Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-08-04
CHATTER I'LL.


IT was some moments before Frank
Armathwaite recovered enough self-pos-
session to try to thank the unknown Iady
whose weIl-timed appearance had saved
him from drowning in the lake.
"You are on footT' she said. Her voice
was pleasant enough. but entirely human
and col6quial, the voice of a young, we'll
bred woman.
II have come from Mercside, madam
but a minnie ago lost my way, ] can't
thank you enough for
She interrupted him, lowering the Ian
fern she held, and with glance directing
him to turn back. and walk with her.
"Yes, II was fortunate for you I was
there. certainly"
She said this in a low voice. as If talk
ing TO herself and Frank noticed that she
smiled at. some thought which PASSED
through her own mind. Armsthwnite
could only walk by her side in silence.
He scarcely dared to put questions to this
strange woman with weird. sad eyes, who.
after saving his life, seemed to have TAX
en- possession of him body and soul, and
to deem It unnecessary to enlighten him
as 10 the disposal she meant to make of
either. They left the trees and the IN
even ground behind them-and, the wind
~
therefore less binding, Armathwaite could
distinguish without much difficulty the
point at which they reached the level
road.
"This." said the lady, indicating the
~av from left to right, sis the high road
from Mereside to Branksome."
She crossed 1t without further com
ment than her companion's polite If rather
futile "Oh, indeed" and they began to
ra-ascend the steep road on which he had
come 10 grief One thing the young man
knew without asking: this mysterious lady
who had apparently been on the lookout
for human flotsam and jetsam IN on this bois-
terous night, came from the gloomy house
which had aroused his attention half AZ
hour before
A be had expected, the lady, who SEEM
"A 20 think further conversation superfiu-
ous stopped before the heavy Iron gates
and nuiled the handle of a long rusty
chain which hung beside them. This i'm
mediateIy set jangling a bell, the funereai
zones of which struck as great a chill into
Armathwaite as if IL had been the passing
hell for his own soul. The appearance
st the door of n young maid servant who
seemed struck with amazement at the
.necta,.Ie before her, reused the lady from
her ahstrac..nT., while an old mastiff ran
an the steps and licked her hand. She
,urned 20 the stranger and said very era
ciously:
Are You anxious to get TO Branksome
to-nigbtf You would hardly he able to see
DIR. PeeIe before morning, and we should
be very happy to give his friend shelter
for the night"
Arma tfsSvaste felt so certain that he had
not mentioned DIR. Peele's name, and
therefore so utterly amazed at the lady :
knowing..hfs destination, that he STAN
mered and answered In low, shy tone
Uifh great confusion. She entered the
house with n grave gesture of invitation
=, him to, follow. Just as the girl was
about TO turn away. she asked In a hard"
voice: .Ts your master inE
sNot yet, ma'am." answered she nn'
a., vent out. closing the door behind her.
Arnathwaite was too much absorbed
nv his interest in the lady herself to ex-
amin. very minutely the hall In which ne
was standing. lie perceived that u was
long. wide and lofty. that one wall was
wsIi lined with whips and guns and hsn-
xur tackle. and that there was . hnf-nnd-
coat .fnnd eovrrsd with masculine gar
n,epss. lie offerrd 10 help his hostess as
me Aforementioned herself Of her outer
garment. ..wri,ch proved TO be unmSstakahiy
= French cavalry essak she THANKED