Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-07-11

smile GENIAL and highly contagious.
could not help responding to it in TIN
way he expected.
"Do not talk to me about the Knollys
1t is a painful subject to me. Lucetta-
you know the girl, and / shall not bt
able to prejudice you against her-ha
conceived the idea that l encourage
William in an intimacy of which she
does not approve. She does not want
him to talk to me. William has loost
tongue in his head and sometimes drops
unguarded words about their tloings VI
there, which if any but William spoke
But there, am forgetting one of the
most important rules of my own life,
which is to keep my mouth from bah
bling and my tongue from guile. Influ'
ence of congenial companion, madam
it is irresistible sometimes, especially
to a man living so much alone as my.
self -
l thought his fault very pardonable,
but did not express it lest l should
brighten his condolences away. w.
81 thought there was something -
said. ''Lucetta acted almost afraid of
you this morning. l should think she
would be glad Of the friendship of SO
good neighbOr. y
His face took on very somber look
She is afraid Of me-" he admitted,
"afraid of what | may see or have seen
of their poverty" he added, with an
odd emphasis scarcely think he ex-
pected to deceive me.
| did not push the subject an inch
further. l saw it had gone as far as he
would allow it at this time.
We were by this time in the heart of
the forest and rapidly approaching the
Knollys house. As the tops Of its great
chimneys rose above the foliage l saw
his aspect suddenly change
II don't know Why" said he, "but
hate unaccountably to leave you here "
l thought the prospect somewhat un-
inviting myself after the pleasant ride
/ had had and the glimpse which had
been given me of a really CHEEKY home
and pleasant surroundings.
"This morning | looked upon you as
a somewhat daring woman, the progress
by me with interest, but after the COM
panionship of the last half hour am
conscious of an anxiety in your regard
which makes me doubly wish that Miss
Knollys had not shut me out from her
home. Are you sure you wish to enter
this house again, MADAME"
was alphabetically surprised--at
. b. ...,1. h., L,
ciplined heart had known how to fut-
ter, it would probably have futtered
then, but happily the restraint Of years
did not fail me in this emergency. TAX
ing advantage of the emotion which had
betrayed him into an Acknowledgement
If his real feelings regarding the dan
gers lurking i'll this home, despite the
heck he had endeavored to put upon
lis lips, | said, with an attempt at ma
yete only to be excused by the exigen-
lies of the occasion:
why, l thought you considered this
lomicile as being perfectly harmless
You like the girls and have no fault to
and with William. Can it be that thi:
great building has another occupant? ! 7
do not allude to ghosts. OF them neither
you nor l can think it worth while to
talk.
Miss Butterworth, you have me in
q corner. | do not know of any other
which the house can hold save
the three young people you have men
toned. If l seem to feel any doubt OF
them-but 1 don't feel any doubt. ]
only dread any place for you which is
not watched over by some one interested
in your defense. The danger threatening
the inhabitants of this lane is such
yelled one If we knew where it lurked,
We would no longer call it danger.
l think the ghosts you al
ude to are not as innocent as mere spec.
ers usually are. But don't let me
righten you. Don't All, William,
lave brought back your guest you see!
couldn't let her sit out the noon hour
II old Carter's parlor. That would be
90 much for even so amiable person
Is Miss Butterworth to endure.
/ had hardly realized we We're so near
he gate and certainly was surprised &c
ind William anywhere within hearing.
That his appearance at this moment was
nything but welcome, at least to me.
must be evident to any one. The sen
ence which it interrupted might have
the most important advice or
t the least a warning / would be the
etter prepared for having. But destiny,
which was against me, said no, and be-
ne one who accepts the inevitable with
God grace l prepared myself to alight,
With Mr.. Trohm assistance.
The bunch of heliotrope held was a .
title in my way or l should have man :
ged the jump with confidence and dig :
flied agility. As it was, l tripped :
lightly, which brought out chuckle ]
rom William that at the moment )
eemed more wicked to me than any
rime. Meanwhile he had not let mat !
ers proceed thus far without putting !:
lore than one question. !:
and where's Simsbury? And why /
id Miss Butterworth thipk she had got
, sit in Carter's parlor?" !:
"Mr. Simsbury" said l as soon as !
,uld recover from the mingled exertion =
i'd embarrassment of my descent to r
IRA firma, ''felt it necessary to take
lie horse to the shoer's. That is half
iy's work, as you know, and 1 knew
lat he and especially YOU would be