Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-07-25
LOST MANS .LANE.
By ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
copyright, 1897, by Anna K. Rohlfs.1
CHAPTER XVII.
THE FLOWER PARLOR.

actly with the one above. 1t was larger
and through its connection with tn
front door presented the shape of let
ter THAT is, to the superficial observ
er who was not acquainted with tn
size OF the house and had not had tn
opportunity of remarking that at tn
extremities of the upper hall maxim,
this L were two imposing doors usual,
found shut except at mealtimes, whel
the left hand one was thrown open, dis
closing long and dismal corridor sim
liar to the ones above. Half way dow
this corridor was the dining room int,
which had now been taken three times
The right hand one, had no doubt
led the way into the great drawing
room or dancing hall which l had sci
out to see.
Proceeding first to the front of the
house, where some glimmer of light
penetrated from the open sitting room
door, l looked the keys over and read
what was written on the several tags
attached to them. They were seven.
The largest was marked "a" Two Of
lesser size had "Gray Parlor' and
Library" severally written on their
tags, which, by the way, were dog cared
and discolored as if years had passed
since they We're written on and attached
"Rlue Parlor' designated fourth and
upon the others saw some such words
as these: "Flower Cabinet" "Shell
Cabinet" Ozark Chamber'-all very
suggestive and to an antiquarian like
myself most alluring
But it was upon the key marked "A
first fixed my attention This should
open the large door at the extremity of
the upper hall, and when / made trial
with it l found my conjecture correct,
for it moved easily though somewhat
gratingly i'll the lock, releasing the great
doors, which in another moment swung
inward with growing sound from
their rusty hinges that might have been
startling to nervous person filled with
the legends of the place.
But in me the only emotion awakened
was one of disgust at the nauseous char
acter of the air which seemed to envelop
me in an instant Had wished for any
further proof than was afforded by the
warming given me by the condition OF
The hinges that the foot of man had not
lately invaded these precincts, l would
have had it in the moldy atmosphere
and smell Of dust that greeted me on
the threshold. Neither human breath
nor ray of outdoor sunshine seemed to
have disturbed its gloomy quiet for
years, and when l moved, as presently
did, to open one of the windows could
just dimly see in the distance, felt such
a movement of something foul and moi
some over the decaying rags of the car
pet through which was stumbling that
I had to call into use the stronger ele-
ments of my character not to back out
of place so given over to rot and the
creatures that infest it.
"What spot, -" thought l. "for Anne
liza Butterworth to find herself in, y and
wondered if | could ever wear again
the SO yard silk dress i'll which l was
then enveloped. OF my shoes took no /
account. They were ruined, of course.
l reached the window in safety, but /
could not open it; neither could move
i
afterward found, and not till l reached .
the last lyon see, / am very PERSISTENT /
did | succeed in loosening the bar that |
held its inner shutter in place. This .
done, was able to lift the window,
and for the first time i'll years perhaps /
let in ray of light into this desolated .
apartment.
The result was disappointing. Moldy
walls, worm eaten hangings, two very
ancient and quaint fireplaces, met my
ewes and nothing more. The room was
absolutely empty. For few minutes l
allowed my eyes to roam over the great
space in which so much
that was curious and interesting had
once taken place, and then, with vague
sense of defeat, 1 turned my eye out
ward, anxious to see what view could
be obtained from the window l had
1pened. To my establishment, l saw be-
fore me a high wall with here and there
1 window in it, tightly barred and
,losed till by careful look about me
realized that l was looking upon the
1ther wing of the building and that be
JWGon THESE WHY'S tAttItIGu q IOulb ~
narrow and long thai it gave to the
building the shape, as l have before said,
If the letter y. A dreary prospect, re-
ninding one of the view from prison,
out it had its poinG of interest, for i'll
he court below me, the brick pavement
# which was half Gbliterated by grass,
caught sight of William in an attitude
10 different from any had hitherto
een him assume that found it diff
,ult to account for it till | saw the jaws
# a dog protruding from under his
rms. and then l realized he was hug
ring Saracen.
The dog was tied, but the comfort ,
which William seemed to take in just
his phvsical contact with his rough ,
kin was something really to have seen. ,
I made me quite thoughtful for mo- ,
nent.
I detest dogs, and it gives me a creepy s
ensation to see them fondled. but sin s
Gritty of feeling appeals to me, and nc ,
ne could watch William Knollys with ,
lis dogs without seeing that he really 6
nved the brutes Thus i'll one day had =
the best and worst In this q
nan. But wait Had seen the worst: 7
was not so sure that l had. a
He had not noticed my peering, for s
-hich was duly thankful, and after
mother fruitless survey of the windows i
), +ta wall before me drew back and ;