Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-08-01
LOST MANS LANE,
By ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
Copyright, 1897, by Anna X. Rohlfs.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE KNOT OF GRAPE

anu unoeI .He cneef1ul influence of TIL
light which was thus allowed to ente
the table and all its appointments had
much less dreary look than before. Be
hlnd the urn sat Miss Knollys, with
smile on her lips, and in the windo,
stood William, whistling. I am bonn
to declare, but so softly and cheeril
that L could but acknowledge it wa
better than his usual rude. jests or sui
len sllences. Lucetta was not present O
course, but to my great astonishmen
she presently walked in with her hand
laden with sprays of morning glory
which she flung down in the center o
the board. 1t was the first time | hat
seen any attempt made by any of then
TO tighten the somberness of their sur
roundings, and it was also the first tim,
had seen the three together.
l was more disconnected by this sim
pie show of improved spirits than
would like to acknowledge. In the frs
place, they We're natural and not forced
and, secondly, they were to all appear
ance unconscious.
They were not marked enough to show
relief and in Lucetta especially did NOT
serve to hide the underlying melancholy
OF disappointed girl, yet it was moi
what l expected from my supposed ex.
periences of the night and led me to an,
swer little warily when, with frank
laugh, Loreen exclaimed:
So You have lost your character as 3
practical woman, Miss Butterworth.
Hannah tells me you were the victim
OF ghostly visit last night. F"
Hannah gossips numerically, was
my cautious and somewhat peevish re.
ply. "If | chose to dream that | was
locked into my room by some very at,
tentive specter, l cannot see why she
should take the confession of my folly
out Of my mouth. | was going to relate
the fact myself. with all the accompani
ments Of rushing steps and wild and
unearthly cries which are expected by
the listeners to a veritable ghost story
But now have simply to defend myself
from IL charge of credulity, 1t 5 too bad,
Miss Kmollys, much too bad l did not
come to a haunted house for this.
My manner rather than my words
seemed to completely deceive them.
Perhaps it deceived myself, for began
to feel loss Of the depression which
had weighed upon me ever since that
scream had rung i'll my ears at mid
night, 1t disappeared still further When
Lucetta said:
eff your ramblings through the old
rooms on this floor We're the occasion Of
this nightmare, you must be prepared
for n recurrence Of the same tonight, for
I am going to take you through the up
per rooms myself this morning. Isn't
that the programme, Loreen? Or have
you changed your mind and planned a
drive for Miss Butterworth?"
"She shall do both" said Loreen.
"When she is tired Of tramping through
dusty chambers and examining the de-
cayed remnants of old furniture which
incumber them, William stands ready
to drive her over the hills, where she
will find views well worth her atten-
ton
THANK you" said l, at is a pleas
ant prospect. But within / uttered
anything but thanks; rather asked
myself if was a fool. or was just being
made one, and decided almost without
an argument that the former SUPPOSE
tion would mc,t with least denial from
the world at large.
However, beliefs die hard i'll II mind
like mine. and though | was ready to
consider that an inflamed imagination
may often carry US beyond the bounds
# fact and even into the realm Of fancy
md misconception yet was not ready
% give up my suspicious altogether or
o acknowledge that | had no foundation
or the fear that something uncanny and
awful had taken place under this root
he night before. The very naturalness
observed in this hitherto restrained
rio might be the result Of some great
lream removed, and if that was the
,ase- All, well, alertness is the motto
# the truly wise. 1t is when vigilance
leeps that the enemy gains the victory.
would not let myself be deceived even
It the cost of little ridicule Amelia I.
3utterworth was still awake, even un-
Ter a semblance of well laid suspicion,
NV footsteps were not logged that
as they hitherto had been Ill
nv movements about the house. was
.llowed to 90 and come and even to
tray into the second long corridor with
nut any other let than my own dlscre-
ion and good breeding. Lucetta joined
ne, to be sure, after awhile, but only as
-uide and companion. She took me into
ooms forgot the next minute and into
thers | remember to this day as quaint
memorials of past ever and always IN
eresting to me. We ransacked the
louse, vet after all was over and sat
own to rest in my own room two
questions rose in my mind
hat 1 found it impossible TO find salts
actorv answers for. Why, with so many
more or less attractive bed chambers at
heir command. had they chosen to put
ne in this hole. where the very flooring
vas unsafe and the outlook the most
ismal that could be imagined, and why
n all our peregrinations in and out OF
ooms had we always passed one dool ,
rithout entering? She had said that 1t
-as William s-a sufficient explanation ,
true. and | have no doubt it Was-but ,
ne change of countenance with which ,
be had passed it and the sudden light ,
ming of her tread, so instructive that
be was totally unconscious of 1t, marked ,
nat door as one it would be my duty tc ,
pter if fate should yet give me the OPP ,
ortppity. That it was the one in COM ,