Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-03-23
CHAPTER II.

we logged along. 1t seemed to me that
we traversed a huge section of couu-
try. though | have since learnt that no
more than six miles interviewed be-
tween the Eldon station and The Ivies
But my excited and nervous condition
doubtless made me impatient, and for
that reason the distance appeared
twice its real length.
Evening had quite set In, and the
dusk was so heavy that | could distin-
guish little of the passing landscape.
/ had let down one of the wi ldows,
and the wintry air came in with q
rawness and bleakness which seemed
to bespeak a high altitude. Then, too,
the position of the carriage was such
that | knew we must be constantly as
cending. and | wondered if The Ivies
were perched like an eagles eyrie on a
mountain top.
Finally, when | had about conclud-
ed that the drive would never end, the
carriage turned abruptly TO the right,
and. passing between two high granite
posts. whose grim outlines stood forth
like shadowy sentinels in the gloom.
we entered a dark, heavily shaded
avenue, which formed a considerable
interval between gates and house.
An overwhelming desire to learn
what | could of these close surround
ings of my new home-for so, despite
my occasional lapses from absolute
conviction, | still confidently believed
my destination was TO become
prompted me to lean far out of the
window. and challenge the more pro-
nounced features of the landscape to
reveal themselves to my gaze.
We We're still ascending, more grad
ually now. however, and on the left
through spaces intervening between
tall and heavily-compacted trees,
which later discovered to be poplars,
l could discern a steep embankment,
shelving abruptly away from the road
along which we were driving. 1t was
impossible to determine its depth, ow-
| ing to the obscurity of the fast-de-
scending night, but that it was con-
| siderable | OWNED from the fact thar,
as we passed along its poplar-fringed
| brink. | saw, quite below me, the dlm
and distinct silhouette OF what ap-
peared to be either white or grey
| house. 4 little further on, and the al
WAYS moderate pace of the horse de-
generated into a walk, and then into
| n mere pretepce of movement; the drlv-
er called Whoa in subdued tone,
| in harmony with the hush that pervad-
ed the whole place: and | knew that 1
had reached my place of destination,
and that The Ivies, in all its mystery
and strangeness, lay before me.
I shall never forget that one moment
| of misgiying and trepidation which
experienced while the driver was dis
| mounting from his perch. A very pan
| ic of irresolution and diffidence took
| possession of my being. | scored my
self for a rash and audacious fool; l
took heed of all the remonstrances
which had ever been directed ut me by
nv mother and sister; | shrank like
a timid child from the indefinable pros
pect that confronted me; | meditated
retreat. ignominous fight, shamefaced
return TO even that roof beneath which
nv mother had sought refuge, ana
where I knew that my abject failure
would meet with scant sympathy ana
copious comments of the Il told you
So variety. Then | made a supreme
effort and pulled myself resolutely to-
pether. The driver opened the carriage
door. and in another instant l found
myself standing before "A short light
of broad stone steps, with bearing as
composed and assured as if | had never
known dualm or scruple in my life.
No sooner had my foot touched terra
drma than l felt myself again re-
assured by that strange, mysterious
inner consciousness that / was being
directed by an invisable agency ac-
cording TO a preordained and unerring
plan.
AS | paused there briefly. surveying
with eyes that were rather contem-
platiye than curious the imposing pile
of stone and granite that reared its
huge proportions high into the dark
ness. a sense of well-being and restful-
ness stole insensibly over me; | felt
that this was in very deed home that
had come to; that the previous CON
ditions of INV life had been artificial
and ill-adapted; that | had heretofore
been miscast in the role which had
been given me to play; that for the first
time since my birth / found myself
properly circumstanced and congen-
iallv disposed 1t was n most singular
sensation that pervaded me; / can best
describe il as one of calm and peaceful
satisfaction. as an intuitive perception
of means at hand to crafty vague
longings and aspirations which had UP
TO the present time caused me TO ap-
pear a creature of fitful disposition
and unsteady purpose. / felt as might
feel an animal that has for years been
exposed to false clement. and that feels
itself suddenly transferred to its prop
er habitat.
Yet sober common-sense did not
wholly abandon me, for / took the
precaution to order the man to allow
nv trunk to remain on the rack, and
to himself await my temperance.
Then | mounted the steps and rang
the bell with steady hand.
A most intense silence seemed TO en-
vclop the house; even my summons
was of a faint and subdued nature.
1t took the form of n sweet, solemn,
silverly tinkling, as of n fairy chime.
fading with minor cadences into tha
distance. One could almost feel how
rarely a like sound disturbed the hush
and repose of the dwelling. Almost
directly l heard Il shufiling step ap-
preaching from within, the door was
softly and with grave ceremony. thrown
open, and an old man of slight stature
and feeble frame stood before me, the
light of bronze hanging lantern above
the entrance illuminating with staru-
ing distinctness his singularly white
face and silverly struggling locks. In