The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-06-12
MY
LADY RUTLEDGE

Can you take me TO Rutledge
Hall7"
The man stared. Nobody goes to
Rutledge Hall these days." he pro-
tested.
Somebody's going there today,
however" l returned. And 30 II
proved, for a little later we were 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 a
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-
ton 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. The
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, "one
that was dead and buried years ago."
he added.
do they give her a namef"
asked.
The young wife o. old Thomas
Rutledge," was the answer. "Sho
died sudden"
/ knew that my grandfather's
second wife had died soon after their
marriage, but that there was any
thing suspicious in the fact I had
never heard and did not now believe.
My reason for coming to the hall
was to find II my hope OF giving
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 1t was moonlight, and
after drawing out an old couch on
which proposed to sleep sat look
ing out into the vine-tangled garden.
Suddenly shadow fell across the
pathway and a moment later wo-
man appeared. slight and girlish,
tn n
gray. Slowly the form advanced,
paused as II looking over the old
garden, then, turning, disappeared.
my lady OF Rutledge Hall!"
exclaimed under my breath.
determined that on the following
T. day would make thorough exam
nation OF the house both within and
without, and began bright and early.
It was nearly noon, however, be-
fore anything unusual happened.
| Then, while in a chamber, | glanced
| into a long mirror rejecting the
! part OF the room toward which my
| back was turned. A crimson cur
| tain hung there as l looked last,
| now-like a portrait inclosed by the
| mirrors frame-stood a girl whose
, right hand held the curtain aside,
her red lips slightly parted and a
startled look in her brown eyes.
turned to confront the original. She
| was goue Pulling aside the drapery
| found a door, closed and locked,
Had I been tricked by a too vivid
| Imagination? I 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 I re-
newed my search, with greater eager
ness than ever. but 1t was several
| hours later before I entered that
part of the house previously occu-
pied by the caretaker. Then l ap-
! preached from the outside; but
what was this7 Was he here after
| all? There were signs of life.
Puzzled, / knocked at the door
| II opened, and for the second time
found myself looking into pair OF
| startled brown eyes. Yes, had
found the mysterious lady. and after
i introducing nyseil iouhu neI hhhe
| TO be Arvilla French and learned
| how she came to be here. Her
father was not living, her mothers
health required summer In a quiet
! place. Miss French had been at.
tracted by tho romantic neglect oi
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
erai acquaintances in common. and
happy thought occurred to me
Miss French" began, II am con
vinced that you are Just the person
to help me decide the matter thai
brought noe down here, Do you
think 1t possible that this old house
can be made to accommodate 9
house party within two or three
months?"
She looked thoughtful There
are great possibilities, she admit
a - IL.