Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-04-13
CHAPTER V.

Early the next morning ! made q
special expedition down the avenue
! to discover if the shutter still remained
! open. but found that such was not the
/ case.
Two days later, as l was about
| starting out for my usual exercise, l
met Nayberry lowering about the low
| eP hail. As she observed me she came
| forward and said ~ if in Il casual
| way:
Miss Lothrop. win you permit me TO
caution you little? This neighbor-
| hood is an isolated one. l do not
| think it quite wise o. safe for young
| girl to be out alone here abouts after
| dark"
There was look of anxiety on her
face. II forced attempt at carelessness
| about her manner, that made me su-
spect the genuineness of Det concern
| for me.
MADAM has always seemed to con-
slider il safe enough l returned. is
there any special reason for alarmt'
She hastened TO reassure me upon
this point. and | was about to assert
NV determination TO continue my late
! wanderines unmindful of her warn
inc thai1king her nevertheless for her
solicit ude when | was struck by the
Thought hat if there were any under
hand proceedings in progress in which
she had a shire it would be as well
TO throw her OF her guard as far as
WAS concerned.
perhaps YOU are right SAID.
After ali. there Is never any feillhS
what sort of persons may be proving
about a lonely neighborhood. | VIII
return before dark. Thank you, Mrs.
Mayberry."
| had evidently relieved her mind
for she smiled and proceeded 10 open
the door for me with all the obsequi-
BUSINESS that a humble servant would
show to feared and deepiy-rcspected
mistress. She had certain ways and
mannnerisms that | detestcd. cring-
ing. servile department being that
which most revCited me.
I fulfilled my promise to her and
came back before twilight fell. look
mains also tc let her know Of my re-
turn. but. almost Immediately after
I again stole out OF doors and took
several turns up and down the avenue,
mounting guard over the Stone House.
expecting ] know not what develop
mentS 10 reward my observation. But
nv vague anticipationS were doomed
TO disapD0intment. The dwelling gave
forth no signs of life or habitation.
1t remained simply the cold white
corpse of Il once happy home.
Two or three days after this how
ever. | was detained by the very severe
illness of one of Madam's bencficiaries
until an unusually late hour. 80 late
was it that DIR. Spencer, whom | met
as | was passing through the village.
demonstrated with me concerning my
being ont nj such 4 time, and insisted
upon accompanying me as far as the
gates. As | approached the Stone
House | detected-perhaps no one but
a person bent on discovery would have
noted it-a line of light, a mere lumin-
o1s thread, cleaning through the inter.
stice of the shutters of one window. /
paused some moments, watching 1t
closely. | gained nothing further from
my observation, however, and. fearing
to delay Madam dinnef-hour by my
absence. shortly after forsook my post
and went back to The Ivies, in state
of great doubt and perpleXity.
| could not see my course clear in the
matter. Had | been instructed i'll the
story of Madam's life, | should have
better known how to act. AS it was
| feared to touch rev wounds. TO make
trouble for my beloved mistress, by
alluding TO a mystery which might be
connected with past suffering and sor-
row. But | did resolve upon one thing
that would put few questions TO
old Franklin. and, possibly. take him
into my confidence. Accordingly, that
right, after ! had conducted Madam