Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-11-06

heve me, thank you from my heart
Tor all your kindness. "
"Oh, nonsense rejoined the little
woman, cheerily; dear me, do hate
10 have you leave us! But promise that
Foull sometimes write to me, and tell
ne how you are getting along"
II shall write and never forget you,
NY dear, dear friendl"
OF course the parting with her
stanch friends was trying moment
Tor Oracle, but, like all the JOYS and
SORROWS in life, ii was soon over. and
gave place to the excitement of being
launched upon the great world again,
bound in an all-absorbing quest-the
ending Of her missing mother.
For two days after her arrival in Bos-
ton fatigue and the difficulty of finding
a suitahle lodging place as near as pos
ahle to the old home in Milton occu-
ped every moment.
At last 3 comfortable farm house on
The high road that wound past the we'll
known BLACK Pond" was discovered,
and rooms for the pair engaged.
As luck would have it the inmates OF
the house were new to the district, and
consequently failed to recognize in
Oracle the girl who. two years previ.
,usly, had gone away with Mr.. Clifford
when he went abroad to die upon for
sign shore.
They were homely sort of people,
glad to secure boarders in order to exc
out an honest living, and we're satisfied
20 make their guests comfortable and
mind their own affairs. The only other
inmates of the house beside the farmer
and his wife were an elderly man and a
little three-year-old child, who were
boarders like Oracle and Mr.. Edgar,
and were introduced to them as MIR.
John Leonard and his granddaughter,
little Stella.
The man passed his time sitting
among the trees of the orchard intently
watching the road, while the child. a
little golden-haired fairy, played at his
feet with white kitten which was her
constant companion.
Oracle and Mr.. Edgar were informed
that the pair had lodged with the farm
er since he had taken the place year
before; that they were quiet, molten
sive people, taking their meals by
themselves, and never speaking to any
one unless they were spoken to. In
deed, the farmer explained that as the
man spoke with foreign accent, he
thought he must have come from across
the sea. He furthermore added, tap
ping his forehead significantly, that he
believed the old fellow to be touched
in the upper story"
That he was a foreigner and a
Frenchman was conclusively settle d
one day when, upon the arrival of the
mail letter was handed to Mr.. Edgar
by mistake, bearing the superscription
IN. Jean Leonard" and post-marked
paris.
But as the old man continued to sit
in the orchard, with his dreamy eyes
bent upon the winding highway, and
did not seem to notice the presence Of
strangers, he was left to himself and
bis meditations.
Upon the third day after her arrival
in Boston, and after the first evening
of her sojourn at the Milton farmhouse,
Oracle, unable longer to contain her
anxiety, proposed to Mr. Edgar that
they should walk down the road in the
tender starlight. Naturally she led her
companion in the direction of the old
home, and in silence they walked along
the shadowy road, while from the
neighboring swamp, the frogs chirped
and gurgled a melancholy accompani.
ment to their steps.
Presently they turned in between the
massive stone posts, where the gates
hung open, as if to receive them, and
suddenly at turn in the avenue,
which brought the mansion in sight,
Oracle paused. and laid her hand upon
her companions arm.
"Look!" she breathed; "there is the
house, and it is occupied! Do you see
the lights?'
ut may have been rented, suggested
the lawyer.
no." came the quick rejoinder,
my father would never have allowed
strangers there. What can it mean?"
1T is your own home, Oracle. You
have right to investigate.
Come" she whispered, follow me. !"
And when they reached the foot of the
steps that led UP to the terrace sur
Founding the illuminated windows, she
paused, adding
"Wait for me here. Do not stir!'
Then, with step as light as the
breeze that rustled the budding trees,
she gained the terrace, and peered in at
the open window.
Merciful Heaven! How she stag
gered and caught her breath in horror.
How she fled that sight which seemed
to blast the very life that palpitated in
her bosoml
Come, come away, quick!" she
gasped, reaching the lawyers side.
and grasping his hand with frantic
power, she dragged him into the
nky shadows that enwrapped the ave-
hue.
"Oh, come, come, comet" she
noaned, as he loitered and glanced
back at the lighted, tenantless win
lows.
I'm Heavens name, child" he de-
in alarm, "what have you
cen 2"
What have I seen?" Something
lie, hideous, sinful! Something that
viii drive me mad, if ever see il
gain! Something that will kill me,
lnless | put miles between it and mel