Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-03-16
LOST MANS LANE.
BIZ ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
CHAPTER XXIII-Continued.


to seem gay and at ease the anxieties
and fatigue Of the foregoing nights were
telling upon them, and from Miss Knoll
lys down they looked physically ex-
hausted. But they also looked mentally
relieved. In the clear depths Of Lucet-
ta's eye there was now no wavering,
and the head which was always turning
in anxious anticipation over her shout
der rested firm, though not as erect as
her sisters, who had less cause perhaps
for regret and sorrow.
William was jovial to degree, but
it was a forced joviality which only be-
came real when he heard a sudden,
quick bark under the window and the
sound of scraping paws against the mas
tic coating of the wall outside. Then he
broke into loud laugh Of unrestrained
pleasure, crying out thoughtlessly:
There's Saracen. How quick he
knows''-
A warning look from Lucetta stopped
him.
81 mean," he stammered, THAT it's
a dull dog who does not know where
his master is. Miss Butterworth" he
was absolutely unrestrained in his re-
stored self confidence-"youw will have
to overcome your fear of dogs if you
stay with us long. Saracen is unbound
this morning, and"-he used a great
oath-"he's going to remain so.
By which l came to understand that
it was not out of consideration for me
he had been tied up in the court till
now, but for reasons connected with
their own safety and the preservation of
the secret which they so evidently be-
lieved had been buried with the body,
which did not like TO remember lay &C
that very minute too nearly under our
feet for my own individual comfort.
However, this has nothing to do WITH
the reply made to William.
81 hope" said /, she does not run
with the buggy. want to take ride
very much this morning and could get
small pleasure out of it if that dog must
be our companion.
II cannot go out this morning."
William began, but changed his SEN
tence, possibly at the touch Of his Sis
ter's foot under the table, into: but if
you say I must, why, must. You
women folks are so plagued changeable.
Yesterday I wanted to go; today I
don't, but don't let that make any diff
ference to you. A host must follow the
wishes of his guest.
Had he been ten years younger l
would have boxed his ears; had he been
that much older would have taken cue
and packed up my trunk before he could
have finished the cup of coffee he was
drinking. But he was just too old to
reprimand-that is, in that way, and
not old enough to appreciate any dis
play of personal dignity or self respect.
Besides, he was knave; so 1 just let
his impertinence pass with the remark:
II have purchases to make in the vii
lage," and so that matter ended, mani
testify to the two girls relief, who natu-
rally did not like to see me insulted
even if they did not possess sufficient
power over their brother to prevent it,
One other small episode and then l
will take you with me to the village.
AS we were leaving the table, where /
ate less than common, Notwithstanding
all my efforts to seem perfectly uncon-
cerned except at those demonstrations
of Saracen, from which they all expect
ed me to shrink, Lucetta, who had
waited for her brother to go out, took
me gently by the arm, and, looking at
me closely, said:
did you have any dreams last night,
Miss Butterworth? You know I promised
you some"
was little taken aback and for a
moment felt like taking those two girls
into my confidence and bidding them fly
from the shame and doom so soon to fall
upon their brother, but the real principle
underlying all such momentary impulses
on my part deferred me, and in as light
a tone as could assume and not be an
absolute hypocrite replied that was
sorry to disappoint her, but I had no
dreams, which seemed to please her
more than it should, for if had had no
dreams ! certainly had suffered from
the most dreadful realities.
l will not describe that ride into
town. Saracen did go with US, and in
dignation not only rendered me speech
less. but gave to my thoughts turn
which made that half hour Of very lit
tie value to me. Mother James burly
figure crouching in her doorway might
otherwise have given me opportunity
for remark, and SO might the dubious
looks Of people we met on the high
road-looks to which I am so wholly
unaccustomed that l had difficulty in
recognizing myself as the butt of so
much doubt and possibly dislike. l at
tributed this, however, all to the i'll re-
pute under which William so deserved
ly labored and did not allow myself to
more than notice it. Indeed, could
only be sorry for people who did not
know in what consideration ! was held
at home and who, either through igno-
rance or prejudice, allowed themselves
privileges they would be the first to re-
greet did they know the heart and mind
of the real Amelia Butterworth.
Once in the village, took the direo-
ton Of affairs.
"Set me down at the hotel, - said l,
land then 60 about such business as You
may have here in town. am not going
to allow myself to be tracked all over
by that dog"
II have no business" was the surly
reply.
"Then make some" was my sharp
retort. II want to soc the locksmith-
that locksmith who wouldn't come to do
an honest piece of work for me in your
house, and want to buy dimities and
woods and sewing silks at the dry goods
store over there. Indeed l have thou
sand things to do and expect to spend