The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1908-04-29
MY
LADY RUTLEDGE
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EEaaids ssla ~ alapatts 4 sis ttis sEaIaaialS

| nan
The man stared. Nobody goes to
Rutledge Hall these days" he pro-
! tested.
Somebody's going there today.
however" returned. And so II
| proved, for a little later we we're on
our way, while my companion, the
stage driver, was informing me that,
in his opinion, the present owner
of the Hall, Percy Dalton, must be
wild sort of chap, trottin' all over
the globe. yet in all these years
since old Stephen Rutledge had died
and left the property to his nephew.
the man had not once been near the
| place He also added the informa-
tion that not even the caretaker was
| living at the hall now. In all of
this | was more or less interested,
for | myself was Percy Dalton. and
was there for the express purpose OF
looking over my inheritance. Tho
fact that the caretaker was gone was
news and not altogether pleasant.
and further inquiry brought out the
surprising assertion that the man had
been frightened away. They say
| there's a lady seen walkin bout the
house." my informant went on, zone
that was dead and buried years ago."
he added.
do they give her name?" I
asked
The young wife O. old Thomas
Rrtledge," was the answer. "Sho
died sudden"
knew that my grandfather's
second wife hal died soon after their
marriage. but that there was any
thing suspicious in the fact | had
never heard and did not now believe.
My reason for coming to tho hall
was 10 find iC my hope of givinS a
house party there seemed feasible.
A massive and imposing pile found
tue house to be, but ruin and neg
lect was wri ten all about it. ] had
brought the keys and at length found
myself in one of the front rooms
and fire roaring up the broad chin
ney. There was no way of lighting
the place, but It was moonlight, and
after drawing out an old couch on
which | proposed to sleep | sat look
Ing out into the vine-tangled garden.
Suddenly a shadow fell across the
pathway and a moment later wo-
man appeared, slight and girlish,
and enveloped in long garment OF
gray. Slowly the form advanced.
paused as if looking over the old
garden, then, turning, disappeared.
My lady of Rutledge HALL" I
exclaimed under my breath.
| determined that on the following
day | would make thorough exam
ination of the house both within and
without, and began bright and early.
II was nearly noon, however, be-
fore anything unusual happened.
Then. while in chamber, | glanced
into a long mirror rejecting the
part of the room toward which my
back was turned A crimson cur
now-like a portrait inclosed by the
mirrors ame-stood girl whose
right hand held the curtain aside,
her red lips slightly parted and a
startled look in her brown eyes. l
turned to confront the original. She
was gone! Pulling aside the drapery
| found a door, closed and locked.
Had | been tricked by too vivid
Imagination? | did not believe It,
Neither could | bring myself to fancy
anything supernatural in the myster-
Gus figure, she had too much the look
of flesh and blood. Presently | re-
newed my search, with greater eager
ness than ever, but ii was several
hours later before | entered that
part of the house previously occu-
pied by the caretaker. Then | APP
preached from the outside; but
what was this? Was he here after
all? There were signs of life.
Puzzled, / knocked at the door.
1t opened and for the second time
found myself looking into a pair Of
startled brown eyes. Yes, had
found the mysterious lady, and after
introducing myself found her name
to be Arvilla French and learned
how she came to be here. Her
father was not living, her mothers
health required a summer in quiet
place. Miss French had been at
tracted by the romantic neglect OF
Rutledge Hall, and coming across
the man who had cared for the place,
learned that she might occupy a
few Of the back rooms gratuitously
for the sake of there being someone
about the house.
We soon found that we had sew
eral acquaintances in common, and
a happy thought occurred to me.
Miss French" l began, II am con-
vinced that you are just the person
to help me decide the matter that
brought me down here. Do you
think It possible that this old house
| can be made to accommodate q
house party within two or three
months?"
She looked thoughtful. There
are great possibilities" she admitt-
ed, slowly, then more deciyively:
Eyes, Mr.. Dalton, | am sure it can
be made delightful"
The house party took place the
following August, and Arvilla French
was one my guests, and-well-
It was MT until the following spring