."
"Had he been here before that time?"
81 Lave heard that he had. He has been
living at the old stone house on the hill, at
short periods, for several years."
81 believe you SAID that young lady
was once seen within those wallss''
eyes, sir; that was only few months
ago. have heard that she was seen again
within the last few days Som one discov-
cred her sitting on a rustic seat beneath an
old oak at spring on the hillside, between
the village and the rock house,
"WhO is sheep
"No one knows. She seems to be an ad-
ditional mystery. 1t is generally supposed
that she is the daughter of the dark
whiskered master of the stone house."
"She has no resemblance to him what
ever" interrosed Allen.
"You have seen her then"
''From the description have had of her,
she has no resemblance to him.
"No; yet parents and children are some
times very dissimilar."
sDo you think she has lived there long?''
"No, sir, she can not have been there
more than a few mocths at most.n an
swered Miss Hopkins. "She was never
seen about the place until recently''
"Have you ever heard of any children
beng seen OF heard there?''
"No, sir"
DO you think there are any?'
"There are none. They would find it i'm
possible to keep child within those great
walls so quiet and silent that il world not