Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-04-14
CHAPTER VII.

named or nameless rills, stands the lodge
of Allt-nam-ba. The plain little double
gabIed building occupies a promontory
formed by the confluence of two brawl-
ing streams and faces a long, wide,
Beautiful valley, which terminates in the
winding waters OF a lOch. 1t is the only
sign Of habita ton in the strangely silent
district; and it is the last. The rough
ALL road leading to it terminates there.
At the door of this solitary little lodge,
On morning toward the end of July, Yo-
gnde Winterhourne was standing engag-
ed in buttonng on her driving gloves,
SRt occasionally CHANGING out at the be-
wiidering. changeful. flashing and gleam-
Eng day around her. For, indeed, since
she had come to live at Allt-nam-ba, she
had acquired the conviction that the
place seemed very close up to the sky;
and that this broad valley, walled in by
chose great and silent hills, formed
sort of caldron in which the elements
were in the habit of mixing up weather
for tranSference to the wide world be-
yGnd. Al this very moment a continual
phantaSma goria of cloud effects was pass
ing before her eyes. Far mountain tops
grew biacker and blacker in shadow;
6hen the gray mist of the rain stole slow
is across and hid them from view; then
they reappeared again, and sudden
8haft of sunlight would strike on the
yeIlowgreen slopes. and on the boulders
ST wet and glittering granite
However. she was not much dismayed.
when the dog cart was brought round,
she stepped into it lightly, took the reins
as if to the manner born. though she
20 NTrc
Graham had put her in training at In
verstroy. Then there was a strict charge
so Jane TO see that brisk fires We're kept
Burning in all the rooms. And then the
youthful and fair-haired Sandy having
got up behind-she released the brake;
and presently they were making their
way. slowly and cautiously down the
stony path. and over the loud-sounding
wooden bridge that here spans the roar
5ng red-broWn waters of the Allt-cam
ban
But when once they were over the
Bridge and into the road they quickly
mended their pace. There was an I'M
usual eagerness and brightness in her
look. Sandy the groom knew that the
stout and Serviccabe cob in the shafts
was 4 sure-footed beast; but the road
was of the toughest; and he could not
understand how the young English lady.
who was generally very cautious. should
drive SO fast Was it to get away from
the black thunder masses of cloud that
lay over the mountains behind them?
Here. at least. there seemed no danger
of any storm. The sunlight was brilliant
on the wide. green pastures and on the
flashing waters of the stream. Yolandes
~ L + .,HI Of tho
warm sunlight and of the fresh, keen air;
and her eyes We're glad, though they
seemed busy with other things.
When they reached the end of the val
ley and got on to the road that wound
along the wooded shores of the loch,
ehere was much easier going. 1t was
pretty loch, this stretch of wind-stirred
blue water. for the hills surrounding
it were somewhat less sterile than those
of AIlt-nam-ha: here and there the banks
were fringed with hazel; and at the lower
end of it were the dark-green plantations
surrounding Lynn Towers. They had
driven for about mile and half or
SO by the shores of the lake, when Yo-
iande fancied she heard some clanking
aoise proceeding from the other side: and
shereupon she instantly asked Sandy
land lad strained his eyes in the direction
of the distant hillside and at last he
said:
"Oh, yes. see them now. They will
he the men taking up more fencing to the
forest. l'uncan was speaking about that,
madam. # Miss Winterbourne would be
booking about half way up the hill
they are by the side of the gray corrie
now. l am thinking that will be the
Master at the top"
do YOU mean the Master of Lynn"
she said. quickly. well. your eyes are
sharper than mine. Sandy. 1 can see
that black speck on the skyline; but that
Is all"
HE is waving handkerchief now"
said Sandy. with much GOODNESS.
oh that IS impossible. How could
he make Us out at this distance?"
The master will know there is no
ether carriage than this one coming
from Alt-nam-ba."
VERY we'll, then" said she, taking out
her handkerchief and giving it little
shake or two in the sunlight. I will
take the chance; but you know, Sandy,
st is more likely TO be one of the keepers
waving his hand to YOU
When they had crossed the wooden
bridge over the river and assembled bit
of the Hill, they found themselves oppo-
site Lynn Towers-a large, modern build
ing, which, with its numerous conserva-
tories. stood on Il level piece of ground
on the other side Of the ravine AS they
drove on and down into that smiling and
shining country. the day grew more and
more brilliant Wild flowers grew more
iuxuriantIy. Here and there a farm
house appeared-with fields of grain en-
sroaching on the moorland And at last.
sitter some miles of this gradual descent.
Yolande arrived at Il little sprinkling
of houses sufficient in number though
much scattered among the fields-to be
called 4 village: and drew up at the small