Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-04-11
CHAPTER XVII,
. woS0ERFuL STORY,

= WONDERFUL STORY
Grace Psaroy sank nearly fainnng on the
breast OF her Unexpected visitor. The
sight OF Lura Joyce's face was like unto
meeting the dead returned from the shores
Of eternity
For some minutes not word passed, the
silence only broken by the scbs Of Grace,
who rested dead weight in the arms OF
her cousin.
There, there, dear, don't cry uttered
Lura Joyce, IN her old CHEEKY WAY "Pve
returned TO stay, and you need no fear To
lose me, so just unwind those arms, pretty.
and sit down, for We a heap 10 tell you
Aud Grace Penroy suffered her cousin u
lead her 10 an armchair near.
Like one in dream she sat aud regarded
the face of Iura. IL seemed like pleasant
vision, and yet il was all true. Her blight,
spirited cousin was sitting there before her
in the flesh, with all her old self beamiug
in every feature of her countenance.
"Ahr breathed the heiress, how good
Heaven is | am so glad that that you
have returned"
Again she burst into tears
Don't cry. urged Lura. :lf you are
glad TO see me YOU ought 20 laugh Bat
then | must not forge, the cause you have
for grief, | know Of the dark shadow that
rests over Lone Hollow, You have my
sympathy, and will help you 20 fight the
demon who hopes TO feather hrs nest
through crime. and the gullibhty Of
girl
Lura rose suddenly, went to the door that
stood ajar aud closed it, turning the KEY in
the lock. Then she resumed her scat. and,
regarding Grace iixedly, said;
81 have much tn fHli yOu. Grace and | do
not wish 10 be interrupted.
Il am very anxious 10 hear it, you may be
sure, said Grace, speaking for the first
time in some minutes, controlling her emo.
tons with great difficulty, and regarding
her cousin with a deyourng expression OF
the honest gray eyes that showed how her
feelings were stirred.
First tell me Of all that has happened
during the past month during my absence
from Lone Hollow" said Lura
"Of course YOU have heard OF grandpas
deathr
Yes. you need not dwell on that, which
know is painful 10 you.
After a minute given to forcing calm
state Of feeling Grace Penroy began histo-
rs of the past few weeks and in her cousin
she found a most interested listener
When she had finished Lura said
So you haven't seen Austin wentword
since the time of your quarrel!
II have not
1T was cruel in linn TO remain away
when he must have known that you were
suffering. It's always so, however, in love
affairs. OF course Austin did not get the
letter ! undertook TO convey that awful
night on which | came near bidding final
adieu 10 this mundane world. Had he
Cd hat Iass oil
weil between you can tell you for a Ger.
tsinty, however, that you have suffered
even less than Austin, who, not receiving
a reply to his forgiving note, deemed you
uuyielding, and that reconciliation was
now out Of the question
:. How could he think so when =
"0f course il was strange" interrupted
Lara, with covert smile, but it will all
come right in the end il you just refuse 20
countenance that villain, Clinton Starbright.
shall see Mr.. Wentword and tell him all
about il, and then the crooked paths will all
be made straight
:" You are very kind
. No, I'm not. | Fam utterly selfish, as
serted Lura; II do all this 10 crafty nv
own heart. I've set my mind on Outwitting
villain, and mean TO do il or die trying.
came near it, too, that night. | will tell
you about it, for know you are anxious 10
hear the wonderful story
u am deeply anxious, assured Grace
: You all thought me dead.
:" had come 10 believe so Romeo came
home riderless, aud Search failed 20 reveal
any thing. OF course we we're puzzled to
know what had become OF you if ROE go had
flung you from his back. Either living or
dead you ought to have been found ptat
he .f .a al
. Exactly, and Captain Starbright was as
deeply puzzled as the rest "
Certainly"
A low laugh fell from the lips OF LyrA
The red curls danced on her forehead, and
fierce light burned in her eyes. THE con
summate hypocrlten she cried, in a wither
lug way that thrilled Grace TO the quick.
But won't indulge in invective against
that creature now. mean TO hunt him to
his hole and then see that he meets with
just punishment"
Lura then proceeded TO relate how she had
taken the path leading along the edge OF
Hangman's Gulch, past the CABIN of the
witch, Mother CABRERA, whose name she had
since learned: how she had become Devil
dered and turned about 10 retrace her steps,
and then OF her meeting the wo rufiaDs 10
the immediate vicinity OF Mother Caoera's
cabin; OF her being jcrked from the saddle
and lifted high above the preei pee.
did you ever so up higu. way up 10 the
tree-,ops ia swing Grace You know. {
you have what scary feeling shoots all
over YOU: that was just how feit when
those ruffans lifted me over that abyss, |
was too frightened to utter word-it was
the first instance in my life tina, got so far
used up as that. Presently / felt myself
going down, down, shooting like a rocket
through the air; then q bush switched
against nv face, a terrible scratching on
hands and limbs. then crash and utter
blackness.'
Lura paused III her narration.
Grace Penroy was breathing deeply, her
face pale, her great, honest gray eyes
dllating with the intensity OF feeling aroused
by the words Of her cousin.
go on. Lura, am bstening' sspirated
the heiress after brief moment Of silence.
"You wish to hear all about it now--you
are not too tiredi'
"No, no, go on; | am dying TO hear the
whole story Of your adventures, dear
cousin.
To BE CONIIN UED.
cReAr RATTLE