The leader., 1905-07-29
The HAUNTED
AVENUE
By EsTHER sERLE nEnnzrH

come TO nave that name, Tor al
along the beaten paths the peoples
have sown themselves and blossom,
rose-Rink, purple and scarlet, in rank
rows. The house is not very old; it is
the imperfection of the stucco-woTk
falling away in various places which
gives it a defaced and dilapidated look.
It is the rank, weedy garden and the
neglected avenue, ankle deep in black,
fallen leaves, which shows Poppy
Walks to be forsaken and forlorn. The
grapeVines have fallen from their trel-
Uses, the lilies grow with hawkweed,
and the rose vines trail, blossomless,
upon the grass.
All was in perfect order when Kim
ross brought his beautiful young wife
to Hillhome, as it was then called.
She was very young; they had known
each other only three months, but her
heart was bound up in the handsome,
imperious man.
1T is beautiful here, but you must let
Victoire stay with me this summer"
she said clinging to his arm.
ACtOAAO Will hCSp IAS nOuSc- IuAl "a
gayety. and we want to be by our
selves, Marie" answered kinross,
smoothing the dark curls which lay
against his breast.
But l shall be lonesome while you
are in the city, Gerald" she answered.
'Victoire shall stay, then, if you
wish" he answered.
He had hardly seen Victoire D'Arcler
then, little Marie's beautiful cousin. On
the night of the ceremony she had been
one of the bridesmaids, but she had
not fallen in his way much since-a
handsome brunette, with a peachy
color and milky teeth. He remembered
her face, and that she had come to
Hillhome with others of the gay bridal
party. Now he looked at her more at
tentively, as she strolled on the ter
race. He saw, with the eye of criti-
cism, a regal face, voluptuous figure,
a dress of rose-colored cashmere. Vic
toire D'Arcier, conscious of his gaze, as
he stood at one of the long French
windows, reached for spray of truEl-
pet flower, letting the lose, silken
sleeves fall from her beautiful arms.
Gerald Kinross gaze grew to one cf
absorbed passion; then his wife's little
hand touched his arm, and he recol-
lected himself.
Yes, Marie, everything shall be as
you like at Hillhome.
The rest of the gay bridal party
That she was beautiful woman was
evident; that she was pure one is
doubtful. Gerald Kinross downfall
commenced from the morning he conn
pretended her bewildering beauty. He
was a man of no depth of moral sta
bility. The innocent eyes of the young
wife say nothing; her confiding heart
suspected nothing.
She awoke one night, and through
the open windows heard an unusual
sound.
Gerald, she said, "a storm is com
ing up. Hear the trees creak down the
avenue!"
There was no answer
she stretched her hand toward her
husbands pillow; it was unoccupied
HE is restless, and has risen to walk
and smoke for an hour upon the porii-
CO, she said, and fell asleep again.
But there was no wind. The sound
she heard was that caused by two per-
sons stepping into carriage. which
stood halfway down the long avenue.
The light vehicle swayed and its hinges
creaked as they took their seats. Kin
ross frightened the lines, and the two
high-bred horses stepped softly away
Marie Kinross awoke in the morning
and found her husband still absent
from her chamber. She dressed, and
went among the servants.
Where is your master?'
They looked white and scared, and
glanced at each other with hesitancy
Miss Victoire has gone, too said
one Of the maids
What do you mean?1 asked Marie,
sharply
IF you please, Mrs. Kinross. said
the girl, Il heard people getting into
carriage last night, and horses hO0fs
going down the avenue; and Miss Vic
toire did not sleep in her bed last
night. "
.And the carriage and horses are
gone from the stable this morning, :,
said Tony, the coachman.
Marie Kinross stood like one stunned
for moment Then, with sharp
scream, she fell on the floor They
raised her, carried her to her chamber.
and all day she lay in strong convHl-
sions.
All day Kinross and victoire D'Ar-
cier Travelled swiftly, until at night
they reached small stone church Ia
an obscure country district. A storm
was coming up; it was necessary that
they should hays shelter, and bridal
party passed out Of the church as they
entered
A fortunate occurrence, said Kin
ross. We will be married. thus sav-
ing appearances and preventing gossip,
II we find it necessary to stay here q