Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-09-19

stepped herself over the trai,in
branches and made without a word 70
the winding path we now saw clearl,
uehned on the edge of the orchard he
fore us. y ~
On, exclaimed Loreen, stoppin,
one moment to catch her breath. ~ Il,
not know what | fear or to what on,
steps Will bring us, only know that
must hunt for Lucetta till l find her
IL there Is danger where she is. l mus,
snare II. You can rest here or come far
ther on, But what is this?"
IL was man. He had started sud.
uenly from some one of the shadow
near the hedgerow.
Silence" he Whispered. putting his
niger on his lips. "If You are looking
ior Miss knollys, he added, seeing us
both pause aghast, "she is on the lawn
BEYOND, talking to Mr. Trohm If You
come here, you can see her. She is in
no Kind of danger, but if she We're Mr..
Gryce is in the first row of trees to the
back there, and call from me-
That made me remember my whistle
IL was still round my neck, but my
hand, which had instinctively gone to
1T, fell again in extraordinary emotion
as l took in the situation he had limited
at and realized that it was on Mr..
Trohm's grounds we stood and that it
was toward Mr. Trohm himself Loreen s
looks OF unmistakable fear and dread
We're turned.
"Loreen, / whispered, cit is not
here you look for a solution of that
awful mystery
Miss Butterworth, she answered,
lit is here You should look for it,.
Here? r. Never have l felt such
emotion and never have l so nearly sue
cumbed to it. what do you mean:'' |
prayed. Tell me, tell me quickly what
you mean"
Il mean, " she gasped, "that that is
the man who has pursued us with his
hatred, driving my father and my moth
er into their graves. Obadiah Trohm is
the rich man of whom we spoke to
you; not Deacon Spear or any one else
in this unhappy lane And breaking
from me she slid away nearer the i'll
assorted couple, in one Of whom from
that moment | saw no longer the cour-
teous, kindly country gentleman, but
Of vengeful propensities, if not
worse and still more diabol-
ical.
"Come!" she beckoned, happily too
absorbed i'll her own emotions to notice
mine. Let Us get nearer. If Mr.. Trohm
is the wicked man we fear, there is 10
telling what the means are which he
uses to get rid Of his victims. There
was nothing to he found in his house,
but who knows but that the danger may
be around her now. 1t was evidently to
dare 1t She came. TO offer herself as a
martyr that we might know'--
Hush Whispered, controlling my
OWN fears reused against my will by
this display Of terror in this usually (
,almest of natures "No danger can
menace her there, not where they two
stand, unless he is common assassin .
md carries pistol
mo pistol, murmured the man who
lad crept again near Us. Pistols make
uulNt' liz VIII upl USE Il plSlpI.
Good God!' l whispered. You are
lot anticipating also that it is in the
leart of this man to kill Lucetta:"
"Six strong men have disappeared
lereabout" said the fellow, never
moving his eye from the couple before
IS "Why not one weak girl:'
With cry Loreen started forward
Rum she whispered. "Run!"
But as this word left her lips slight
movement took place i'll the belt of trees
where we had been told Mr.. Gryce lay
Il hiding, and we could see him issue
or a moment into sight with his finger
ike that Of his man laid warningly on
is lips. Loreen trembled and drew
ack, seeing which the man beside us
ointed to the hedge and Whispered
oftly:
"There is just room between that and
be fence for person to pass sideways.
you and this lady want to get nearer
} Miss Knollys, you might take that
BAD. But Mr.. Gryce will expect you
} be very quiet The young lady ex-
ressly said before she came into this
lace that she could do nothing if for
nv reason Mr.. Trohm should suspect
lat they We're not alone. y
1--WE will be quiet, I assured him,
lxious to hide my face, which l felt
witch at every mention of Mr.. Trohm's
anne behind the screen he thus offered
II our use. Loreen was already behind
le hedge.
The evening was one of those which
q made for peace. The sun, which
i'd set in crimson, had left glow on
.e branches of the forest which had
1t vet faded into the gray of twilight.
he lawn, around which we were skirt
o. had not lost the mellow brilliancy
hich made it sparkle, nor had the clus-
r of varied hued hollyhocks, which
{ their gorgeousness against the neat
llow of the peaceful doorposts, shown
" dimness in their glory, which was on
par with the setting sun. But though
saw all this it no longer appeared to I
o desirable. Lucetta and Lucetta's I
te. the mystery and the impossibility !
its being explained out here III the
idst of turf and blossoms, filled all my G
oughts and made me forget even my '
IN cause for shame and humiliation, II 9
t sorrow.
Green. who had wormed her way s
ing till she crouched nearly opposite .
them, plucked me by the gown as Z
to where she was and, Il
hitting to the hedge which pressed up s
lo1