The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1895-09-26
ALLEN GRAY;
The Mystery Of qlFiey's Point
Being O Few Romantic Chapters
From the Life Of q Country
Editor.
BIZ JOHN 4 MuSIcX.
AUTHOR OF "wALTER BaowHrIELD," HELEN
I.AKEMAN," "BAEKER OF BEDFORD"
AND OTHER STORIES.
[ Copyrighted, 1885. by the A. " kellogg Ne,ss-
paper Compdny.l

Allen was for several moments unable to
answer, because he had no reasonable ex-
cusc to make. At last he said
''Do not rcprove ne, Miss Collins, tor as
sure you that il was no morbid curiosity
that brought me-"
Gould you understand the danger in
which you place yourself by coming here"
said the pretty girl taking few steps
nearer to him, ''you would not do so. 1t is
dangerous TO you and to me. 1t would be
death to us both to be discovered here"
Allen Gray was only deeper plunged into
| this dark mystery. He was speechess, his
brain seemed stupefed, ard he was incapa
| Bile of thinking He stood dumb, amazed
and almost-as pallid as the girl before him.
She came quite close to Allen, and speak
ing in a cautious undertone that could not
be heard dozen PAGES away, said
go away, Mr. Gray; go at once. and
never come near me again if you value your
| iife.n
"Will you go with me to the gate'" he
asked.
"Will you leave then"
! ~ give you my sacred promise that |
will,n said Allen, earnestly
He took the arm of the trembling girl
within his own, and in silence they walked
to the gate. Here they halted both casting
anxious glances at the great old house
which rose up 50 gloomiry before them. To
The relief of both all was quiet, and there
was no one in the yard
$50, go,'' said Bertha, eagerly Though
speaking in whisper, her voice trcmbled
with passion and fear 1T would be fatal
for you to be discovered here; it would be
| ha obo
with sobs, and for moment was silent
Bertha" said Allen, his voice strangely
calm, ''you are in great distress-what is
itf'
"Oh. do not ask" she answered continu-
ing to sob. "Leave me to my misery and
eternal doom. | am the most wretched of
humans, my fate is scaled, and it is useless
for others to attempt to aid me. Go away
60 away"
But will not leave you alone in this
distress. What is itl Tell me that | may
help you"
81 can not, dare not tell"
Bertha, you are miserable here!"
A sos was the only answer
Let me tal;c you away from this terrible
placer
"No, no, no. not for the world. Do not
think of that. can not leave--l am held
here by bands stronger than iron"
allow long have you lived herei"
mot more than eight months-though il
seems so many ages"
Another momeut's awful silence followed
! and then Allen, becoming desperate, said;
Bertha, would aid you if could-I-l
would give my life if necessary"
"Hush-hush she quickly interrupted
| Selling his arm. "You know not what you
say. Oh, why don't you gol Go, in Heav
: ems name, and let US forget that we cvel
: met. Ill am doomed, and why should
, you wish to drag both yourself and myself
, down to ruins" and, completely overcome
y she buried her beautiful face in her hands
: Dazed, bewildered and confused, Aller
Gray staggered and caught at the wall fol-
support. What was he to do, how could h'
!, remove the burden from this OBJECT of hi
\ affections! He seemed to realize that sh'
. was lost, lost to him forever.
A voice at this moment in the direction 0
e the great old house caused both to start
n and the beautiful girl again selling his arm
-, in grasp that trembled, in terrified whis
per, said:
i Go, go at once, before it is too late Go
go, or we will both be undone."
'' Nimbly as an acrobat, Allen leaped tn
8 wall, and with his brain in whirl, and
n thousand conflicting thoughts swaying hi
/, heart, returned to the village.
The mystery surrounding the old ston
house and its inmates seemed every &c
4 ment growing more complicated. ALE
. Gray had always prided himself on havn
u great deal Of insight into human charat
n ter aud fancied that he could roa
people as open pages, and here was on
who bafaed oil his skill Who was thi
Berthsi Her face and her name wcr
Anglo Saxon, but her education and mar
ners French. That she spoke the languag
= fuently. and might be mistaken for nativ
Frenchwoman he did not doubt, yet whe
\ conversing in English there was not eve
the slightest foreign accent on her tongue
She was an enigma, and the more he strov
to solve the problem, the more difficult it b,
\ came Of solution.
Another slcepless night, another ligl
a breakfast, and again at his Office wit
d heavy heart and aching head. He wa
struggling manfrAly TO fix his mind upo
q the business before him, when the door sof
ly opened and farmer entered.
Eyer the editor, amt yet" he asked
z "Ycs, sir"
"Wcll, fetched We a little piece abo,
our neighborhood fur yc to print in YOU
paper Ef ye use it think kin git yc soE
y signcrs out our way"
4 "Where do you live."
"Down on BIlly's Crck," answered Il
5 farmer.
|. He was an unpretentious author, woarin
Y his pants in his thick cowhidc boots, was
:, his shirt sleeves, and wore soft broa
5 brmmcd hat on his head dis "galuscs
8 were home made, and he had I'll the pcculi
! characteristics of denizen of Billy's Cree
5 Allen took the roll of MS, and after nut
y