Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-03-28
while mischievous CLINT sparkied in his

1
and"
"Cf course. We will leave him to tn
tortures of an outraged conscience" inter
rupted Fingal, lightly.
"Are you sure that he is not MORTAL,
injureds" questioned the tender-hearte
Grace.
81 am sure of it. Even if he was NOR
tally hurt who would weep for hims'
"He had mother once" was Grace
soft answer.
$50 had we all, sighed Fingal, his ligh
mood vanishing suddenly. ''But there's NJ
danger of harming such fellow as thi
| with an ordinary thump; their heads ar
thick.
He bent down and made a brief exami
nation.
mo harm donc," he said at length, com
ing to his feet. IL believe I will accompan,
you home. There's one resident at Lon,
Hollow whom 1 wish to see.''
| "a friends'
'No; an enemy"
| II can not conceive of such thing" de
clared Grace. 81 am sure all the inmates O.
my home arc 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 you
| not:"
| 'sNever. We have been expecting her al
Lone Hollow, however. She is my cousin,
suppose
"And she has not arrived then?" uttered
Fingal, in disappointed tone. a am
sorry, for have bone to pick with that
young lady. Perhaps / had best not go tc
the house,
'But grandfather would be pleased to see
YOU, urged Grace, who was really quite pre-.
possessed in the young mans favor, in spite
of the fact that he wore long hair and was
very plain spoken.
After Il little reflection Fingal continued
in Grace's company, and the two in q little
time came in sight of n rambling stone
dwelling built upon an elevation that occu-
pied the exact center of q vast basin, whose
sides were covered with trees and bushes.
CHAPTER II.
AT LONE HOLLOW.
AS we have SAID, a rambling stone man
sion doomed up on the summit of q mound
that occupied the center of an immense
basin or hollow.
The elevated land was not raised as high
as the surrounding country; On the con
trary, the hills about the basin were fully
up to line with the highest point of the
roof on the dwelling in the hollow. 1t was
fully u mile from the spot where the girl
and young man stood to the farther side of
the sink beyond the dwelling.
The country presented a Weirdly wild APP
pearance, not a human habitation being WIS.,
ible save the stone house in the hollow.
A wagon road wound its way down the
side of the hill and passed up the elevation
past the front of the old house, losing itself
beyond, but again appearing ON the further
rise, cutting squarely through the low, yet
dense growth of trees on it's summit. 1t
would seem that Grace Penroy had wan
this quiet, cloudless summer day. 1t was
nothing new for her, however.
''That is Lone Hollow uttered Fingal,
musingly. 1T is well named, that is GER
tain"
"Yes, 1 think So" return ed Grace. ''The
house is old, having been built by my ma
ternal grandfather"
Shave you lived here all your lifea''
''Indeed, no. We have been here scarce
ly more than d year"
"We?"
Mother, grandfather and l."
g And your father!'
Is dead" she answered, mournfully.
q 1t was an accident. A vicious horse flung
him, and neighbors found him by the road
side dead-that was two years ago.
Yes. Where were you living theE"
The young man seemed extremely curl
Gus, but Grace felt no offense. 1t had been
a long time since she had met one of her
own age with whom she could talk, and so
she INDUCED herself freely on the present
occasion.
1--WE were living not far from Detroit
fathers business was in that city"
tie
placer
Sc At first did not.'
81 see. You have become accustomed to
the solemn old place"
Yes, in measure"
Do you often wander so far from home
as to-day! 1t seems to me not wholly safe
for you to do So" persisted Fingal.
'.Not often. 1 am, however, privileged
to do as please. expect, when my cousin
comes, / shall take immense pleasure in
visiting all the noted scenes and wild places
in the neighborhood," declared Grace, with
no little enthusiasm.
cousin. Certainly you do not know that
you will like her.
mo, but then 1 mean to. 1t certainly
will be her fault if l do not" declared
Grace, emphatically.
Il believe so myself he returned, smil-
ing in to the pretty, flushed tace of his beau
tiful companion. There are noted spots in
this vicinity, you tell me!"
''Many. Just mile to the west is Hang
mans Gulch, where its said one of the first
settlers was lynched for murder. Then l
have heard that not far from this hollow IS
a cone where at one time old Lille Doty
secreted himself several days from his pur-
suers. You see, we live in romantic re-
gion''
81 should say So" agreed Fingal. You
ought to be u poet, or an artist, Miss
Pcnroy, then you might immortahze the
country roundabout"
They walked on then, descending the hill,
following the wagon road along up the next
incline to the front door of the old mansion.
On the porch an old man sat smoking
pipe His hair was white as the driven
snow, his face smooth shaven after tho
manner of olden times. His dress was
quaint and old, and altogether he presented
the appearance of one of the revolutionary
patriarchs.
He sat in huge armchair as old and as
quaint as himself, while at his side, lean
ing against his knee, was heavy cane cut
from the native woods.
He removed his pipe when he saw the
two young people coming up the broad
graveled walk, pushing with wrinkled
fingers his glasses high upon his bald
browS.
"Ehl It's Oracle, and-and, yes, by the
beard of the prophet, it's young man!
Confound it; confound 1t, say! One young
man is enough for girl Haven't I told
her.
Grandpa, this is Mr.. Fingal He saved
my life, and want you to thank him, as
can not, for the act. Mr.. Fingal, Grandpa
Vandible.'