The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-20
THU old Stone HOUSE.
4 TRAGEDY OF new YORK.
WEIRD, GLOOMY, AND MYSTERIOUS.
Nv ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
Author Of The Leavsnworth Case"
...I.AA iaai hx tia Anthna

~ ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
Author Of Tho Leavsnworth Casa"
copyright 1891. BY the Au.hor.l
-pu,." I said. without any intimation OF
Having heard that oath. you are breaking
~, oath In private with every thought you
s,y. 10 Orrin. Either complete your perjury
s,disovning tho Colonel altogether. Or else
.i,s nm Orrin. You cannot cling to both
.ithout dishsnor; does not your father tell
you so?"
nv fsthsr-oh. he does not know: no one
Knows but you. My father likes the Colonel:
would never think OF telling him."
"Jule.."I declared solsmnly. you are on
dangerous ground. Think what you are doing
bstore it is too late. inc colonel Is not man
10 be trllea with.
know It," she murmursd. "Iknow It," and
roud not say another word or let me.
And 90 the burden Of this now appreciation
1. laid upon mo: for happiness cannot como
ont OF this complication.
Where l. Orrin, and what is he doing that he
sts,s so much from homer II 1t were not for
the Intent and preoccupied look which he
wears whom do SOC him. ! should think that
h was absentinE himself for the purpose OF
wearing out his unhappy passion. But the
abort climpses have had Of him - he has
ridden busily through the town have left mo
With no such hope. and walt with feverish
impatsncs for some fierce action on his part.
or, what would be- better. the Colonel's return.
And tho Colonel must come back soon. for
nothing goes we'll In . long absence. and his
house is almost at Q standstill.
Col. Schuyler has come and. hear. 10 storm
hg augrly over tho mishaps that have delayed
tho progress Of his new dwelling. He says he
will not 20 away again till It Is completed. and
has been riding all the morning In every d.
rsc,on engaging new men to aid the dilatory
workmsa already employed. Does Orrin know
,hls2 will 60 down to his house and see.
And now know Orrin's secret He was not
At home. OF course. aud being determined to
cot at tho truth Of his mysterious absences, I
mounted q horse OF my own and rode Oh to
find him.
Why took this upon myself. or whether I
had the right to do II. havo not stopped to
ask. went In the direction he had last gone.
and after had ridden through two villages
heard Of him as having passed still further
east some two hours before.
Not In the least deferred. hurried on. and
havins threaded thicket and forded stream.
came upon beautiful open country wholly
new to ms. where. on the verge OF o pleasant
GLADE and In full view Of most picturesque
line OF hills. I saw shining tho fresh boards of
4 new cottage. Instantly the thought struck
mo, 1T Is Orrln's. and he Is building 1t for
Juliet" and filed with a confusion OF emo
tons, I spurred on my horse. and soon drew
% before It
Orrin was standing. pale and defiant in the
doorway. and a. I met his eye. noticed. with
Q sick feeling OF contempt that hs swung the
whip hs was holding smartly against his leg In
what looked like q very threatening manner.
Good evening Orrin." cried. You have
very pleasant site here-prefersbls to the
Colonel's. I should say"
What has the Colonel to do with me 2" WAS
his fierce reply. and no turned a. II about to 20
into the house.
Only this" calmly answered: II think he
will get his house done first"
Hs wheeled and faced me. and his eye. which
had looked simply sullen. shot . derce and
dangerous gleam.
What makes you think that ?" no cried.
He has como back. and to-day engaged
twenty extra mon to push on tho work"
"Indeedl" and there was contempt In his
tone We'll. / wish him Joy and Q sound
roof"
AMI this time he did 70 into the house.
she had not asked me to follow. Of course
had no alternative but to ride on. As did SO.
Itook another look at the house. and saw. with
sstranCe pang at the heart. that the plaster
Ing was on tho walls and the windows ready
for glazing. Il was wrong" said to myself:
1T is Orrln's house which will DO finished
first
And wha: II III ISL Will she turn her back
upon the Colonels lofty structure and take
refuge in this cottage remote from tho world
lcould not believe 1t. knowing how she loved
show AMI the smiles and galantries Of men.
And yet-and yet, she Ia so capricfous and
Grin SO determined that do not know what
to think or what to fear. and ride back with
heavy heart. wishing she had nevor come no
from the farm to worry and in1ame the souls
OF honest non.
And now the Colonels work goes on spsce.
and the whole town is filed with tho noise
and busie Of lum berlng carts and oager work.
men. The roof which Orrin so bitterly
wished might DO . sound ono. has been
shnglsd; and under tho Colonels eye and the
Colonel's constant announcement. part after
part OF the new building is being fitted to Its
place with q precision and despatch that TO
many minds promise the near dswning OF
Juliets wedding day. But know that afar
In the east another homo Is nearer completion
than this and whether she knows 1t, too or
does not know 1t (which Is Just Is probable).
Der wiltu sportive, and butterfly nature seems
to 30 preparing itself for . struggle which
may rend IL not destroy its airy and delicate
winga
have prepared myself too. and being still
and always her friend. Istand ready to msdi-
s's or assist. as opportunity offers or circum-
Stances demand. She realizes this. and loans
on me In her secret hours OF fear. or why does
nor Taco brighten when she sees mo. and her
little hand thrust itself confdingly forth from
under its shrouIiug mantle and grasp mine
With such q lingering and sntreating pressure
Ana the Colonell Does he realize. too. that I
an any more to her than her other CASTOR low
sr' and would e friends2 Sometimes think
ne does, and eyes me with suspicion. But he is
ever so courteous that cannot DO sure. and 80
90 not trouble myself In regard to jealousy
soilly founded and 30 easily dispelled.
lie is always at Juliet's side and seems to
surround her with devotion which will make
Hvsry difficult for any other man. even Orrin.
to get her ear
Tho crisis is approaching. Orrin is again in
Town and may be soon riding up and down the
streets in his holiday clothes. Have some
whispers Of bis secret love and evident inten-
IonS reached tho ear OF the COlonelp Or is