The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-10-25


said. drawing curtain aside as we
entered the Venetian chamber, here
is little door you would hardly OBJ
serve, even were the curtain absent.
The passage behind runs the whole
length of the house. 1t is dark and
dusty, and l should not advise you
to venture on voyage of discovery"
1T certainly looks very ghostly,"
r said, as we sat on low sofa, COM
fortably slipping our coffee.
The old lady's eyes rested upon me
benignly.
II feel so happy tonight" she MUIR
INJURED. "You have made me realize
how lonely my life is"
She took my hand and stroked II
softly. I half expected to hear her
purr. Then came one OF the most
startling moments of my life.
Mrs. Shepperton, whom that very
day had seen only for the first
time, made an amazing proposition
She told me / reminded her very for,
chilly Of daughter she had lost long
years ago. She expressed an intense
desire for my company, and begged
me to go abroad with her on the fol
lowing morning.
at won't be for very long" she de-
clared soothingly. "And / will buy
you some lovely Partisan clothes II
your wardrobe is insufficient. ! will
write to your mother tomorrow, and
explain what 1 have done. ! am sure
she could not possibly mind, especial.
ly as we were introduced by mu-
tual friend"
Somehow I still felt under spell
and the delightful suggestion proved
too tempting. / have always been
| impressionable and somewhat hot.
headed, fear. Assuring myself that
my family could have no objection,
joyfully consented to accompany
Mrs. Shepperton on her pleasure
trip.
As we talked over the many de-
lights of foreign travel, suddenly
started forward, grasping her elbow
"What is the matter, child?" she
asked.
81 saw figure" I gasped, "hidine
in that curtain opposite. could
have declared the form of a mar
stood behind the velvet. The out
line of his shoulder showed quite dis
tinctly."
! Mrs. shepperton started up, trem
bling.
at must have been your fancy
she cried, begging me to look behint
the curtain; but, of course, this wa'
useless. Had anyone been there, III
would have retired through the pane
door into the long, dark passage be
yond.
/ tried to forget what I had seen
telling myself it was only magma
ton; but the memory haunted mt
as went up to bed.
''Never mind" 1 thought. ITO
morrow you will be far away from
this lonely building"
/ dreampt of the pleasure of wealth
and of the many luxuries was abou
to enjoy.
The following morning Mrs. Shep
perton appeared somewhat depressed
at breakfast.
IT want you, If you will, my dear,
, she said, in her soft, cooling voice
''to do an errand for me on the wa.
} to the station. I shall drive in
closed carriage, but you must g
: round by the town in the victoria
which will be at the door in fey
: minutes. need little spare none
: for our travelling expenses. Please g
E to the bank and change this chez
: for 100. which you must bring IN
J. in notes"
4 l took the check, and drove ava
D chcerfully, glad to feel l could d
I her service.
The drive was very hilly on
l and the little town nestled at tn
foot of steep descent. AS the ca
D riage proceeded at "a slow pace,
well-dressed man sprang forwar
: apparently from the hedge, and too
y off his hat to me.
h felt myself turning very red, fl
!. 1 hardly knew what to do, since
= was total stranger. Before / ha
time to think, he jumped into I'll
carriage, and seated himself besit
!" me. l nervously graspcd the pre-
+ cious check in my hand.
: "What do you want?" aske
e sternly, quivering with indignatic
at his impertinent action.
Excuse me, miss" he said, "but
n want that check for s10O which yc
c are going to cash at the bank"
r, "You may want it," said, CO.
:. WINGED this was case of highwa
: robbery, "but you won't get it'll"
+ Don't be alarmed" he answere
;. reading my thoughts. after a
Q you are quite right not to give it u
e I suppose you are unaware that yt
I are being made the victim of vel
r cruel trick? / saw you arrive we
> terday, and judged by your looks W
|, were not an accomplish, though Il
e accomplices are many of the Mr.
n Shepperton, you know. One HI
{ played her false, and a very larl
y scheme is about to end in failure.
It "The old ladysw received you
n affectionately last evening, al
IL tempted you to accept her invitati'
3 of foreign travel, was, strange to
p late, the housekceper, who shou
have received you according to MI