Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-26

CHAPTER V.

Early the next morning / made n
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 was about
starting out for my usual exercise, l
met Mayberry lowering about the low
er hall. As she observed me she came
forward and said, as If in casual
way:
Miss Lothrop, will you permit me to
caution you a little? This neighbor-
hood is an isolated one. 1 do not
think ii quite wise or safe for a young
girl TO be out alone here abouts after
dark"
There was look of anxiety on her
face, a forced attempt at carelessness
about her manner, that made me SUI
spect the genuineness of her concern
for me.
Madam has always seemed to con-
slider IL safe enough" returned us
there any special reason for alarm?"
She FASTENED to reassure me upon
this point, and / was about to assert
my determination to continue my late
wanderingS unmindful of her warm
ing, thanking her nevertheless for her
solicitude, when L was struck by the
thought that If there were any under
hand proceedings in progress in which
she had share il would be as well
to throw her off her guard as far as
was concerned.
Perhaps you are right" 1 said.
after all, there is never any telling
what sort of persons may be prowling
about a lonely neighborhood. l will
return before dark. Thank you. Mrs
Mayberry."
had evidently relieved her mind.
for she smiled and proceeded TO open
the door for me with all the obseQui-
BUSINESS that a humble servant would
show to n feared and deeply-respected
mistress. She had certain ways and
mannnerisms that I detested. n cring-
Ing, servile department being that
which most revolteT'
] fulfilled my promise to her and
came back before twilight fell. I took
pains also to let her know of my re
turn, but, almost Immediately after
again stole out of doors and took
several turns up and down the avenue,
mounting guard over the Stone House,
expecting L know not what develop
ments to reward my observation. But
my vague anticipations were doomed
TO disappointment. The dwelling gave
forth no signs OF life or habitation.
1T Eeulalneu SIMPLY Jne cOiu Wnlte
corpse of once happy home.
Two or three days after this, how
ever, was detained by the very severe
illness of one OF Madam's beneficiaries
until an unusually late hour. So late
was II that DR.. Spencer. whom 1 met
as was passing through the village.
demonstrated with me concerning my
being out at such n time. and insisted
upon accompanying me as far as the
gates. AS l approached the Stone
House / detected-perhaps no one but
a person bent on discovery would have
noted tia line of light mere lumin-
Gus thread, cleaning through the inter
stice of the shutters of one window.
paused some moments, watching it
closely. / gained nothing further from
my observation, however, and, fearing
TO delay Madams dinner-hour by my
absence, shortly after forsook my post
and went back TO The Ivies, in q state
OF great doubt and perplexity.
1 could not see my course clear in the
matter. Had L been instructed in the
story of Madams life, should have
better known how to act. AS IL was
feared to touch raw wounds, to make
trouble for my beloved mistress, by
abiding TO a mystery which might be
connected with past suffering and sor-
row. But did resolve upon one thing
that l would put few questions To
old Franklin, and, possibly, take him
into my confidence. Accordingly, that
night, after / had conducted Madam