Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-05-08
THE YOUNG WOMAN TURNED QUICKLY.

THE YOUNG WOMAN TURNED QUICKLY.
this was that the girl accepted Lancas-
ter's invitation for herself and her aunt
to see the performance.
This incident would not be important
except for a strange thing which hap
pened in connection with 1t.
The theater was not far from Mrs
Barclays, and, as the evening was
pleasant, both Grace and her aunt ex-
pressed a desire to walk. While the
play was In progress. however. the
weather changed, and when they came
out of the theater It was beginning to
rain.
Lancaster found a carriage, and they
rode home. AS they stopped before the
door the rain began to fall In big drops,
and Lancaster hurried the two ladies
across the sidewalk to the door. When
he turned back to pay the cabman, he
was surprised to see the vehicle rapidly
moving away. The man had not even
asked for his fare.
1t may have been a week after this
W hth ASuhNaEtVi hSt MIS-. patNius AZ
the hall Of the boarding house as he
was going out one evening. He took
the old lady gently by the arm and led
her into the parlor. which was deserted
at that hour.
"Mrs. Barclay" said he, II want to
ask you very serious question, and
you mustN answer me with the exact
truth. What have I done to offend
Miss Harwood?"
"Have you offended herr" asked the
old lady In tone which revealed clear
ly that she knew all about the matter.
Both her and her aunt" said he,
land you must tell me how"
Harry Lancaster" replied Mrs. Bar.
clay, ~ knew your father, and I've
known you more or less ever since you
were little boy. I can't believe that
there's any harm In one Of your blood.
But-but I'm afraid you weren't al
ways careful enough about your asso-
ciates. This big city is terrible
place and
"What in the world do you meanw
demanded l1anCaSteF.-
"Well," said Mrs. Barclay, taking
long breath as one does at the begin
ming Of disagreeable subject, 81 can
only tell what's been told to me. 1t
seems that your acquaintances are not
of desirable kind. Men that one
doesn't like to recognize bow to you on
the street, and for young girl like
Grace HARDWOOD to be seen with man
who seems to know every corner loaf
err There. you mustn't be offended,
yet can't help telling You. Why,
Gace's aunt told me that day before
yesterday most brazen creature with
diamonds the size of an egg and
bleached hair winked at you-winked
knowingly--and waved her hand to
you as If you were an old acquaint-
| ance."
but, blessed heaven" exclaimed
Lancaster, 'I'm not responsible for
what such creatures do! can't prevent
these people bowling to me. l have Ell.
planned to Miss HARDWOOD and her aunt
that am evidently being mistaken for
some questionable character well
known In this neighborhood."
Mrs. Barclay coughed gently behind
her hand.
EYES," said she, 81 was told that
you'd said something Of the kind. Ah,"
she continued, "a young man can't be
too careful Of his associates"-
"Confound ttv Interrupted Lancaster
''These people are not my associates.
never saw any Of them before. But we
won't discuss it. I'll get to the bottom
of this mystery first, and III do 1t
right away. Ill go out and -prowl
around this quarter. and the first rascal
that kotows to me will get the truth
choked out Of him mighty quick.
won't have such nonsensical thing as
this ruin the best hope that has come to
me in all my life"
AS often happens there was great
difficulty in finding an annoyance
which unsought was always ready to
appear. Lancaster walked the length
OF the street half dozen times and
not living creature showed the small.
est interest In him. At last he paused
YEARLY upon corner close by the
stairs which led up to station of the
elevated road. He stood there In his
customary attitude, his head bowed
and his hands clasped behind him.
Probably he remained in this position
about ten minutes, when suddenly he
felt something thrust into one of his
hands. Instinctlvely his fingers closed
upon It; then he turned about, but
could not see who 1t was that had given
him this unexpected token. Several
men were hurrying by, and one Of
them, just disappearing up the stairs of
the station, looked little like the
queer fellow who had made signals on
the first day. The man assembled the
stairs with great agility and disap-
peared from view.
Lancaster turned his gaze to the OBJ
ject which had been thrust into his
hand. 1t was plain envelope sealed
tightly, but bearing no address. Lam
caster tore it open and was amazed to
find 1t contained FIVE 500 bills. There
was no message whatever; the money
was merely wrapped in a blank sheet