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


That night the tempter had his own
way with me. Without much difficulty
he persuaded ne that my neglect of
Althea Burroughs children was with
out any excuse; that what had been
my duty toward them when I knew
them to be left motherless and alone
had become an imperative demand
upon me now that the town in which
they lived had become overshadowed
by 4 mystery which could rot but af-
feet the comfort and happiness of all
its inhabitants 1 could not wait ~
day. [ recalled ali that 1 had heard
Of poor Althea's short and none too
happy marriage and Immediately felt
such burning desire to see if her
delicate and espiagle beauty-how well
I remembered it-had been repeated In
her daughters, that I found myself
packing my trunk before I knew it.
l had not been from home for a long
time-all the better reason why [
should have a change now-and when
1 called together Mrs. Randolph and
the servants and told them of my in
tention of leaving on the early morning
train, il created quite a sensation in
the house and no little surmise.
But I had the best of explanations to
give l had been thinking of my dead
friend, and conscience would not let me
neglect her dear and possibly unhappy
progeny any longer. 1 had purposed
many times to visit them, and now 1
was going to do it. When l came to a
decision, it was usually suddenly, and
I never rested after having once made
up my mind
My sentiment went 50 far that 7 got
down an old album and began hunting
up the pictures l had brought away
with me from boarding school Hers
We're among them, and l really did ex-
perience more or less compunction
when l saw again the delicate yet dar-
ing features which had once had a
very great influence over my mind
What a teasing sprite she was, We.
what a will. she had and how strange
it was that having been so intimate
as girls. we never knew anything OF
each other. as women. Had it been
her fault or my fault? Was her mar
riage to blame for it or my spinster-
hood? Difficult to tell then, Impossible
to tell now. L would not even think
Of it again, save as a warning. Moth
ing must stand between me and her
children now that my attention had
been called to them again
l did not mean to take them by SUI
prise-that is, not entirely The invita-
ton which they had sent me years ago
was still in force, making it simply
necessary for me to telegraph them
that | had decided to make them a. visit
and that they might expect me by the
noon train. If in times gone by they
had been properly instructed by their
mother as to the character of her old
friend, this need not put them out 1
am not a woman of unbounded eXpec-
tations. I do not look for the comforts
abroad l am accustomed to at home,
and if, as | have reason to believe,
their means are not of the greatest,
should only be provoked at any extra
effort to make me feel at home in the
humble cottage suited to their fortunes.
So the telegram was sent and my
preparations completed for an early de-
parture.
But, resolved as I was to make this
visit, my determination came near re-
ceiving a check. Just as I was leaving
the house, at the very moment, in fact,
when the hackman was carrying out
my trunk, l saw q man approaching
me with every evidence of haste. He
had letter in his hand, which he held
out to me as soon as he came within
reach.
For Miss Butterworth,' he said.
"PriVate and Immediate"
go 4;
flom Mr. Gryce," and hesitated for
moment whether to open it then and
there or thrust it in my pocket and read
1t at my leisure on the cars. The latter
course would be far the easiest, for my
hands were numbered with the various
small articles l consider indispensable
t. the comfortable enjoyment of the
shortest journey, and the glasses with
out which I cannot read a word were
in the very bottom of my pocket under
some other equally necessary articles Of
smaller size.
But something in the mans expect
ant look warned me that he would new
er leave me till | had read the note, SO
with a sigh I called Leila to my aid, and
after several vain attempts to reach
my glasses succeeded in pulling them
out at last and by their help reading
the following hurried lines:
Dear Madam send you this by a swifter
messenger than myself. Do not let anything
that I may have said last night influence you
to leave your comfortable home. The adyen-
ture offers too many dangers for woman.
Read the ircGsed.
The inclosed was a telegram from
Obadiah Trohm sent during the night,
and evidently just received at head
quarters. It's contents were certainly
not re assuring.
Another person missing Seen to have en-
tered Lost Mans lane Never seen to have
come out Of it. y harmless lad known as
Silly Rufus. What's to be done? Wire
orders. T.
Mr.. Gryce babe me say that he
would be up here some time before
noOn," said the man, seeing me look
with some Darkness at these words.
Nothing more was needed to pull me
together. Folding up the letter put
1t in my bag.
Say to Mr.. Gryce from me that my
intended visit cannot be postponed" I
remarked. 81 have telegraphed to my
friends to expect me- ard only q great
emergency would lead me to disap-
point them. I will be glad to receive
Mr.. Gryce on my return" And without
further parley 1 took my bundles back
from Leila and proceeded at once to the
carriage. Why should I show any fail
ure of courage at an event that was
but a repetition of the very ones which
made my visit necessary? Was [ q
likely one to fall victim to a mystery
to which my eyes had been opened?
Had I not been sufficiently warned
Of the dangers of Lost Mans lane to
keep myself at a respectable distance
from the place of peril? I was going
to visit the children of my devoted
friend. If there were perils of no or
binary nature to be encountered there.
/ a hn