The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-01-02
CHAPTER ".

THE STROLb-A MYSTIC BEAUTY.
To Allen Gray it seemed as if Strong and
Simmons were constantly watching each 9TH
er, to thwart one anothor's plans. However,
it may only have been by accident that Mr.
Strong came into the Office just an hour af-
ter his political opponents visit. Having
seated himself, Strong said:
"There isn't any doubt Mr.. Gray, that
Simmons is onto my racket. He knows Pm
gwine to run for sheriff, an he'll beat me If
he KIM
~ don't think he knows any thing about
it, Mr.. Strong" said the editor.
Eyer mistaken; tell We yer mistaken.
That man is just watching me all the time.
He's alters tryin' to spile my plans. be-
lieve the devil owes me spite an is payin'
me off with bad neighbors. Wasn't he in
here to-daya
"Yes, but we were talking on business
NATTER said Allen, with some hesitation, ~
wanted to buy that corner lot of his"
"Ye did. What did he AK yea"
"One thousand dollars"
Mr. Strong gave prolonged whistle,
That's more'n twice what it's wuth. I
wouldn't give him three hundred dollars
fur it; fur the house is no account at all"
Three or four days later, when Mr.. Strong
had almost induced Allen to purchase some
of his property, Tom Simmons, having heard
OF it, determined to "spoil the trade" if he
had to injure all the property in Turley's
Point to do 90. A large number of the
citizens Of Turley's Point seemed to be
watching each other, trying to prevent
their neighbors' success, even to their own
detriment. AS nearly every body seemed
pulling against every body else, the busi-
ness outlook of the village was not bright.
On Sunday afternoon Allen Gray deter
mined to set all warnings and rumors Of
danger aside and take stroll to the hill on
which the mysterious stone house stood 1t
was delightful day, and he found the
woo Is pleasant The trees were clothed in
their richest green, and wild flowers nodded
their saucy heads in the gentle breeze which
stole through the forest. The nimble squir-
rels ran before him, frisked about among
the branches or chatted from some leafy
retreat He followed an old disused car
riage road, once macadamized and an ex-
cellent thoroughfare, but now in dilapi-
dated state, and partially overgrown with
grass The grim old forest on either side of
him seemed dark and gloomy.
The distance was much greater than Allen
had supposed. Though the top of the old
stone house could be seen from the village,
he lost sight of it tho moment he entered
the wood. Having paused to rest at the foot
Of long hill, he discovered narrow but
well-worn path leading of at right angles
through che trees, and decided to follow it.
Through a forest Of grand old moss-covered
oaks, winding about among huge masses Of
rock which in centuries past had tumbled
from the bluff above, the path took Its
course until he found himself at delight
full spring of clear, cold water at the foot OF
the hill. Here Allen paused and gazed about
him
On his right beneath a wide-spreading
beech was an old rustic seat. 1t had evil
dently been there a great many years.
Lovers may have sat there and breathed
VOWS with only the gray old forest to hear
them, long before he was born.
At one time the whole forest seemed to
have been grand park, but allowed to
run wild, it had become labyrinth of tan
.gled underground and vines. Throwing
himself on the rustic seat Allen gazed into
the spring, which, gushing out from the
side Of the hill, formed sparkling rivulet
that glimmered over bed of many colored
pebbles. This cool retreat was haven OF
rest to the tired editor, and he flattered
himself that here he might frequently
find security from the prosecutions and an.
noyances Of poets and politicians.
But the afternoon was wearing away, and
as he had determined to visit that myste'
rious old stone house, he could waste nc
Z more time at the spring.
AS he rose to return TO the main road
something bright on the side of the patti
caught his eye. He stopped to see what il
was, and discovered golden chain partly
covered with leaves and dirt He drew il
out and found buried beneath the leaves
but attached TO the chain, golden locket
Il was lady's locket, and Allen knew at {
glance thatit did not belong to any one al
Turley's Point
sWhat shall do with itl" he asked him.
self "Keep 1t and advertise itl That is
the best / can do; but suppose open 1t ant
take q peep within"
He pressed his thumb on the spring ani
the lid few open, revealing only q shor
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 1t in his pocket ant
starting back to the road, tapping the leaves
with his slender cane.
Reaching the main road he assembled thu
hill toward the great house. The road be
tween the spring and top Of the hill bor
some evidences Of recent travel he hat
nearly reached the top Of the hill when HI
found q Iady's kid glove lying at the side o
tie rond.