Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-02-25
Continued
CHAPTER XXTI.

ErastuS Brown, my COlOrCd cOmpan.
ion, parted company with me after we
had fairly entered upon the grounds Of
Colonel Mansley's residence, and | step
ped upon the porch alone | had scarce
ly sounded the heavy polished knocke1
when the door was opened by a tidy
looking colOred girl, whose manner
showed that | was expected.
"I'l show yo' de way" she said,
preceding me up the broad winding
stairs to a large room ON the left whose
door was open. When | had passed
through and closed it behind me and
looked around, | was as much surprised
as delighted. 1t was not because it was
furnished i'll that tasteful, comfortable
mann s." for which the old southern
home are noted but that | saw my own
travelling bag resting on the floor at one
side, with my umbrella near. The
thoughtful hostess had provided me
with that which | should not have dis.
pensed with just then for ten times its
value.
In my new and novel situation | for
got for the time the vigilantes at no
great distance who were athirst for NV
life
The following hour was devoted to
making myself as presentable as possi-
Bile. l need hardly remark that | neg
lected nothing. Erastus knocked at the
door and took possession of my shoes,
which he soon brought back with pol
ish like that of mirror and | should
be ashamed to tell how long prmped
III front Of the mirror before Venturing
from my room and descending the
stairs. The same girl who had admitted
me smilingly showed me to the parlor
with the words:
Miss Esther will be wild yo' in a
few minutes. -
| was i'll one Of those broad, roomy
apartments which will contain 100
people with comfort. The ceiling was
low, and there was an alcove at one side
partitiOned with heavy curtains. The
carpet, pictures, furniture, piano at one
side and the bric-a brac told of the
wealth of the owner and the taste of the
one who presided over the household in
place of the mother that had been dead
for years.
| did not hear the fairylike step until
the young lady, smiling, but slightly
flushed, appeared before me. She walk
ed straight forward, with her dainty
hand extended.
81 am glad to welcome you, Mr..
Kenmore, to our home and regret more
than | can tell you that it should be
made under such distressing circum-
stances"
"You have done much to rob it of its
unpleasant features" l replied as l
rose to my feet, land | am unable to
say how much | thank you.
at is shocking" she said, resuming
embarrassment, though the color of her
wonderfully attractive features was
heightened "Your resemblance to the
guilty person is extraordinary, but does
not justify any one in holding you re-
sponsible for his crimes. | wish you
would tell me about it,
Thus invited, | went over the history
from the time of my arrival in Missis-
sippi until the present hour, she listen
ing with IA close attention that was en-
barrassing at times, though tiattering in
high degree. When l gave the partic-
ulars of my purchase of her own horse
from the stranger, she compressed her
thin lips and peculiar light shoue in
her lustrous eyes, but she did not utter
a word.
eve were both struck by our mutual
resemblance, added, Though neither
made any reference to it, 1t was strik-
ing, even after he had removed his mus