Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-01-22
CHAPTER XIV.


assured him she knew the way to The
Crags, let her lead him along the road
in the opposite direction to that in
which the great body of the guests
were streaming. The snow was fall
ing faster; already thin white layer
covered the broad space on the frozen
lake which had been swept clear that
morning. The hill on which The
Crags stood frowned above them on
their right, covered for the most part
with coarse grass and bramble, with
here and there a clump of small birch
trees, or tiny hollow in which the
rain-water collected and made a little
pool, now frozen and choked with
snow.
When they had gone about fifty
yards, Alma released her companions
arm, crossed the road towards the
right. pushed aside the snow-covered
branches of some tall shrubs which
grew at the foot of the hill, and beck
oning 10 Armathwaite to come too,
disappeared through them. He fol
lowed, and found her at the bottom
of a steep and slippery path which,
sheltered by overhanging shrubs from
the snow, was wet, clayey, and as diff
fcult to ascend as a glacier After a
few yards 1t appeared to end in
another clump of bushes; but Alma,
who kept ahead without uttering
word, bore to the right, slkirted this
growth through the snow, and
emerged, keeping her foothod with
some difficulty on little stonepaved
restingplace on the higher side. From
this point zigzag steps, roughly paved
with stone and brick, led up the face
of the hill, bearing still to the right.
to point from which they could see,
about eighty or a hundred yards
above them, one of the red, pointed
gables Of The Crags.
Armathwaite uttered a cry of sur
prise. Though certainly very steep
and, as 1t seemed, an unnecessarily
difficult way, 1t brought one to the
mouse in about a quarter of the time
that 1t took to go by the road, and he
was on the point of asking Alma how
she came to know of this path, when
he perceived that she had met with an
unexpected obstacle. Before them
was fiSh wooden gate. fianked on
either side by long paling. which
reached on the right to an impassably
steep slab OF rock, and on the left to
somewhat distant thicket. Alma
had approached the gate and mechan-
ically pushed it, as il expecting it to
open at her touch. But 1t did not.
She pushed it again with more force:
then she shook it, but still without
result. Armathwaite came up to her.
1t is locked, Mrs. Crosmont." he
said, looking at her attentively.
Locked" she repeated in a low
tone, THE gate Is locked"
she paused, and again touched the
wooden bars mechanically.
we must go back again, and get
to the fouse by the road.
The road" she echoed in the
same tone as before. 81 don't know
the way"
1t is all right. | know that way"
ne said, in g reassuring tone; and
without any comment on this strange
adventure, every detail of which was
stamping itself on his mind, and
awaking there many strange ideas, he
helped her to descend the steps and
the slippery path which followed, and
hurried her back towards the more
circuitoIs road. while he kent nm
some sort of idle talk about snow.
storms and the long frost. She said
very little, but he was glad to notice
that the numbness which had fallen
upon her mind and body wore off as
they proceeded so that by the time
they came in full view of The Crass
the color had come back to her face
and she looked as well as usual
Ana so you have never been here
oefore?' he said, as they walked up
the winding drive.
No, never" she answered. as she
examined from end to end the long
be-turreted, be-gabled house, with its
lights twinkling in every mullioned
window. TT looks a pretty place. !
aunt expect that from the way LADY
kildonan always speaks of it."
She was beginning again to feel a
nervous fear as to her reception.
Il hope Ned won't be very angry -
she sighed out plaintively. as a foot
man crossed the hall to open the door
The whole house was full of move
ment' and life, and brightness. The
orass lanterns which hung from the
ROOF OF the great hall shone on the
armour trophies. and threw a pretty
suodued light upon groups of laughins
glris ana their admirers, and bevies OF
chattering chaperons, among whom
MIS- Peele stood conspicuous in severe
majesty. Every other minute Tbs
Marie Antoinette curtains were lifted
and the buzz of voices and the prett,
clatter OF tea cups and tea.snoon,
came through the cloister, as a conn,,
went through to the morning.room q,
returned from Il Lord Kildonap
kindly and genial as ever. came for
ward with oufsfretchaI haraS -