The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-11-07
CHAPTER XVI.

Growing tired of the silly fellows antics,
the editor turned to his desk and tried to
bury himself in his business. But notwith-
standing the many exciting and ludicrous
events, his mind was not wholly won away
from the mystery which seemed to be real
ly blighling his life, and kept his thoughts
from business. In his busiest moments,
amid the most exciting events, the cry: " In
Heavens name spare him!" rang on his
ear. The sweet, sad face of the mystic
girl, whom he could not but love, seemed
always before him, pleading with her large
blue eyes for relief.
"Who are you! Who are yous" he asked
himself again and again as the vision rose
before his mind. Ten thousand tormentlng
fiends seemed constantly aggravating him
with their doubts and fears
81 will know the worst" he declared to
himself #" If have to beard the lion in his
den, will know all
The stranger from BiIly's Creek was for
gotten, so wholly was Allen absorbed with
thoughts Of the stone house on the hill. The
rustic bully had grown weary with cursing
and striking the air, and, as no one seemed
to dispute his title to be "the best man on
dirt" he left the village, to carry to his
friends a wonderful story of how he had
made the editor quail.
The editor, meantime, sat in oblivion Of
his existence, when he was startled by a
sob. Looking around, he was not little
surprised to see Miss Leethy Hopkins stand
ing just within the door,
"Why, Miss Hopkins, are you heres' the
wondering editor asked.
"Ah, are you hurtr she sobbed, hysteric-
ally.
mo" he answered, in establishment
"Oh, I--that is sir 1 was afraid that
violence had been done you," gasped Miss
Hopkins, sinking into char.
~ assure you that am uninjured."
"But he looked so furiousl"
"Thcre is little danger in looks"
"And had such dread of him."
"He is gone now, and can do you no in
jury" said the editor, misinterpreting the
old maid.
ooh, Mr.. Gray, IL would MOI. have had
him injure you for the world, and we were
talking so pleasantly, too, when he came
in"
$50 we WERE" returned Allen. al be.
lieve we were talking about the mystery OF
Turley's Point, were we mott"
"No, no--oh, you rogue, you know aboul
what we were talking" said Miss Leethy,
wiping her eyes and blushing profusely be-
hind her handkerchief.
If he comprehended Miss Hopkins he die
not pretend to, but in COOL even voice
, said; g."
81 was gong to ask you something about
that old house on the hill"
"Don't you know it is forbidden topics!
"Yes, generally it is" he answered, will
| sigh. ut is not every one that | would
talk with on this subject, but as we have
occasionally exchanged confidence Oh Other
subjects, we might on this"
"Oh Of course" She managed to blusl
quite profusely now, and coyly pinching a
the folds Of her dress, gathered them dow
into narrow plaits.
Il thought you would be willing to tell mi
all you knew about the matter"
'Oh, yes"
She sighed and gave him glance iron
the corner Of her eyes.
.What Is the name of the man who live
in the stone house." Allen asked, withou
noticing her look or making an effort +
translate 1t
"Some say it's Collins, but he has great
big French name, something like De Co
lieur, which they say is his real name, AM
that he took the name of Collins in place Q
it, because it is easier to pronounce"
show many have they in family at tn
rock housei''
"That is very difficult to ascertain Som
say there are several, others that there al
not many. They have good many servants
but, as all talk French, no one can find on
any thing from them"
"Did it never strike you that there is
great deal of romance about this singularl
mysterious old house ON the hilly"
Eyes, sir, it has," she answered.; sand
believe that it would be an excellent then
for story"
at might. What do you know Of It'll"
"Oh, not much"
allow long have you known that Ia
dark-whiskered mani"
~ don't know him at ALL"
"You mean you have no formal acquain
ancew
mo SIR"
"How long since you first saw hint"
"Three or four years ago."
Had he been here before that timel"
Il have heard that he had. He has be-
living at the old stone house on the hill,
! short periods, for several years"
~ believe you said that young La
was once seen within those wallsf ~
Eyes, sir; that was only few mont
: ago. have heard that she was seen aga
within the last few days. Som, one disco
. cred her sitting on rustic seat beneath
old oak, at a spring on the hillside, betwe
the village and the rock house."
"Who is shef"
mo one knows. She seems to be an 9
ditional mystery, 1t is generally suppos
that she is the daughter of the dal
: whiskered master of the stone house"
: "She has no resemblance to him VIII
ever" nterposed Allen.
r "Yen hare seen her then"
From the description l have had of h
she has no resemblance to him.
"No; yet parents and children are son
u times very dissimilar."
''Do you think she has lived there long
Z "No sir, she can not have been the
;. more than a few months at most" |
Z swercd Miss Hopkins. "She was ne1
:, seen about the place until recently"
U Have you ever heard of any childr
beng seen or heard there"
u mo, sir"
u "Do you think there are anyl'
y "There are none. They would find it
III