The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-07-16


common tin these words: Althea Ann
Knollys. Born February first, eighteen
hundred and thirty-six. Died December
twenty-second, eighteen hundred and
ninety-three. Ii Is our mothers grave,
cir.
She spoke the truth. / saw II In the
clear regard OF Miss Knollys' eye; In the
steady firmness of Lucetta's bearing al d
her unconscious air OF dignifed reproach.
Bowing profoundly, waited for the Ok
planation they could not help giving.
1t was Lucetta's voice which first broke
the silence, and as she spoke l noted
again her clear brow with it's line of
trouble, and the delicate sensitiveness OF
her whole expression which made her the
most spiritual-looking being i had ever
seen.
~ do not know you," were her first
words, ''but you say you are a detective
and that your errand here Is to ferret out
crime. You have come to the wrong
place, sir, and IL we consulted our pride
alone we would turn our backs upon you
and let you desecrate our mothers grave
and ascertain the truth at your own cost.
But we have other qualities than pride,
we two desolate orphan girls, and so
will deign to tell you what hope your
sense Of justice will prevent you from re-
peating. Years ago our mother left US.
She had done wrong, or. what you will
better understand, committed criminal
act against one OF our neighbors, the
penalty Of which, Is States prison"
With difficulty the words came out;
with difficulty she kept down the flush
of shame which threatened to overwhelm
her and did overwhelm her less re-
strained sister But her self-control was
great and she went bravely on, the palest,
the most delicate and the most resolved
OF women 1t had ever been my lot to face.
"lt was forgery" said she Though
cherished wife and beloved mother, she
not give her and and in an evil hour, she
initiated the name of a rich man here
and took the check thus signed to Hart
ford. The fraud was not detected and
she received the money, but ultimately
the rich man, whose money she had spent,
discovered the use che had made Of his
name, and il she had not escaped, would
have had her arrested. But she left the
country, and the only revenge he took
was TO swear II she ever set foot In Cush-
ing again he would call the police down
upon her. Yes, IL she were dying and be
had to drag her from the brink of the
grave. And he would have done it, and
Knowing this, we have lived under the
shadow Of this fear for eleven years. NV
father died under 1t and my mother ali,
she spent all her life under foreign skies,
bnt when she found that death was about
to lay its hand upon her, her affection for
her own flesh and blood triumphed over
her discretion, and she came, secretly
own, but still with that horror menacing
her, to her children's door, and, begging
their forgiveness, lay down In the room
where they were born, and died, with
the halo OF their love about her. p"
/ thought over Miss Grants relation of
the events OF the fearful night, and saw
In IL nothing but confirmation of what
this young girl was saying. But I ven
tured this one remark that there might
be nothing lost from her explanation:
"But L understood that you were
mourning for your mother half dozen
years ago. To which the older Miss
Knollys replied: "You seem to know a
great deal Of our family history" But
TO which Lucetta answered: sour father
was to blame for that. He wished to make
any return on her part impossible.
could understand this, but could not
understand the persistent revenge OF their
injured neighbor.
"You must have virulent enemy I'm
the man who so threatened you, I" said.
sis he leading man in the town and
does he still hold that terror over your
headsYn
"Ii he knew she was buried here"
as forger's children in the public press.
] don't know why he cherishes such
hatred; 1t Is abnormal.
"And his name?' I asked.
"ls Obadiah Trohm; he Is our next
door neighbror.'
At this name uttered in such a connec-
tion felt a curious sensation OF unex-
pected shock and doubt. looked at the
girls again, and wondered how any one
could have associated them even In
thought, with crime. And then ] re-
that IL was the brother who
was suspected, and waving the subject
which had just engrossed US, l said
And yet the disappearance OF silly
Rufus Is not explained. Why has this road
earned such a title as Lost Mans Iane2n
81 cannot say, moaned Miss Knollys.
''1t is another horror of our dreadful
lives. "
"You know that men do disappear
ereabouts7"
"Alasl" she murmered.
"Why does your brother then leave
you here, to share the odium OF so ILL
omened place. Has he no consideration
for your youth and innocence7'
"My brother has no money" answered
Lucetta "We are obliged TO stay where
we have a roof TO cover us He Is not TO
be blamed; be ia good in every way
And so my path was again blocked,
and saw that should be obliged TO
go TO extremlties II only TO satisfy public
opinion that all was right with these
young people
"Nliss Knollys," I said, including both
In my bow, tiny duty compels me to an
action which PROMISES 10 be equally
painful TO myself and distressing 60 You.
The grave OF silly Rufus must be fouid q
and ince IL seems as II his death must
have occurred within the radius OF half
mile OF this spot, everything In that
half mile must be searched. -
Luce.ta cast one glance nj her sister
n furious glance, half OF horror, half OF
another sort Of feeling, not so easy to
recognize.
UDass that include our house?v she