Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-07-28

shall | feel safe till Dare's arms are
round me again How | wish | had told
him in my letter to fetch me at once
from the farm!"
From the farm Nonsense! Do you
imagine Dartle Brown on Morrison would
give us up? Not they. They would plead
auntie's authority, our minority, all sorts
of things; we should be deprived OF our
liberty altogether then. Auntie is evil
IDENTIFY determined that you shall marry
Sir Keith"
Ella made no reply. A July sun bla2ed
overhead. no breeze was stirring, the long
road was white and dusty; rapid walk
ing, under the circumstances, was great
strain upon their endurance.
Whenever shall we get to Grantlev -
Gertrude said. IF we are not back at
the farm in time for that hoTrid o'clock
dinner, they'll be suspicious"
It's not much further Ella returned.
Look, there's the inn! The postoflice is
next floor. That farm boy you spoke to
when first we came to Clinton little
guessed how useful his information would
be when he told you there was a place
called Grantley, and the way to get
there"
There. it's done!" Gertrude uttered the
words with a gasp of relief. the letters
having been dropped safely into the
post box
Dare and Percy will come" whispered
Ella TREMENDOUSLY
Yes, they will come" was whispered
back, and the girls turned farmwards
Where are we?' Gertrude suddenly
exclaimed, coming to standstill before a
tield-gate. from which path led straight
across some meadows, This is not the
way we came, Yet it evidently leads in
the same direction; it may prove near
cut-shall we try it,"
Il always trust to your bump of local
ity," Ella returned; 1T is rarely at fault
and certainly the fields are pleasanter
walking than a hard road. Come along"
They followed the path for some dis
lance, and then found that it forked off
in two directions The one appeared to
terminate at farm, the other led to-
wards a wood
Il am for the wood PATH" Gertrude
declared
Don't you think it is the wood we see
from our window! And remember that
scream we heard last night" Ella said
TREMENDOUSLY.
The more reason we should explore
the wood. Don't be afraid Nothing can
hurt us in broad daylight
Then let us 60. Why should | fear
if you do not? If only it prove Il near
cut to Grantley, so that we can the
sooner get to Dare and Percy, l will bless
the wood to my dying day"
They will get our letters at 8 o'clock
tomorrow morning, and will take the
$3.50 train from st. Pancras, | fancy
they will be at Grantley about g."
And that will be the very best time
for us, for the farmhouse will then be
taking its afternoon nap"
Laughing merrily, the girls got over
the stile. They had no presage of coming
i'll. How was it, then, that. before they
had gone a dozen yards through the
wood, an awed silence stole upon them,
a mysterious something wholly out of
character with their lovely surroundings?
Il have lost the path" whispered Ger
trude after a time.
Never mind. We must push on; there
is no going back now. feel sure we are
going in the right direction" declared
Ella, affecting a courage she did not feel.
On they went in silence They found
no distinct path; all that could be done
was to press forward in what they hoped
was the right direction. And that strange
fear was upon them both. What could
it mean?
They came presently to a stone wall.
assembled some rude steps, and then de,
scended, TO find themselves in the vast
neglected garden of an ancient house.
1T looks like the picture of the Moated
Grange, except that there is no moat."
whispered Ella, attempting righteousness
Like the depository of crime" re-
turned Gertrude, with gasp, then re-
gaining courage-'It's a curious looking
old place. ! should like to know its his.
tory-wouid not you2"
NO, no, come away! Something tells
me it has been the scene of some awful
crime" with shudder.
you cannot be afraid of ghosts?"
"Of ghosts, no; but of the living See
that house, ruinous though it looks. is
not entirely uninhabited, for smoke is
coming from one of the chimneys."
"Why, so there Isl I have d mind to
knock at the door and ask the nearest
way to Bartlc Browns"
Come away, Gerte! You cannot i'm
asine how terrified l am beginning to
feel"
stay here, then, whilst 20 and recon-
noitre"
Il couldn't be left alone for the world.
must stick to YOU
do so, then. / hear the sound of
someone chopping wood. That doesn't
seem very murderous occupation"
Even mmderers must have fires"
70 BE CONTINUED.