Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-08-14

Oanantna.
"Teach her something. Learning
unlocks q woman's tongue"
So Anne was instructed in more
housewifely mysteries, and grew more
communicative. But Cedric received
all details of her past with scornful in
credulity. 'Papa" was q barrister.
Anne herself had been born in the
sacred precincts of the Temple. Their
crest figured as dove. Clancy ones
parlor-maid having q crest" he ejacu-
lated. For briefess barrister he had
done singularly well, marrying niece
of the celebrated Countess of Michigan.
Many torrid afternoon was whiled
away with descriptions of the Irish
castle where the wedding took place,
the beauty Of the bride, the eccentrici-
ties of the noble aunt. Cedric scoffed,
still crying for more.
One lauguorous September day, en-
sconced in the veranda's shadiest nook,
we gazed OH the Brush Hills and
sighed vainly for breeze. Cedric
broke the stiffness. ''What about
Anne? No news of late?"
'She has sister who lives in
France and is possessed of independ.
ent means"
A look of reproach shot from his
dark-blue eye. "You told me that last
week." lie murmured.
"And did not tell you that she goes
by the name of the Lady Emily
Brown"
"Brown! Why, she married a
Frenchmau."
"True."
"Why lady? What title has he?'
"None. particularly asked Anne. /"
"Absurd! He could not be Brown
or she lady unless, indeed, the title
is in her own right. In that case your
pearl OF handmaiden is an honor
able!' The Honorable Anne brings
out the tray" he added, as she ap-
preached our corner. ''No, it's all
false, you may depend upon it. Ask
Mcpherson what he thinks; he is COM
ing up the drive"
Fergus McPherson-caution person
ified-opined that Annie had lied. He
put it plainly: "Deceitful in speech.
deceitful in deed. Better watch her,
Mrs. Allendale."
My suspicious were not excited. In
California nothing is impossible. Had
not scion of a lorlly house died on a
neighboring ranch-a lonely, neglect
ed sheep herder? No. 1t was the
uneasy air and restless look increas
ing day by day. I heartily wished for
some pretext whereby Cedric, dis
patched into La Huerta, might inquire
into the antecedents of the Honorable
Anne. Chance favored me.
Mcpherson has been telling me-,
began my spouse, few days later,
"about some bloodhounds in town that
belong to the sheriff. They are Al at
tracking criminals--borrow them all
over the State. Beastly shame it's
such journey--it would be rather
jolly to see them"
"Why not 20? A change would do
you good"
$50! And who would milk the
cow?"
"T. myself"
"You? Nonsense!'
"Who is the sheriff. I idly asked,
meditating my next move the while.
"Waite-Hiram Waite"
"Our Honorable, who had entered,
bearing that ranch standby, a smok-
ing bowl of "mush," started. growing
visibly pale fresh food for uuensiness
Clearly, to learn the art of milking was
imperative. The woman won, as
usual, and Cedric. before the week was
over, started for La Huerta. with strict
injunctions to interview both hospital
superintendent and sheriff,
In charge of the rauch were myself
Billikins, and the Honorable Anne.
Uneventfully passed the first few days;
but on Monday, from the veranda, 1
espied band of men, who, leaving the
county road, came slowly up the
drive.
Anne, perceiving them, grew white
to the lips, aud, bearing Billikins, pre-
cipitately fled.
"Good evening"" the leader began,
as he lifted his sombrero. "We're a
kinder rough sight for lady. You
see, we're posse over from Tulare,
trying to find man named Smith.
His tracks, they seemed to pint this
way. Amt seen any stranger round
here lately?"
"No, indeed"
"No wood chopper nor nothingY
"No, none. What has this man
done? What does he look like?'
"Real nice and young and kind.
Not more'n boy. Murdered man
over there. Here's his description"
and he handed me n coarsely printed
"Reward." Well, boys, get move
ON. We're ON our way to La Huerta,' y
he added, "to borrow Waite's dogs.
Well, good day, ma'am. Better not
harbor any strangers.
A moment more and, left alone, l
thought over the situation. Cedric
gone. no neighbor near. and muir
derer Mt Large whose steps ''p'inted
tb;s w.y" Suddenly it was borne in
npon me that Anne was the fugitive.
A firm believer in womau's intui-
t;ons. vet hoping desperately that
nine was at fault, unfolded the
naper the sheriff gave me. 1t tailed
we'll. Moroseness, agitation, all were
explained.
was known, my life. ! feared. would