Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1895-04-04
there she answered. "This Is his

Only. ana nOU 10 the village!
"Oh, the castle is III the village said
the little girl
Then it turned out that she was go
ing herself to Suffering Bodley to
deliver evening papers there that had
come on the same train by which had
arrived, and, seeing from my converse
ton that l was to. be trusted, she kind
ly volunteered to show me to the Three
Crows inn, where she had to hand in q
paper.
Igladly acce pied her company and
gave her shilling, which surprised her
very much.
We set out across the park in the
pouring rain, and she chatted all the
way, telling me the number Of stand
ards she had passed in the public
school, and giving me in general the
gossip of the neighborhood. She told
me at first that the road was perfectly
straight and plain, and that no one
could mistake it, but before we had
gone quarter of a mile it branched
off in three directions, and then lit
tie further on it branched again. She
did not appear to think that there was
anything here to confuse a person, as
She told me quite simply that if a per-
son were going to Suffering Bodley he
would naturally take the road to Slut
tering-Bodley, and not any Of the 9TH
ers, which each led to different vii
lagos, whose names have forgotten.
Anyhow, I thanked my stars, which at
that moment were obscured by the
rain, that had the little girl as COM
rade, for l knew that, left to my own
devices, would be at that moment a
homeless and hopeless wan derer some
where in the middle of England.
l had been walking little in ad-
vance, and came to sudden stop by
running into an iron gate across the
roadway. The little girl was sorry she
had not mentioned the gate, but she
thought everybody knew it was there,
because it had been there since she
could remember.
The gate led US out of the park into
the main highway, and gave us the
choice Of something like five roads, but
the little girl trotted along with her
papers under her cloak, and we crossed
a bridge to the right of which was a
roaring waterfall. 1t was quite evil
dent that the place here, if it could be
seen, was decidedly picturesque, for
there were hills, and it was heavily
timbered. The mu rmur was all around,
and the girl said there were four great
lakes there, acres in extent, which she
assured me were the largest lakes in
the world.
In the forest through which the road
now wandered it was as if we were
walking in some dark cavern. About
the middle of the woods the road again
branched in three or four directions,
which was habit it had, and finally
emerging from the forest saw on an
elevation a blaze of light, as If it We're
a window on some cathedral.
That" she said, in answer to my
question, sis the castle. The village is
over here to the right"
We accordingly turned from the road
that led to the castle. and climbing a
steep hill where the highway was
again overarched by giant oaks, I saw
with delight some long low diamond
pa ned windows cleaning red and hos
pitably in the inky blackness around.
as ten miles. My overcoat was soaked
through with rain, and when moved
my head the water spluttered down in
rivulets from the brim of my felt hat.
After running into a hedge and falling
over sleeping pig, the little lass led
me to the front door of the Three
Crows inn, whose ancient sign creaked
above the porch.
tried the door, but it was locked. l
smote upon it's oaken panels with my
stick and finally heard bolts with
drawn and the door was opened few
inches.
What do you want?" said voice
from within.
MANY things" answered, pushing
the door wide open, and stepping into
a stone-paved hall with timbered roof
above it forming low ceiling. There
was an old clock facing me, and an
ancient table of black oak standing in
the middle of the square apartment. A
very large and handsome servant girl
stood looking at me in wonder, appar-
emily because I had so rudely forced
my way in.
st is not night" said by way Of
apology, ''to keep man standing out
of DOORS"
threw off my overcoat, dotted my
hat and laid them with the stick and
the handbag on the oaken table.
Now, Jane," l said. II want nice
large room, in which you are to put a
large fire, and that as speedily as pos
sible. Take my overcoat and have ii
dried, and tell the landlady that !
want something to eat as quick as pos