The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-09-25
On the whole, he was satisfied tina

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, q
short cut across a long timbered ridge
that lay between them and Armitage's
property. The path was rough and
steep, and the low hanging pine boughs
and heavy underbrush increased the
difficulties of ascent. Straining to the
top, new valley, hidden until now,
was disclosed in long and beautiful
vistas.
Armitage dropped the reins upon the
neck of his painting horse.
"It is a fine valley-yesY' asked Os-
car
at is a possession worthy of the no
blest godsw replied Armitage. There
is a white building with colonnades
away over there. Is II the house of
the reigning deityr'
'It is not, sir" answered Oscar, who
spoke English with a kind of dogged
precision, giving equal value to all
words. "It is a vast hotel where the
rich spend much money. That place at
the foot of the hillside you see?-it is
there they play foolish game with
sticks and little balls''-
"Golf? Is it possibler
"There is no doubt Of II, sir. I have
seen the fools myself-men and wom-
en-. The place is called Storm valley"
Armitage slapped his thigh sharply,
so that his horse started.
"Yes; you are probably right. Oscar.
l 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"
II could not tell it better" responded
Oscar, who had dismounted, like a
good trooper. to rest his horse.
"And our place-is it below there?"
demanded Armita:e.
ut is not sir. 1t lies to the west
lonesome and look at the people and
the gentlemen's houses. At night 1t is
q pleasure to see the lights, and some
times, when the wind is right, there is
music of bands"
''Poor Oscar laughed Armitage.
His mood had not often In his life
been so high.
On his fight northward from Wash
ington and southwark down the Allan
tic capes, the thought that Shirley Clai-
borne and her family must now believe
him an ignoble scoundrel had wrought
misgivings and pain in his heart, but
at least he would soon be near her
even now she might be somewhere be-
low in the lovely valley, and he drew
off his hat and stared down upon what
was glorified and enchanted ground.
LET us CO." he said presently.
Oscar saluted, standing bride in
hand.
"You will find 1t easier to walk" he
said, and, leading their horses, they re-
traced their steps for several hundred
yards along the ridge, then mounted
and proceeded slowly down again until
they came to a mountain road. Pres
emily high wire fence followed at
their right, where the descent was
sharply arrested, and they came to a
barred wooden gate, and beside it a
small cabin, evidently designed for a
lodge. --.NA~--,'-' ~'.---.---''
''This is the place, SIR" and Oscar
dismounted and threw open the gate.
The road within followed the rough
contour of the hillside that still turned
downward until it broadened into a
wooded plateau. The flutter of wings
in the underbrush, the scamper Of
squirrels, the mad lope of fox, kept
the eye busy. A deer broke out Of a