The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-05-28

er's long disused room up
stairs. In this Northern
home to which we had re-
Gently removed, falling heirs
~ to it through that very an
cestress' will, the dwellers
regarded November rather as a win
ter than an autumn month, and to-
day the wind howled and the rain
battered with a persistence marvellous
to hear.
And as it happened. was alone in
the house. Father had gone to take
his russell apples to market-the APP
pies that myself had helped to har-
vest and pack into the barrsls-and
was not expected home until to-mor-
row night at the earliest.
Jack, my brother, was in
Montreal, fitting up the law
Office which was henceforward to be
his abode. Jean, our hard featured,
crossgrained old servant, had gone
home with the rheumatic" as she
termed it, to be treated by a certain
ancient Indian herb doctor; and just
at dusk. fall, Peter, our useful man. T"
had thrust his shock head in ut the
door.
~ say, Miss Ruth" he said, there's
plenty OF wood, and everything all
snug for the night. and I'm going over
to Stephenson's. They arein trouble. "
"Trouble, Peter? What kind OF
trouble? Is the old man sick?"
But in answer to my query Peter
only uttered an indistinct remark and
went out, slamming the door behind
! him.
Istood in front OF the fire looking
down at the glowing embers, and
bordering within myself. The Step
hensons, nno lived in an old gray
stone houie on the other side OF the
precipitou.s glen, had always been a
riddle to rne. The family was small
consisting Of only Grabbed old man,
his portentously silent wife and two
tall, ungainly sons; and what on earth
they did with all the bid, echoing
rooms, or hoy they contrived to live,
perched like cagelets on the side OF the
rock, could not form the least idea.
"City boarders," Peter had once
grunted out in answer to my persist
ent interrogations.
But il they kept city boarders. why
did they not leave these dreary
mountain fastness is when the leaves
fell and the dismal autumn fogs gather
ed above the cliffs? Altogether, there
was n certain atmosphere OF mystery
about these "Stephensons' that
aroused ali the Eve.like instincts in my
nature.
While stood thinking, soft tap
sounded at the door. opened it at
once, never once remembering that l
was alone in the house.
"Ye never orter do that, Miss
Ruth" said the well-known accents OF
Mrs. Gludge, Farmer Gludpe's buxon
wife.
"Do what, Mrs. Gludge?"
"Open the door after dark. when
you're alone in the house, without
asking who's there"
"How did you know that I was
klone in the house?"
81 just met Peter goin' to Stephen
toms"
"Ohl" said /; but we don't have
iramps here"
"'m not so certain o. that" said
The farmers wife. "Your folks hain't
lived here as long as / have. We're
lust nigh enough to the Canada line to
have queer characters prowlin' about
when We least expect them. And then
there's Stephenson's."
"What OF Stephenson's?" / cried
eagerly. "Who is Stephenson, any
W,.yY Do tell me, Mrs. Gludge."
well, l declared" said Mrs. Gludge
sis it possible now that they hain't
told your"
"They have told me nothing"
swell, it's likely they didn't want
| to scare you or make you nervous,
bald Mrs. Gludee; but, all the same,
think that you'd oughter know"
s.AIrs. Gludge." cried, selling hel
arm. what is IT. Do tell me-"
"It's private home" said Mrs
Gludge, lowering her voice to a whisp
per, Is though the raindrops and TIT
rustling fir boughs could overhear.
"a whati" easped.
r "For people offeeble mind. explain
I'd the woman, "And lunies," tappin!
lar forehead as she spoke.
/ stared mt her.
"Then," cried ], 'that's what Pete
meant when he said that-that-"
zone ofthe poor creatures has some
how given 'em the slip" said Mrs
Gludgc; ian English gentleman from
Montreal, as has only been there I
few days. Nobody knows just how ]
happened, but happen it did. My maj
has gone over with . lantern to hell
hunt for him, and 30 has Peter"
| "Hs might have told mel" l OK
slaiaed Indignantly. -