Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-23
LONE HOLLOW;
Or, Ths Peril Of the PelrOyS.
A Thrilling end Romantic stcrr

II understand it ALL" Lura interrupted
tenderly. Glow long has it been since Dr.
Faxon has been herc2'
"Oh, a long time. Hc came but once after
you went away"
''But why was thiSl"
Tie SAID it was best; that FaXon was old,
and that ought to improve faster, and so
he procured medicine from a doctor in
Stonefield, who came to see me but once"
1T was Starbright that recommended this
change2"
Yes"
"And your mothcrl"
''She has been i'll herself most Of the
time, and has made no objections, but has
left every thing to the Captain. He has
procured the medicine, and have taken it
regularly, but 1T doesn't seem to do any
good. / grow weaker all the time. Isn't 1t
stranger
Eyes, it is stranger" uttered Lura, in q
smothered voice. "And this has been going
on for three weeks. What is your medi.
cinel"
"There is some in liquid form followed
by powder"
Lura came to her feet and made a swift
examination of the bottles and glasses on
the stand near.
She found two small white powders and
medicine in q glass. One of these powders
she appropriated. Scarcely had she done
gong to the stand cast u sharp look over
| the numerous bottles and glasses.
He turned suddenly upon Lura with:
"Some one has been meddling. There were
two powders here short time ago"
"Grace has taken one" answered Lura,
| promptly, anxious to avoid suspicion, and
| feeling justified in making false state
| ment under the circumstances.
"Is that true2"
Question her if you doubt. supposed
the powder was proper enough"
Certainly" he uttered, quickly. " 1t is
! all right"
He then lifted the tumbler containing the
| liquid medicine, and going to the window
raised it and flung the contents to the
! winds
| To Lura Joyce this was II suspicious action,
and she was thankful that she had made
| sure of ono of the powders in season. The
rack should not make her give it up now.
"Why do you throw that oute" questioned
| Miss Joyce, innocently enough.
ut needs replcnishing," he answered.
~ hope you are to remain with US now
Grace missed you 80 much.'
81 shall remain, and will relieve you OF
| all the care of my cousin" answered LurA
He went out soon after, leaving the young
| girl in q flutter of intense excitement. She
| harbored a terrible suspicion that she dare
! not whisper to the suffering, unsuspecting
/
with grave DIR. Cotton, but for the time was
incapable of formulating a plan of action,
| since she dared not leave Grace alone for
| an hour. She believed that the poor girl
had been systematically poisoned, and that
now the villainous Captain would not hest
tate to finish his work should she give him
the opportunity.
He must suspect me, "she thought, ''else
he would not have flung away that ~meci-
cine. He hopes to cover his tracks, buts he
shall not. Ihave one of the powders and
some one who understands chemistry shall
examine it"
OF course that some one could be none
other Than DR.. Cotton.
| Lura did not leave the room for a moment
during the re mandcr of the afternoon, and
when at night, after the lamps were lit and
black Lucy came in, she drew the colored
girl outside and questioned her with regard
TO Captain Starbrlght.
"he's done gone TO Stouefeld, miss"
alt is well. Now, Lucy, I know you love
your young mistress, and that you will do
any thing TO serve her"
"'Decd does, nissus."
81 am aware of that, and want you to
make me n solemn promise not to leave this
room not to permit any one else to enter,
until / return. l am going away and may
, be como half the night. If Captain Star
| bright is away you're not likely TO be dis
|
. | permit him to onter. Will you do as wiShV'
Good land, missus, how's goin' to help
1t eff de Capn comes an wants to git in2"
= uttered the black maid in q tone evincing
her utter helplessness
"But you must not let him in. Lock the
door. have it. l will lock you in this
room and take the key with me. You will
agree to that Lucyl"
ayes, missus."
Every good"
Then Miss Joyce went over to the side OF
D Grace and told her that she was going away
I for n short time, but that she would soon
return.
!. us this nccessary" sighed the sick girl.
= "Highly necessary" assured Lura- ~
!. will be gone but few hours. 1t is for your
sake that am going. mean to bring you
out of this in short order"
~ fear 1t is too late"
Remember Austin Wentword and be
brave" said Lura, in q low ton e, and then
she kissed tho pale check of her cousin and
FASTENED from the room, locking the door
behind her.
She was soon in the open air fastening
to the stables.
She found Romeo, who whinnied at the
approach of his mistress, and hastily fixing
the saddle led him forth into the starlit
night
Just then she was startled at feeling Q
hand touch her shoulder.
4 "Whither now, Miss Joyceg'
1t was the voice of Captain Starbright.
70 Lura faced him boldly, though not wi tn
It out misgivings. She had hoped that he wa
:, far away from Lone Hollow at this hour. 1
IL was not pleasant to know that her eve r.
n movement was so closely watched.
81 mean to absent myself for httl
= time" answered the girl
"Are you going to StoneheldW
perhaps"
"On what errandr
"That wholly concerns me-" retorted tn
daring girl, turning to reach the saddle.
lie clutched her arm tightly and held he
to the ground.
"Not yet, Lura Joyce" he grated, hastily
"I know you hope to ruin me, but l sha
not permit you to do it You can not go I
n Stonefeld tonight"
y "Can notr
81 have said it,"