Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-08-08
LOST MANS LANE,
By ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
Copyright, 1897, by Anna 4. Rohlfs.
CHAPTER xxi.
THE THIRD NIGHT.


bear changing, took occasion to spen,
some time with Hannah in the kitchen
giving her during my visit some hint
III regard to household affairs which !
followed would make considerable diff
Terence III the comfort of those concern
ed She received them patiently, but
have seen no change in her manage
ment OF the kitchen that feel justified il
attrlbutlng TO my influence But know
human nature well enough not TO have
expected it. Had the kitchen been far
ther from the door Of the flower parlol
| might not have thrown away so much
energy
did not effect an entrance into the
flower parlor however, nor did | sue.
ceed III seeing any one else enter it
/ Neither did | succeed in making Han.
nah talk on any other topic than Ordi.
nary domestic concerns, but | saw Ger.
tain things
had formed plan for the night that
required some courage. Recalling Lu.
cetta's expression Of the morning, that
l might expect repetition Of the expe-
rience which, if a dream, had had the
appearance Of a most formidable reality,
l prepared 10 profit by the warning in a
way she had certainly never meant that
l should. Satisfied that if there was
any truth in my suspicious there would
be an act performed III this house 10.
night which. if seen by me would for
ever settle the question that was agitat-
ing the whole countryside. l made up
my mind that no locked door should in
tertere with my opportunity Of doing so.
How | effected this result l will relate
in a few minutes.
After an evening more solemn than
the day, hut characterized. as the two
previous ones had not been. hy a long
talk with the two girls together, | went
TO my room i'll a state Of seeming fatigue
that evidently met with the appreciation
OF Lucetta, who had accompanied me 10
my door with lighted candle.
II hear you had some trouble with
matches last night said she "You
will find them all right now Hannah
must he blamed for some Of this care
lessness. Then as began some reas,
surfing reply she turned upon me with a
look that was almost fond. and. throw
ing out her arms, cried entreatinglv
won / you give Inc little kiss, Miss
Butterworth: We have not given you
the best Of welcomes, but you are my
mother 5 cid friend and sometimes feel
q little lonely
l could easily believe that, and YET
found it hard to embrace her. Too many
shadows swan between Althea's chill
dren and myself. She saw my hesitancy
Ia hesitancy could not but have shown
even at the risk Of losing her confidence
and. paling slightly, dropped her hands
with a pitiful smile,
lyon don't like me, she said. Il
do not wonder, but l was in hopes you
would for my mothers sake. have no
claims myself. That you must be sure
am thoroughly convinced Of.
"You are an interesting girl, and you
have, what your mother had not, Sc
cious side to your nature that is any
thing but displeasiDg TO me, But my
kisses Luretta. are as rare as my tears
l had rather give You good advice, and
that is fact Perhaps il Is as strong a
proof Of affection as any ordinary caress
might be-
perhaps, she murmured. but she
did not encourage me TO give 1t TO her
Instead Of that she
drew back and bid me a gentle good
night. which for some reason made me
I ;Lh4I rF 10 OF a F.rs
demanding 50 much nerve. Then she
walked quickly away, and was left to
face the night alone.
Knowing that l should be rather
weakened than helped by the omission
of any Of the little acts Of preparation
with which am accustomed 10 call my
spirits for the night | went through
them all with just as much precision as
if | had expected to spend the ensuing
hours in rest When all was done and
only my cup Of tea remained TO be
uuaffed. l had a little struggle with
myself which ended in my not drinking
II at all Nothing, not even this com
Portable solace for an unsatisfactory
iav, should stand in the way Of my be-
ing the complete mistress Of my wits
this night. Had l known that this tea
contained a soporitic in the shape OF a
little harmless morphine l would have
found this act Of self denial mach easier
1t was now H. Confident that moth
ing would lie done while my light was
burning, l blew it out, and, taking a
candle and matches in my hand, softly
opened MY door and after a moment OF
intense listening stepped out and closed
il carefully behind me. Nothing could
De stiller than the house or darker than
5he corridor.
cam | watched or am l not watch
,d:' thought |. and for an instant stood
undecided. Then. seeing nothing and
hearing nothing, l slipped down the
,all to the door beyond mine and, open
ng it with all the care possible. stepped
inside.
/ knew the room. Ihad taken especial
tote of it in my visit Of the morning.
new that il was nearly empty and that
here was a key in the lock which
ould turn. therefore felt more or less
afe in it, especially as its window was
,ndarkened by the branches that hung
o thicklv across my own easement
huttiug me in. or seeming to shut me
n from all communication with ths
utside world and the unknown guard
am which had been assured constantly
ttended my summons.
That might strengthen my spirits
" one glimpse Of this same outside