The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-06

| our mountaineering progress that we
! had turned the corner into Lost Man S
lane before 1 quite realized it. The en-
! trance at this end afforded sharp con-
trast to the one I had already trav-
ersed. There it was but a narrow open
| ing between somber and unduly crowd
| ing trees. Here it was the gradual
melting Of a village street into a mar
row and less frequented road, which
| only after passing Deacon Spear
| house assumed that aspect Of wildnesS
which a quarter Of a mile farther on
| deepened into something positively
somber and repellent.
1 speak of Deacon Spear because he
was sitting on his front doorstep when
we rode by. Being Deacon Spear and
one of the residents on this road, I
did not fail to take notice of him,
though guardedly and with such re-
straint as knowledge of his widowed
condition rendered both wise and prop
er.
He was not an agreeable looking per-
son, at least not so to me. His hair
was sleek, his beard well cared for, his
| whole person in good if not prosperous
condition, but he had the self-satisfled
expression I detest, and looked after US
with an aspect of surprise I chose to
consider a trif1e impairment. Perhaps
he enVied Mr.. Trohm. If so, he may
have had reason-it is not for me to
judge.
There had been up to now only few
scrub bushes at the side of the road,
with here and there a solitary poplar
to enliven the dead level of the grass
grown road, but after we had ridden by
the fence which sets the boundary to
the good deacon's land I noticed such
change in the appearance of things on
either side of the road that 1 could not
but exclaim over the natural as well
as cultivated beauties which every mo-
ment now was bringing before me.
Mr.. Trohm could not hide his pleas
ure.
These are my lands" said he. II
have bestowed unremitting attention to
them for years. 1t is my hobby,
madam There is not a tree you see
that has not received my careful at
tention Yonder orchard was set out
by me, and the fruit it yields Madam,
I hope you will remain long enough
with US to taste a certain rare and
luscious peach that I brought from
France in one of my visits there. 1t
gives promise of reaching it's full per-
lection this year, and [ shall be graft
fed indeed if you can give it your ap-
prevail"
This was politeness indeed, especial
1y as l knew what value men like him
set upon each individual fruit they
watch ripen under their care. Testi-
flying my appreciation of his kindness.
I endeavored to introduce another and
less harmless and perhaps less per-
sonally interesting topic OF converse
ton. The chimneys of his house were
beginning to show over the trees, and
l had heard nothing from this man on
the subject which should have been
te most interesting of all to me at
this moment. And he was the. only
person in town 1 was at liberty to real
ly confide in and possibly the only
man in town who could give me a
reliable statement of the reasons why
the Knollys were looked upon askance
by the police as we'll as the credulous
villagers l began by an illusion to
the phantom carriage.
Il hear" said l, that this lane has
other claims to attention beyond those
afforded by the mysteries connected
with it. I hear that it has at times a
ghostly visitant in tn eshape of a spec
trail horse and carriage"
Yes" he replied, with a seeming
understanding that was very fiatter-
ing, do not spare the lane one Of
it's honors. 1t has it's nightly horror
as well as it's daily fear. 1 wish the
one were as unreal as the other"
You act as If both were unreal to
you," said l. THE contrast between
your appearance and that Of some
other members of the lane is quite
marked
you refer"-he seemed to hate to
speak-"to the Knollys, I presume"
I endeavored to treat the subject
lightly.
ITO your enemy, Lucetta," said L
He had been looking at me in per-
fectly modest and respectful manner
but he dropped his eyes at this and
busted himself abstractedly, and yet I
thought with some intention, in re-
a,r o,o11
with the tip of his whip.
IT will not acknowledge her as an
enemy" said he quietly and in strict
ly modulated tones. II like the girl too
well-and her sister,"
The fly had been by this time dis
lodged, but he did not look up.
"And William?" I suggested. What
do you think of William"
Slowly he Strengthened himself
Slowly he dropped the whip back into
its socket. I thought he was going to
answer, when suddenly his whole at
titude changed and he turned upon me
beaming face full of nothing but
pleasure.
THE road takes a turn here. In an
other moment you will see my house"
And even while he spoke 1t burst upon
US, and 1 forgot myself that I had just
ventured on a somewhat hazardous
question.
II WAS SuCn d pretty place, SO Dedu-
tifully and exquisitely kept. There was
a charm about it's rose encircled porch
that is only to be found in very old
places that have been approximately
cared for. A high fence painted white
inclosed a lawn like velvet, and the
house itself, shining with a fresh coat
of yellow paint, bore signs of comfort
in its white curtained windows not
usually to be found in the solitary
dwelling Of a bachelor. I found my
light and almost blushed, or, rather,
might have been thought to blush, as
pleasure gratif1ed him.
You, must excuse me-" said [, with
what have every reason to believe was
a highly successful effort to hide my
confusion, ''if I express too much ad-
miration for what I see before me. I
have always had great leaning toward
well ordered walks and trinity kept
flower beds-a leaning, alas, which I
have found myself unable to crafty"
do not apologize" he FASTENED to
say. you but redouble my own pleas
ure in thus honoring my poor efforts
with your regard. l have spared no
pains, madam, I have spared no pains,
and most of it, 1 am proud to say, has
been accomplished by my own hands"
''Indeedp' 1 cried in some surprise,
letting my eye rest with satisfaction on
the top of a long we'll sweep that to me
was one Of the picturesque features of
the place.
cit may have been follv.' he re-