The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1890-11-08

/ expect 20 80 QwotllnB. InoroG
where Mrs. Mattison livesh
I Thanked my inforfnant and set out
I at brisk walk. carrying my travelling
bag In my hand. 1t was half an hour
ere / diverged from the main road, OF
| rather lane. The stiIe at the end Of
| the footpath through the wood was
| quickly reached. and the little yellow
| houses creatn-coIored cottage literal
! ly overgrown with honeysuckles =
| presently rewarded my search. and. a.
! knocked at the door. clock some
where struck the hour OF z.
A decent-looking elderly woman.
In widows weeds. came to the door.
"Is Mi. Mattison in--Mr. Perley
Mattisonp"
"No.n she answered quickly, with,
- imagined. rather confused look.
I did not believe her, and asked
quietly, when do you expect him
homepn
mot at present"
Apparently she expected me to 60
away, but instead. / slipped into the
passage.
Mother" asked soft voice at the
head Of the stairs. '.who Is itP"
And then, for the first time, be-
came aware that some one had been
watching and listening to our colloquy
from the head of the stairs--a young
girl. dressed like the mother. In deep
black. with very brilliant eyes and Q
profusion OF Jet black curls.
Some one to see your brother"
She came halfway down the stairs,
pushed back her curls with one hand
and looked at me with her wonderful
eyes. Even then her beauty struck me
rs Istood gazing at her. SO
''Perley Is not at home" she said.
hurriedly. "He has gone away. We
do not know when he will return"
Evidently this mother and daughter
we're in the secret of Mattison's viii
liany and doing their best to screen
him from its consequence. My heart
bled for both of them; but 1t was no
time to indulge in sentimental pity.
Speaking as briefly as could, I.told
them it was my duty to compel them
to remain were they were while !
searched the house.
Mrs. Madison sat down pale and
trembling. Her daughter colored
high.
Mother" she said. "why do you
stand by and listen to such slandersp
1t is falsep Let this man search the
house If he will; my brother is as in
nocent as amp
No opposition was offered to my
search. It was entirely fruitless. how
ever; there was no where any trace of
the missing bird. Nevertheless. l re-
solved to remain there quietly, for
day or two, to see what little waiting
might bring forth.
The same afternoon Clara Mattison
came In as sat by the window keep
ing silent watch on all round.
MIR, Meredith" she said, softly,
mother thinks l have been rude to
you. She says it was not your fault,
personally. that you were sent here on
such mistaken crrand and. perhaps,
she Is right ] am sorry II have hurt
your feelings"
The pretty,penitent way in which she
spoke quite won my heart. and few
questions on my part seemed to unlock
the hidden recesses of her confidence.
She talked ut first shyly but after
ward with more assurance. Of herself,
her absent brother and her mother,
giving me thousand little family de-
tails which l almost dreaded to hear.
This twilight talk was one of the
pieasantest episodes of my by no
means universally pleasant life, and
was not little annoyed when 1t was
broken In upon by the arrival of the
constables from K, who were to
watch through the night.
At the sound of their footsteps.
Clara rose up, and sat down again,
confused and frightened.
.Oh. Mr.. Meredith. those men,"
BE easy. Miss Mattison," I said
'.you shall in no way be annoyed by
them. Your privacy shall not be
broken in upon, believe me-"
II know am silly" faltered Clara,
"but oh, 1t seems so dreadfulv'
My orders to the men were simple
and succinct. l stationed them as
seemed best to me, and then returned
to spend tho evening with Miss Matti-
son. And when l was at length left
alone could not help thinking-God
forgive mellow much more winning
and graceful she was than poor Kitty
Elton.
At last answer came to my report
TO Mr.. Clenner. 1t was short and to
the purpose"
l read the missive with pang.
Clara Mattison's cheek deepened in
color as l announced my departure to
her.
You have been far kinder than we
dared to hope. Mr.. Meredith" she
said, ne held her hand in mine.
"You will think Of me sometimes.
Clarap"
The reader will easily perceive from
this how our intimacy had progressed.
She smiled. hung her h0ld. and. tax
ing pair of scissors from the table.
severed one bright, black curl from
the abundant tresscs that hung over
her forehead.
Keep this, Mr.. Meredith. in MEM
DRY of me-"
Was foolish to press the jetty ring
let to my lips ere l laid 1t closely
against my hearth Clara evidently
thought ! was, for she laughed, but did
not seem displeased.
Mr.. Clenner appeared to be good
deal annoyed when got back to town
.-Al~- All. ~ IN