The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-12-18

Va heS Wes Na~
Junior partner. The
business was concluded and all pre-
parations were made for his return
the next day. The last two days he
had found time to explore the neigh.
borhood, and he had intended to spend
the last afternoon in a long ride round
by the Avenue de la Care to see an
extremely picturesque old house,
which, with Its gardens. constituted
one Of the places of interest OF the
town. Lately, he was told, it had been
let, and the public were no longer ad-
mitted. But he had looked forW ard to
seeing what he could of it and he de-
termined to gain an entrance II posi-
BILE. Unfortunately the day had been
wet and stormy. and he had put on
his ride till the evening, hoping 1t
would clear.
After his early dinner he went to
the hall door and looked out. The sky
was most uncompromisingly black, but
the rain had ceased. He ordered his
horse and set Off. Out in the open
country 1t was even blacker and more
dreary. He had ridden some distance
when he came to the foot Of the long
hill which terminates the avenue.
Then he knew that he was not far
from the house. He dismounted, that
the horse might climb more easily. 1t
is a long, steep hill, and the wind came
tearing down the narrow incline with
q terrific force. At the top the hurri'
cane was still f%iercer, and a sudden
whirl of wind caught his cap and swept
It away into the darkness. He put out
his hand ~instinctively to save 1t, at
the same time %loosenlng his hold on
the horses bride. In an instant the
horse. already frightened, had 5erked
himself free and turned back to the
town. The sound of his hoofs as he
clattered down the hill was soon lost
in the roar OF the wind.
It was an awkward predicament, but
he had to make the best Of 1t. To the
left was a low stone wall that he
thought must be part Of the boundary
wall of the garden he so longed to see.
He stood leaning over, trying to peer
down into the depths below. He could
see dimly the ground beneath, and a
sudden reckless notion took possession
of him. He determined to jump down
and explore without permission. The
.o.I onk-o.nz tn fhA hnuCa he KnlW
was In q lane Off the main road. n lane
which he would certainly never be
able to- find that night. The drop was
a deeper one than he had calculated
It would be. He alighted with a splash
In a shallow stream of water. Al that
moment the moon broke through the
clouds and showed him the stream. rip.
pling along Just under the wall. A
footpath ran close to the water, and
this he followed for some distance. IN.
I'll Il struck abruptly at right angles
across the grass. Soon he was under
the shade OF heavy trees. and so shell
tered that scarcely a breath OF wind
reached him, though he could hear 1t
swaying the branches above his head.
Presently the path lost itself In q
sort Of clearing. Here the grass was
Clearly cut and rolled. and felt like
n carpet under his feet. He was sur
prised TO find. Immediately In front OF
him, q small, peaked summer house.
A light from a little window at one
side threw a misty glow out into the
darkness. He went up TO It, but the
curtains were closely drawn from with
in. As he stood considering 1t, the
door was opened. The door was built
into the framework OF the wooden
wall. and he had not noticed II. Be.
fore he had time to step back into the
shadow OF the trees a girl appeared
The moons ray fell directly on her
face. and he never forgot the impress
sion Of utter WEAKNESS that her face
gave him. Her brows were drawn into
an impatient frown. n she sighed as
she folded her arms and leant back
against the door. He expected she
would be one of the new tenants. AS
she had MOI seen him he yentured to
move slightly away. But h instant
ly caught the sound. slight as II was
and turned her head.
"Je vous demands pardon" he be
gan. pardon" and then the ghostly
play of the moonlight on the girls face
sewildered him and he stopped.
"Je me crois bien," she said. with g
slight smile. staring at him a surprise
that equaled his own.