Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-09-12
LOST MANS LANE.
Bv ANNA KATHARINE GREEN.
copyright, 1897, by Anna K. Rohlfa1
CHAPTER XNII-Continued. J

ing will ever make me accuse living
nan Of crime so dreadful. And sht
ualktd away, drawing Loreen after her
IN another moment she was out of the
room. leaving me in a state of great ex
,itement
"Tln, girl holds the secret to the
rbolp siruution, thought l. 1.-The be-
lief that nothing more can be learned
from the knullys is false one. must
see Mr.. Gryce. William S rodomantades
are So much empty air, but Lucetta's
silence has a meaning we cannot afford
to ignore.
So impressed was by this that took
the first opportunity which presented
itself of seeing the detective. This was
early the next morning. He and several
of the townspeople had made their APP
pearance at Mother James cottage, with
shades and picks, and the sight had
naturally drawn us all down to the gate,
where we stood watching operations in
silence which would have been con-
sidered unnatural by any one who did
not realize the conflicting nature of the
emotions underlying it. William, to
whom the death of his mother seemed
to he a great deliverance, had been in
clined to be more or less jocular, but
his sallies meeting with no response he
had sauntered away to have it out with
his dogs, leaving me alone with the two
girls and Hannah.
This latter seemed to be absorbed en-
tirely by the aspect of Mother Jane,
who stood upon her doorstep in an at
titude so menacing that it was little
short of tragic Her hood. for the first
time in the memory of those present,
had fallen away from her head, show
Ing a wealth Of gray hair which flew
away from her head like weird halo.
Her features we could not distinguish,
but the emotion which inspired her
breathed in every gesture of her uplift-
ed arms and swaying body. 1t was
wrath personitied, and yet an unreason-
ing wrath. One could see she was as
much dazed as outraged. Her lares and
penates We're being attacked, and she
had come from the heart of her solitude
to defend them.
Il declare" murmured Hannah. 1T
is pitiful. She has nothing in the world
but that garden, and now they are 60
ing to root it mp. -
DO you Think said l. that the
sight of little money would appease
her | wished an excuse for dropping
word into the ear Of Mr.. Gryce,
Perhaps, said Hannah. "She dear
ly loves money, but it will not take
away her fright. -
1T will if she has nothing to be
about" said l, and turning
to the girls l asked them, somewhat
for me, if they thought
would make myself conspicuous if /
crossed the road on this errand, and
when Loreen answered that that would
not deter her if she had the money and
Lucetta added that the sight of such
misery was too painful for any mere
personal consideration l took advantage
Of this complaisance and hastily made
my way over to the group, who We're de-
batting as to the point they would at
Jack first.
Gentlemen, said l, ''good morn.
ng am here on an errand of mercy.
Poor old Mother Jane is half imbecile
md does not understand why you in
7ade her premises with these imple-
nents. Will you object if l endeavor to
listract her mind with a little piece Of
'old happen to have in my pocket: She .
nay not deserve it, but it will make
our task easier and save US some posi- .
lie concern.
Half of the men at once took off their
lat, The other half nudged each 9th.
RS elbows and whispered and grimaced
ike the fools they were. The first half
we're gentlemen, though not all OF them
wore gentlemen 5 clothes.
1t was Mr. Gryce who spoke:
Certainly, madam. Give the old
'cman anything you please, butt
Md here he stepped up to me and be-
an to whisper: "You want something,
What is it,
| answered i'll the same quick way.
The mine You thought exhausted has
till its possibilities. Question Lucetta.
may prove a more fruitful task thah
lning up the soil. -
The bow he made was more Tor the
nlookers than for the suggestion mad
iyen him. Yet he was not ungratefui
Il the latter, as |, who was beginning
} understand him, could see.
Give itN' he cried out aloud. we
'ould not disturb the old crone II II
ERE not for one of her well known
1llies. Nothing will take her over AZ
IDS away from her home. Now what
es within those 40 rods? These men
mink we ought TO see.
The shrug | gave answered both the
pen and the underlying question. Sat.
fled that he would understand 1t SO
urried away from him and approached
lother Jane.
"Seer' said |, astonished at the regu-
rity Of her features, now that mao
1od opportunity of observing them
ave brought you money. Let them uig
= your turnips if they Will.
She did not seem TO perceive me. her
rs were wild with dismay and her
p, trembling with passion FAR be-
md my power to comfort.
"Lizzier" She cried. Lizzie! ohe
i'll come back and find no home. On
y poor girl, My poor, poor girl
1t was pitiable. l could not doubt her
lguish or her sincerity. The dellrlum
a broken heart cannot be simulated
nd this heart was not controlled py
a>0n. that was equally apparent 10