The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1908-09-10


the red nose and smal yellow eyes
Keeps u In brown iag In the bach
room"
ITO be SURF laughed Aunitag~. Il
hope II IL q good article"
1T 10 vile" replied Oscar ''iiis
brother makes n ~ In the hills, and
II ID ~ strong as wood lye."
"Moonshinel ! have heard ~ r. We
must have some for rainy days"
II was 4 new world 10 John Arml,
tagc. and his heart was as light IS the
morning air as be followed Oscar along
the ruddy mountain road lie was in
Virginia. and somewhere on this soil
perhaps In some valley like the one
through which he rode Shirley cial
borne had gazed upon blue distances,
with ridge rising against ridge and
dark pine covered slopes like these he
saw for the first time, lie had left his
affairs In Washington In a sorry mud
die. but he faced the new day with
self to look very far ahead He had
definite business before him. His ca.
blegrsms were reassuring on that
point The fact that be was In sense
Z fugitive did not trouble him In the
least He had no intention OF allowing
Jules Chauvenets assasslns TO XIII him
or OF being locked up In a Washington
jail as the false Baron won kissel N
he admitted that he was not John Ar.
mltage II would be difficult TO prove
that he was anybody elisa fact touch.
Ing human testimony which Jules
Chauvenet probably knew perfectly
well.
On the whole, he was satisfied that
be had followed the wlsest course thus
far. The broad panorama OF the morn
ing hills communicated TO his spirit a
growing elation He began singing In
German a ballad that recited the sor.
dark tower on the Rhine. whence her
true knight rescued her after many
and fearsome adventures. On the last |
stave he ceased abruptly. and an ex.
clamation OF wonder broke from him.
They had been riding along a narrow
trail that afforded, as Oscar said,
short cut across long timbered ridge |
that lay between them and Armitage's |
property. The path was rough aud
steep and the low hanging pine boughs
and heavy underbrush increased the
difficulties OF ascent Straining 10 the
top new valley, hidden until now,
was disclosed In long and beautiful
vistas.
Armltage dropped the reins upon the
neck Of his painting horse.
1T is fine valley yesT' asked os-
car
ut IL possession worthy OF the no
blest godsl" replied Armltage There
is white building with coonnades
away over there. Is II the house OF
the relgning deityT"
1T is not. sir" answered Oscar, who
spoke English with a kind OF dogged
precision. giving equal value to all
words. 1T is vast hotel where the
rich spend much money. That place at
the foot Of the hillside you see lit IL
there they play foolish game with
sticks and little balls
"Golfi Is It possibler
"rhere IN no doubt OF II. sir. ! have
seen the fools myself men and wom
en-. The place Is called Storm valley"
Armitage slapped his thigh sharply,
10 that his horse started
"Yes; you are probably right, Oscar
| have heard OF the place. And those
houses that lie beyond there IN the val
ley belong to gentlemen OF taste and
leisure who drink the waters and ride
horses and play the foolish game you
describe with little white balls"
IL could not tell II better" responded
Oscar. who had dismounted. like q
good trooper to rest bis horse.
And our place-is II below there"
demanded Armitage.
ut is not, sir. II lies to the west
But man may come here when he IL
onesome and look at the people and
he gentlemens houses. At night II Is
/ pleasure to see the lights. and some.
lines, when the wind Is right, there IL
music Of bands"
"Poor Oscsrp laughed Armltage.
His mood had not often In bis life
)een 30 high.
On his flight northward from Wash.
ngton and southwark down the Allan
ic capes, the thought that Shirley Clai-
,orpe and her family must now believe
lin an ignobIe scoundrel had wrought (
nisgivings and pain lD his heart but
il least he would soon he near her
wen now she might be somewhere be-
ow In the lovely valley. and he drew
N his hat and stared down upon what
vas glorified and enchanted ground
let us CO." he said presently !
Oscar saluted. standing bride IN ,
Iand.
"You Will find II easier to walk" he
aid. and, leading their horses. they re-
raced their steps for several hundred
ards along the ridge. then mounted
nd proceeded slowly down again until
hey came TO mountain road. Pres
ntly a high wire fence followed at
heir right, where the descent was
harply arrested. and they came TO a
arred wooden gate, and beside u
mail cabin. evidently designed for q
odge.
This Ii the place sir" and Oscar
ismounted and threw open the gate
The road within followed the rough
ontour OF the hillside that still turned
ownward until II broadeDed into
sooded plateau The hutier OF wings
q the underbrusb, the scalnper 0f =
quirrels. the mad lope Of a FOX. kept
he eye busy. A deer broke out OF a q
NM lDIl