The Florida agriculturist., 1889-01-09

covered with leaves and dirt He drew it
out and found buried beneath the leaves,
but attached to the chain, golden locket
1t was lady's loc4zet, and Allen knew at a
glance that it did not belong to any one at
Turley's Point.
~What shall lido with it9'' he asked him.
self "Keep it and advertise itg That is
the best can do; but suppose Iopen it and
take peep within"
He pressed his thumb on the spring and
the lid flew open, revealing only a short
tress of soft, golden hair, which had evi-
IDENTIFY been clipped from the head of child.
"That reveals nothing" said Allen, clos
ing the locket, putting it in his pocket and
starting back to the road, tapping the leaves
with his slender cane.
Reaching the main road he ascended the
hill toward the great house. The road be-
tween the spring and top of the hill bore
some evidences of recent travel. He had
nearly reached the top of the hill when he
found lady's kid glove lying at the side of
the road.
The glove was too small and of quality
too fine to belong to any of the women
whom he had met in the village.
"Of two things 1 am certain, - soliloquized
Allen. "There is a lady at the stone house
on the hill and she takes strolls''
Allen began to wonder what kind of per-
son she was. Was she young or old, beau
tiful or ugly?
The top of the hill was reached, and he
found himself on broad plateau with a
large, magnificent mansion before him. A
high wall, on the top of which were sharp
iron pickets, surrounded house and grounds
as far as he could see The gate was tall,
surmounted by high arch supported by
pillars of stone All the nursery stories of
enchanted castles which he had ever heard
or read came with wonderful freshness to
his memory. There was something so
grand and yet so weird in that imposing
pile, reared as it seemed in the very heart
of the wilderness, that Allen was inspired
with feeling of awe, if not fear. For some
time he stood gazing at the vast building.
Then he went little nearer, and from a
slight eminence could see fountains playing
on the lawn, while the gentle breeze came
to him laden with the fragrance of sweet
est flowers. Notwithstanding the grandeur
and beauty of the house and grounds, there
was something so weird and strange about
them that he felt strongly inclined to re-
treat.
ooh, pshaw! I am getting almost as silly
and superstitious as the villagers said
Allen to himself.
After examining the front as well as he
could, he decided to walk completely round
it, Those people might have good reasons
for living lives of seclusion, and he would
not question their rights. That they were
people of refinement and taste the palatial
residence and fairy-like grounds were am
pie evidence. They might be even better
than represented. The people at the village
had doubtless misconstrued their conduct,
and given their neighbors on the hill worse
names than they deserved
With these thoughts in his mind Allen
wandered around to the rear of the great
mansion and halted. The great wall in
closed about ten acres, and from what little
Allen could see of the grounds they seemed
in excellent order. The wall in the rear
was boards two inches thick and eight
feet high, and through the cracks the editor
had very good view of the garden.
well-worn path, leading from the garden
gate to the river bluff fourth of a mile
away attracted Aliens attention. and,
wearied with gazing at the house, he
thought to go to the bluff and watch the
sunset
He had almost reached the great cliff
when he came to sudden halt and stood
\