Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-08

| in New York? But he was not ,nquisitive
in those days. He had taken her for
what she seemed-an untrammeled, gay
hearted girl, ready to love and be his happy
wife and lifelong companion: and he had
been contented to keep all conversation
along natural lines and do no probing. And
tnow-this brother whom all had thought
dead. come to life with menace in his acts
and conversation! Also a sister; but this
sister he had no belief in. The coincidence
was too startlingly out of nature tor him
to accept brother and sister too. A
brother sister; but not both. Not
even Mr.. Harpers assurances should In
fiuence his credulity to this extent.
"Money! money is at the bottom of it all. ;"
was his final decision. She knows it and
is making her will as a possible protection.
But why come here?'
Thus every reflection ended.
Suddenly vanished. half-forgotten mem
DRY came back. 1t brought a CLEAN of
light into the darkness which had hitherto
enveloped the whole matter. She had once
spoken to him of her early life. She had
mentioned a place where she used to play
as child had mentioned it lovingly, long
ingly There were hills. she had said hills
all around. And woods full of chestnut
trees. safe woods where she could wander
at will. And the roads-how she loved to
walk the roads. No automobiles then, not
even bicycles. One could go miles without
meeting man or horse. Sometimes a heav-
lily laden cart would go by drawn by a
long string of oxen: but they were pic
turesque and added to the charm. Oxen
were necessary where there was no rail-
road.
AS he repeated these words to himself he
locked up. Through the downpour his eyes
could catch a glimpse of the road before
him, winding up long hillside. Down this
road were approaching dozen yoke of oxen
dragging a wagon piled with bales of some
sort OF merchandise. One question in his
mind was answered. This spot was not
an unknown one to her. 1t was con-
nected with her childhood days There
was reason back of her choice of it as
place of meeting between her and her
lawyer or if not reason. association, and
that of the tenderest kind He felt him
self relieved of the extreme weight OF MS
oppression and ventured upon asking a
question or two about Sitford which he
took pains to say he was visiting for the
first time.
The information he obtained was but
meager. but he did learn that there was a
very fair tavern there and that the manu-
features of the place were sufficient to
count for strangers visit. The articles
made We're mostly novelties
This knowledge he meant to turn to ac-
count but changed his mind when they
finally splashed into town and stopped be-
fore the tavern which had been so highly
recommended by his driver. The house,
dripping though it was from every cave
had such romantic air that he thought he
could venture to cite other reasons for his
stay there than the prosaic one of bust
ness. That is. if the landlady should give
any evidence of being at all in accord with
her quaint home and picturesque surround
ingS.
She showed herself and he at once gave
her credit for being all he could wish in the
way of credulity and good nature and
meeting her with the smile which had done
good execution in its day. he asked if she
had room for a writer who was finishing
a book. and who only asked for quiet and
regular meals before his own coy fire
tn hari ,1oa ton,
her amenable to his wishes for secrecy.
She was simple soul and fell easily into
the trap. In half an hour Mr.. Ransom was
ensconced in a pleasant room over the
porch. room which he soon learned pos
sessed many advantages. For ii not only
overlooked the main entrance. but was
placed as to command view of all the
rooms on his hall. In two of those rooms
he bade fair to be greatly interested Mrs.
Dec having remarked that they were being
prepared for lady who was coming that
night. AS he had no doubt who this lady
was, he encouraged the good woman to
talk, and presently had the satisfaction of
hearing her say that she was very happy
over this ladys coming, she was a
Sitford girl, of the old family of
Hazens and, though married now and very
rich was much loved by every one in town
because she had never forgotten Sitford
or Sitford people
She was coming. He had made no mis-
take. And this was the place of her BIRTH
just he had decided when he saw that
long line of oXenI He realized how fortu-
nate he was. or rather how indebted he
was to Mr.. Harper. since in this place only
could he hope to gain satisfaction on the
mooted point raised by that same gentle
man. If she had been born here, SO had
her twin sister: had the brother whose
claims Law counter to that sisters. Both
must have been known to these people,
their persons their history and the circum-
stances of their supposed deaths. The clues
thus afforded must prove invaluable to
him. From them he must soon be able to
ascertain in which story to place faith
and which claimant to believe. He might