The Saint Paul globe., 1898-01-30

seemed likely to involve Lucetta. Yet did
/ think | would ever come to the end of
this without involving Lucetta? My good
sense said No" Why, then, had my in
stinct triumphed for the nonce? Let those
who understand the workings of the human
heart answer. | am simply stating facts.
Ghosts Somehow the word startled me, as
II In some way it gave rather unwecome
connrmaton to my doubts. Apparitions seen
house m ae hnGyS mansion lion or in any Of the
be serious, how serious seemed to be but half
comprehended by this man. But l compre-
hended it and wondered if it gossip like
this which had caused Mr.. Gryce to induce
me to visit this house as a guest
was crossing the street to the hotel as 1
INDUCED in these conjectures. and intent
as my mind was upon them l could not but
note the curiosity and interest which my
presence excited in the simple country folk
that are invariably to be found lounging
about a country tavern. Indeed, the whole
neighborhood seemed agog, and though l
would have thought it derogatory to my dig
nifty to notice the fact, l could not but see
now many faces were peering at from
store doors and the half-clOsed blinds of ad-
joining cottages. No young girl in the pride
OF her beauty could have awakened more in
terest, and attributed It, as no doubt
right, not to my appearance, which would not
perhaps be apt to strike these simple vii
layers as remarkable, or to my dress, which
IS rather rich than fashionable, but to the
fact that | was stranger in town and, what
was more extraordinary, a guest of the
KnollyS.
My intention in approaching the hotel was
not to spend couple of dreary hours in the
parlor with Mrs. Carter, Mr.. Simsbury had
suggested, but TO obtain, if possible, a con-
Yeyance to carry me Immediately back to
the knollys mansion. But this which would
have been simple matter in most towns
seemed well nigh an impossibility in X. The
landlord was away. and Mrs. Carter, who
was very frank with me, told me that she
not only did not dare, but would find It
perfectly useless to ask one of the men to
"A
Wholesome spot said she, ''and only Mr.
Garter and the police have the courage to
brave it,
l suggested that I was willing TO pay wei
but 1t seemed to make very little difference
with her. Money won't hire them.'' said
she, and | had the satisfaction of knowing
that Lucetta had triumphed in her plan and
that | must sit out the morning after all in
the precincts OF the hotel parlor with Mrs
Carter.
1t was my first signal defeat but was de-
termined to make the best of it, and IL pos
slbie, CLEAN such knowledge from the talk of
this woman as would help me to pluck out
victory from it,. She was only too ready to
talk, and the first topic was little Rob-
saw the moment l mentioned his name
that | was introducing a subject that had
already been well talked over by every eager
gossip in the village.
Her attitude of Importance, the air of
mystery She assumed, were preparations l
nad long been accustomed to in women Of
This kind, and was not at all surprised when
she announced in a way that admitted of
no dispute:
oh. there's no wonder the child is sick.
We would be sick under the circumstances.
he has seen the phantom carriage"
The phantom carriage! So that was what
the locksmith meant. A phantom carriagei
mad heard of every kind OF phantom but
that. somehow the idea was thrilling one
or would have been to nature less practical
team mine.
u don't know what you mean" said 7
Some superstition of the place? I never
heard of ghos;ly appearance of that nature
BEFORE" "'Nio
NO, expect not. 1t belongs to nc
never heard of it beyond these mountains,
Indeed. have never known it to have been
seen but upon one road. I need not mention
II madam You can guess perhaps what |
Yes. I could guess, and the GUESSING mad.
me set my lips little grimly
Tel me more about this thing I half
laughed half spoke. 1T ought to be of some
interest to me-
She nodded, drew her chair triea noorar
and impetuously began:
You see this is a very old town II has
Its ascient country houses like the one vou
are now living in, and it has its early ira
ditions. One is that carriage narfec+i,
noiseless, drawn by horses through which
you can see the moonlight haunts the biob
road at intervals and flies through the eloonoI,
forest road we have christened of late wears
Lest Mans lane. 1t is a superstition possi
bly,. but you cannot find many families in
town but believe in it as fact for tbera
Is not an old man or woman in the place hut
has either seen it in the past or has had
some relative who has seen it. If masses
only at night, and is thought to presage some
disaster TO the one who sees it. Nv bns
bands uncle died the next morning after
it flew by him on the highway. Fortunately
years elapse sometimes between it's going
and coming again. 1t is ten years I think
they say. since it was last seen. Poor little