The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-08-29
CHAPTER ".
TIRE srRoLl.-A MYSTIC BEAUTY.

THE STROLl-A MYSTIC BEAUTY.
To Allen Gray 1t seemed as II Strong and
Simmons were constantly watching each 9th
er, TO thwart oneanothor's plans. However,
it may only have been by accident that Mr..
Strong came into the Office just an hour af-
ter his political opponents visit. Having
seated himself, Strong said;
"There isn't any doubt, Mr.. Gray, that
Simmons is onto my racket. He knows I'm
gwine to run for sheriff, an he'll beat me If
be kim"
81 don't think he knows any thing about
1t, Mr.. Strong" said the editor.
eyer mistaken; tell we yer mistaken.
That man is just watching me all the time.
He's alters tryin' to Spite my plans. | be-
lieve the devil owes me spite an is payin'
me of with bad neighbors. Wasn't he in
here to-day!" f
ayes, but we were talking on O business
natter" said Allen, with some hesitation, ~
wanted to buy that corner lot of his'
"Ye did. What did he ak YET"
"One thousand dollars"
Mr. Strong gave prolonged whistle,
"That's moren twice what it's with. l
wouldn't give him three hundred dollars
VI
Three or four days later, when Mr. Strong
had almost induced Allen to purchase some
Of his property, Tom Simmons, having heard
Of il, determined to '.spoil the trade" il he
had to injure all the property in Turkeys
Point to do so. A large number Of the
citizens of Turkeys Point seemed to be
watching each other, trying to prevent
their neighbors' success, even to their own
detriment. As nearly every body seemed
pulling against every body else, the bush
ness outlook Of the village was not bright
On Sunday afternoon Allen Gray deter
mined to set all warnings and rumors Of
danger aside and take stroll to the hill on
which the mysterious stone house stood. 1t
was delightful day, and he found the
woods pleasant The trees were clothed in
their richest green, and wild flowers nodded
their saucy heads in the gentle hreesc which
stole through the forest. The niulble SPUR
rels ran before him, frisked about among
the branches or chatted from some lcafy
retreat He followed an old disuscd car
rage road, once macadamized and an ex-
ccllent thoroughfare, but now in dilapi-
dated state, and partially ovcrgrown with
grass. The grim old forest ON either side Of
him seemed dark and gloomy.
The distance was much greater than Allen
had supposed. Though the top of the old
stone house could be seen from the village.
he lost sight of it the moment he entered
the wood. Having paused to rest at the foot
of long hill, he discovered narrow but
well-worn path leading off AT right angles
through me trees, and decided to follow it.
Through forest of grand Old moss-covered
oaks, winding about among huge masses of
r,.,k which in centuries past had tcmbled
from the bluff above, the path took its
course until he found himself at a delight
IN, spring of clear, cold water at the foot CT
the hill. Here Allen paused and gazcd about
him.
On his right beneath widc-sarcO6ing
beech was an old rustic scat. Il had cvi-
IDENTIFY been there great many years.
Lovers may have sat there and bre;thed
vows with only the gray old forest to hear
them, long before he was born.
Al one time the whole forest seemed 10
have been a grand park. but allowed "a
run wild, it had bccor:r la3JriRth of tan
rled underground and vines. Throwing
himself on the rustic seat Allen razed into
the spring. which. rl,sh'aT oct iron thc
Sc Ct the H.. &c., a.'3-ai-i2S rif..io'