Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-08-16
cHTER XIX.


mila st what she wants you
nat d Miss Lansdowne. "She
10 w. TO me so often that 1
has en- | saw / had a chance
- tnous to you, l would not let
of spea
1t Slip. -, 80 ro,,, so,a Cuf
Itch was the dance you said
Imig.. .o.oo ,rno,oor
-. was at Stroan.
=. a bright day. and there was
1t enough wind to stir the air
lily on his way across the
Proad. The sun shone on the
.,.halky soil. and the place where
- .,,dy OF Jem Stickles had been
WAS now no longer distinguish
by any outward sign from the
Of the grass-grown border to the
People had begun to forget the
edy. and even the fresh interest
tied by the more recent events at
Blue Lion had by this time faded
their minds, relegated TO the back
round by the pressure of some less
tirring but newer occurrence.
due 1AsUu itStii tOOhtu
enough. having been uninhabit-
r a month. With its doors closed,
shutters barred. with broken
mes in its upper windows. it was
dreary contrast TO the little inn he
.Td known. No market-carts now
drew up before the door; the ducks
md the chickens no longer wandered
bout the road: the shed where the
art had stood was empty and already
ut of repair. Clifford. after one
ak around into the little garden and
wn to the shed where he mad first
II, Hurried away from the desc
spot and made haste to reach
gle End.
change had come over this
also. To begin with. the storms
he winter had dealt harshly with
old house. Some states had been
.ied away and had not been re-
ced. and a tree blown down by a
uthwesterly gale, now blocked the lit
.bit of ground which formed the front
rden. 1t had injured the corner of
ssss mouse in its fall. had carried away
one of the outside shutters of the
drawing-room front window and
ssmashed half a dozen of the small
anes of glass. which had been left
roken. Sheets of brown paper had
-en pasted on the inner side of the
ndow. completing the desolate ap-
rance of the old house. Clifford,
e approached the gate. found that
rec had fallen in such n manner
t was impossible to get in. Look
p doubtfully at the windows. he
1t sight of little. withered face,
haunting. peering cut ut him
behind the meager muslin cur
In.
Was il or was It not Miss Bostars?
ra moment he stood undecided with
hand upon the gate. Had some
ible calamity-the death of the
mel. the Illness OF his daughter
n upon the place like n blight?
Id he go back and make inquiries
e nearest cottage before he ven.
TO intrude upon what might be
great grief?
ere was an ancient cottage close
mich had once been n dollhouse.
bought he would knock ut the
I'd try to find out something. and
sIreating for that purpose, when
RED tapping on the glass of the
window made him look round
Miss Bostal-if it was indeed
ade a sign to him to go round
back of the house.
ring hep~mute direction, he
his/&ay back to the little side
the paling. passed through
garden and presented himself
back door. He noticed with
as ne passed the two lower
the one at the side and the
the back of the house, that
S were drawn down. Surely.
Colonel was dead. he
He had not time to speculate
~. In that case. the upper
ms had had their blinds up,
heard the sound of some
in DRAWN back a bolt and
mother and another
n the door was opened by Miss
IL. who put out her head to throw
frightened glance round the gar
and then. Selling his proffered
d. drew him hastily inside. and be-
Immediately to replace the bolts
Gsr5f1corid not help feeling
sed. although he took care not to
il. 1t seemed to him clear that
recent occurrences in the neigh
cd had got on the poor little
us brain. and made her absurd
Yous about the safety of her
= person and not very valua-
perty.
are well secured against bur
see," said he. as he insisted
ioing the work of boiling the
r her. and was surprised to End
did and strong the protection
tile woman started almost
Ir. King" gasped she. in q
acute terror. Don't make
ut il. It's too dreadful. 1
safe. Last night Ohr'
closing her eyes as If on
fainting. And Clifford
light that came through
nes above the front and
/ that her little pinched
| liyid at some terrible