Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-05-30
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as, touching his hat respectfully, he
said:
Beg pardon, sir; is this Mr.. Glen
arm? ] am Bates from Glenarm
House. Mr. Pickering wired me to
meet you, sir"
Yes: to be sure" said.
The hackman was already gathering
UP my traps, and gave him my trunk
checks.
How far is it," I asked, my eyes
resting, a little regretfully. must con-
fess, on the rear lights of the vanish
ing train.
1.-TWO miles. sir" Bates replied.
There's no way over but the hack in
winter. In summer the steamer comes
right into our dock
MY legs need stretching I'll walk"
suggested, drawing the cool air into
my lungs. 1t was still, starry Octo-
Der night, and it's freshness was CRATE
ful after the hot sleeper. Bates ac-
cepted the suggestion without COM
ment. We walked to the end of the
platform, where the hackman was al.
after we had seen them piled upon
his nondescript wagon followed
Bates down through the broad, quiet
street of the village. There was more
of Annandale than had imagined, and
several tell smokestacks doomed here
and there in the thin starlight
"Brickyards, sir" said Bates wav-
H. IL, 81
considerable center for that kind of
business"
Bricks without straw" ! asked, as
we passed a radiant saloon that blszed
upon the board walk.
Beg pardon, sir, but such places are
the ruin Of men, ON which remark
based a mental note that Bates wished
to impress me with his own rectitude
He swung beside me, answering
questions with logged brevity. Clear
ly, here was man who he'd reduced
I human intercourse 10 basis of neces-
sitv | was to be shut up with him for
a year, and he was not likely to prove
a cheerful ieiler. My feet struck upon
graveled highway al the end Of the
village street, and I heard suddenly
the tapping of water.
It's the lake. sir. This road leads
right out to the house" Bates ex.
planned
was doomed to mediate pretty
steadily, imagined on the beauty Of
the landscape in these parts, and
was rejoiced to know that ii was not
all cheerless prairie or gloomy wood
land. The wind freshened and blew
sharply upon us off the water.
The fishings quite good in season
Mr.. Glenarm used to take a great
pleasure in it. Bass-yes, sir. Mr.
Glenarm held there was nothing quite
equal to a black bass"
liked the way the fellow spoke O:
my grandfather. He was evidently q
loyal retainer No doubt he could
summon from the past many pictures
of my grandfather and | determined
to encourage his confidence.
Any resentment | felt on f1rst hear
ing the terms OF my grandfather's will
had passed He had treated me as
well as | deserved, and the least
could do was to accept the penalty he
had laid upon me in sane and anna
bic spirit. This tram of thought occu
pied me as we tramped along the high
way. The road now led away from
the lake and through q heavy wood
Presently on the right doomed a dark
barrier, and | put cut my hand and
touched wall of rough stone that
rose TO a height OF about eight feet.
What is this, Bates?" l asked.
This is Glenarm land, sir. The
wall was one Of your grandfather's
ideas. It's a quarter OF mile Ions
and cost him pretty penny, warrant
you. The road turns off from tho
lake now, but the Glenarm property is
all lake front"
So there was a wall about my pris
on house. | grinned cheerfully Il
myself, When, few moments later
my guide paused at an arched gateway
in the long wall, drew from his over
coat bunch of keys and fumbled a
the lock OF an iron gate, | felt thu
spirit of adventure quicken within me
The gate clicked behind us anc
Bates found lantern and lighted /
with the ease of custom.
Il use this gate because it's nearer
The regular entrance IL farther dow,
the road. Keep close, sir. as the tim
Der isn't much cleared"
The underground was indeed heavy
and followed the lantern of my guido
with difficulty. In darkness the place
seemed as wild and rough as a tropi
cal wilderness.
only a little farther" rose Bates
voice ahead of me; and then; There
the light SIR, and lifting my eyes
as | stumbled over the roots of
great tree, / saw for the first time tn
dark outlines of Glenarm House.
Here we are sir" exclaime
Bates, stamping his feet upon a walk
followed him to what | assumed T.
be the front door of the house, wher
a lamp shone brightly at either sid
of a massive entrance. Bates hung
open without ado. and stepped quick
ly into great hall that was ights
dimly by candles fastened into bracl
cts on the walls.
II hope you've not expected to
much, Mr. Glenarm," said Bates, wit
a tone OF mild apology. IT'S very IL
complete for living purposes"