The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-09

cort gave me a furtive glance as he
stopped to tear from one Of the spokes
a bit of rag that seemed to have been
caught there. He was evidently pre-
pairing to make a good impression ana
to do me suitable honor.
My companion, who was the shieSt
man 1 ever saw, did not speak a word
while descending the hill. talked and
endeaVored to make him, too, but his
replies were mere grunts or half syI-
tables which conveyed no informa ton
whatever. AS we cleared the thicket,
however, he allowed himself one ejac-
ulation or two as he pointed out the
beauties Of the landscape. And indeed
1t was well worth his admiration, and
mine had my mind been free to enjoy
it. But the houses which now began to
appear on either side of the way drew
my attention from the mountains. We
were still somewhat remote from the
town, were rapidly approaching the
head of that lane of evil fame with
whose terrible history my thoughts
were at this time full. I was SO anx-
ious not to pass it without one look
into it's greWsome recesses that 1 kept
my head persistently turned that way
till l felt l was attracting the attention
OF my companion. AS this was not de-
slrable [ put on a nOnchalant look and
began Chatting about what 1 saw. But
he had lapsed into his early silence and
only answered by a snap of his whip at
the horse whose jog troU needed little
urging.
Suddenly I myself grew still. The
houses were growing fewer on the left
hand side OF the way and | saw be-
ycnd the dark CHS of a pine thick
ct. We were neagil G Lost Mans lane,
we were abreast OF 1t, we Were-tu- n
ing into it.
1 could not repress the exclamation
that escaped me.
Where are we going?" 1 asked.
''To Miss Knollys' house he found
words to say. shifting his hose again,
but with a sideiong glance at me this
time full OF uneasy inqd-ry.
10 they live On this road?" said L,
remember ng with certain shock Mr..
Gryce's suspicious description of the
two young ladies, who, with their
brothers, inha ted the dilapidated
mansion marked in the map he had
shown me.
Certain was the Iaconic answer,
and, obliged to be satisfied with this, l
drew myself up with just one longing
look behind me at the cheerful high
way we were so rapidly leaving. \
cottage, with an open window in
which q childs head could be seen
nodding eagerly toward me met my
eyes and filed me with quite an odd
sense of discomfort as [ realized that
1 had caught the attention of one of
the little cripples. who, according to
Mr. Gryce, always kept watch over this
entrance into Lost Mans lane. An
other moment and the pine branches
had shut the vision out but | did not
soon forget that eager, childish face
and pointing hard marking me out as
an intruder If not a possible victim
to the horrors of this ill-reputed lane
But I was aware of no secret f1inching
from the adventure into which I was
plunging. On the cort ary l fsIt a
strange and fierce delight n thus being
thrust into the very heart Ct this mys-
terry which l had only expected to ap-
proach by degrees. The warning mes
sage sent me by Mr.. Gryce had acqu.r-
ed under it a deeper and more signifi-
cant meaning, as did the looks which
had been cast me by the station mas
ter and his gOssips on the hillside, but
in my present mood these very tokens
Of the serious nature of my under
taking only gave an added spur to my
courage. l felt my brain clear and my
heart expand, as if even now before
l lad so much as set eyes on the faces
of these young people | recognized the
fact that they were the Wet ms OF
web of circumstances - tragic and in
comprehensive that only a woman like
myself would be able to clear them
away and restore these girls to the
confidence of the people around them.
forgot that these girls had brother
ard that But not word to forestall
the truth. l wish this story to grow
upon you just as it did upon me, and
with just as little preparation.
The farmer who drove me- and whom
l afterward learned was called Sims
bury, showed & certain logged interest
in my behavior that would have anus
ed me or at least have awakened nv
d1sda1n under circumstances of a less
thrilling nature. | saw his eye roll in a
sort OF wonder over my person which
Ray have been held little more stiffiy
than was necessary and settle finally on
my lace with a look I might have
tn dght complimentary had [ had any
thought 10 bestow on such matters. Not
till we had passed the path branching
up through the woods toward the
mountain did he see fit to withdraw it,
nor did fail to find it fixed again upon
me as we rode by the little hut occu-
pied by the old woman considered so
harmless by Mr.. Gryce
Perhaps he had a reason for this. as
L was very much interested in this hut
and its occupant about which 7 felt
free to cherish my own secret doubts
SO Interested that I cast it a very
sharp glance and was glad when I
caught a glimpse through the doorway
of the old crone's bent form and tooth