Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-02-16
LOST MANS LANE.
BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
CHARTER XyI-CoNTrNUED.

THANK you," / retorted dryly. II
will remember that. To one of my
tastes an ancient room in time honored
mansion like this affords delight not
to be understood by one who knows less
OF century ago's life. The legends only
connected with your great drawing room
below Eve were sitting in my room,
having refused to be cooped up in their
dreary side parlor and she not having
offered me any other spot more cheerfuD
are attractions sufficient to hold me en-
tranced for an hour. Iheard one of them
today"
which,
She spoke more quickly than usual
and for her quite sharply.
MRS Carter" Invent ON, "endeav.
ored to amuse me by relating the story
of Lucetta's namesake-she who rode
through the night after daughter who
had won her lovers heart away from
her."
"Ah, it is we'll known tale, but l
think Mrs. Carter might have left us to
tell it to you. Did she relate anything
else?'
"No other tradition of this place, I"
said I.
IT am glad she was SO considerate.
But why-if you will pardon me-did
she happen to light upon that? We have
not heard those incidents spoken of for
years.
"Not since the phantom carriage flew
through this road the last time" Iven-
tured, with smile that should have
disarmed her from suspecting any ute
rior motive ON my part in thus intro
ducing subject which could not be al
together grateful to her.
"The phantom carriage! Have you
heard of that?'
wish it had been Lucetta who had
said this and to whom my reply was
due. The opportunities would have been
SO much greater for an injudicious dis
play of feeling on her part and of suit
able conclusion on mine.
But it was Loreen who never forgot
herself, and I had to content myself
with the persuasion that her voice was
just a whit less clear than usual and
her serenity enough impaired for her to
look out of my one high and dismal
window instead of into my face.
"My dear''-I had not called her
this before, though the term had fire.
quently risen to my lips in answer to
Lucetta-"you should have gone with
me into the village today. Then you
would not need to ask if had heard of
the phantom carriage"
The probe had reached her at last.
She looked quite startled.
"You amaze me-" she said. "What
do you mean, Miss Butterworth? Why
should I not have needed to ask"
Because you would have heard it
whispered about in every lane and cor
ner. 1t is common talk in town today.
You must know why, Miss Knollys."
She was not looking out of the win
dow now. She was looking at me.
1T assure you," she murmured, 81 do
not know at all. Nothing could be
more incomprehensiblet to me- Explain
yourself, entreat you. The phantom
carriage is but myth to me, interest
ing only as involving certain long van
ished ancestors of mine. "
"Of course" assented. "No one of
real sense could regard it in any other
light. But the villagers, they talk, and
in short-you will soon know, if I Go
not tell you myself-more than one of
them declare it passed through the lane
ON Tuesday night
Tuesday night" Her composure
had been regained, but not SO entirely
but that her voice slightly trembled.
'"That was before you came. hope it
was not an omen"
I was in no mood for pleasantly.
"They say it denotes misfortune to
those who see it. I am therefore obvi-
ously exempt. But you-did you see it?
7 am just curious to know If it is Wis
ible to those who live in the lane. 1t
ought to have turned in here. Were
you fortunate enough to have been
awake at that moment and to have seen
this spectral appearance
She shuddered. was not mistaken
in believing saw this sign of emotion,
for was looking at her very closely,
and the movement was unmistakable.
81 have never seen anything ghostly
IN my llIe, Salu she. AIN LOU aI al
superstitious. Z" ..
If I had been i'll natured or if had
thought it wise to press her too closely,
might have said:
"Then why do you look SO pale? Why
tremble SO visibly, you whom | have
never before seen disturbed" ...
But my natural kindness, together
with an instinct of caution, restrained
me, and only remarked:
"There you are sensible, Miss Knollys
--doubly so as denizen of this house,
which Mrs. Carter was obliging enough
!. to suggest to me was considered by
many as haunted"
The strengthening of Miss Knollys'
lips augured no good to Mrs. Carter.
"Now only wish it was" laughed
dryly. ~ should really like to meet q
ghost, say, in your great drawing room,
which am forbidden to enter.
"You are not forbidden, she uttered
hastily. "You may explore it now il
you will excuse me from accompanying
you, but you will meet no ghosts. The
hour is not propitious.
Taken aback by her sudden amenity,
I hesitated for moment. Would it be