Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-10-30
were crowded with the equipages of the

we're crOwded with the equ1pages oil the
guests, while night after night the
merry strains of music wandered far up
the lonely hillside, causing the nesting
birds to twitter in surprise. and the
twinkling lights fickered across the
lawn, to be reflected upon the mystic
bosom of BLACK Pond.'
Suddenly, without word of warn
ing, the change came. The guests
ceased their visits, the music was
hushed, the lights extinguished, and by
night the birds were no longer dis
turbed in their slumbers. and the dark
water slept its gloomy sleep.
The cause of it all was the sudden
disappearance OF fair young Mrs. Cliff
lord. She had not died, at least there
was no funeral.
For time it was whispered among
the neighboring country folks that she
had drowned herself in the lake, which
was said to be fathomless, and to have
subterranean outlet into the sea.
Some said more uncharitable things of
the missing lady, but as every servant
upon the place was instantly discharged
and as the husband shut himself up
| with his books and suffered no converse
with the outside world. the mystery
anguished for want of support and
finally died natural death.
Of course there was some futter oc-
sasioned by the arrival of bevy Of
oew servants, especially by the COM
ing of q grim, repulsive-looking man,
who answered to the name of Nicholas
Garland, with little innocent baby in
his arms.
This man took up his residence with
the newly engaged farmer i'm his cottage
near the high road, explaining that his
| wife had died in child birth, leaving
him burdened with the little child whom
he called Grace.
just what Garland's functions upon
the place were, it would have been hard
to explain. 1t was given out, however,
that he acted as valet or body servant
to Mr.. Clifford.
Certain it was that he was the only
man who ever approached the gentle
man In his sanctum. and it was .whis-
pered among the servants that at night
high words had been heard to issue
from the library; but upon what subject
40 eavesdropper was sufficiently sharp
cared to ascertain.
Garland was always considerate with
he child. He was stern with her, but
lever brutal. He never punished her
robably because she never required
ERECTION, being perfect little angel
| her ways.
| Though he never showed her any
ltherly affection, occasionally, when he
ad been drinking, he would place her
'efore him, call her my Little Lady,
nd wink, saying:
| Wait One of these days you'll
/ queen i'll"
But then, he was half-drunk. No.
body needed his drivel, and they used
to call the man and child Beauty and
the Beast" or Little Oracle and old
Nick"
1t was years after she came there
before Orrin Clifford deigned to bestow
a glance upon the girl; she was kept
out OF his way; then, again, what
should so morose gentleman care for
the child of his servant? She was
fully three years old when, one exquis-
lite morning in May, Orrin Clifford met
her toddling along a sunny garden
path with her apron filed with gorgeous
tulips.
He started at sight of her, turned as
pallid as death, and when she turned
to fly from him in alright, he dropped
| upon one knee and beckoned her to
| him.
| Come here, little one,r he said, in a
low, unsteady tone: what is your
name?"
She walked bravely up and stood
before him, her great blue eyes looking
wonderingly into his haggard face.
My name is little Oracle" she an
| swered.
ooh, yes" he murmured; Il know !;
| you are-Garland's child"
The gardener, who was watching
them from distance, always said that
the little innocent offered to kiss him.
but that he rose quickly and walked
rapidly away, leaving her standing
there with the big tears yelling into her
eyes.
be that as it may, from that time Orr
rim Clifford saw Grace Garland every day
OF his life, and it was he who, when she
was old enough, superintended her ed,
ucation, and taught her to be an upright
woman and lady in every thought and
deed.
Small wonder, then, that she went
half mad when she saw him lying dead
murdered in bed-far from the home
which he had left in search of the
health which would permit him to re-
turn and enjoy it.
1t is wonder that the poor child
was not driven clean out of her wits
when she discovered the man, whom
she had every reason to believe her
father, in the commission of the foul
crime. However, it was her burden
now to bear the bitter memories of the
past, ind her duty to investigate the
mystery that still enshrouded her ex-
istence.
But for the present we may leave il
all to her and return to our narrative
Upon certain spring-like afternoon
about the middle of the month of April
the unusual sound of carriage-wheels
was heard grating upon the weed.
grown avenue that leads from the high.
road to the door of the lonesome gran.
tie mansion that nestles at the foot OF
the Milton hills.
The sun was slowly declining. shoot.
ing crimson lances amOnp the hudd;rc |