Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-05-07

each OF which was surmounted by some
weather-beaten heraldic device. Passing
through they turned up winding avenue,
with lines Of trees on either side, which
shot their branches so thickly above them
that they might have been driving through
some somber tunnel. This avenue termin-
ated in an open space, in the midst OF
which lowered a great irregular white.
washed building, which was the old Pri.
ory All below it was swathed in dark
ness, but the upper windows caught the
| CLINT of the moon, and emitted pallid
| and sickly glmmer. The whole effect was
so weird and gloomy that Kate felt her
heart sink within her. The wagonette
pulled up in front of the door, and Cir
dlestone assisted her to alight.
There had been no lights or any symp-
toms of welcome, but as they pulled down
the trunks the door opened and a little
old woman appeared with a candle in her
hand which she carefully shaded from the
wind while she peered out into the dark
ness.
''Is that Mr.. Girdlestone?" she cried.
"Of course it s," the merchant said i'm
patiently. did l not telegraph and tell
you tnat l was coming
'Yes, yes she answered, hobbling for
ward with the light. And this is the
Young lady? Come in, my dear; come in.
We have not got things very smart yet,
but they will soon come right"
She led the way through lofty hall
into large sitting room, which, no doubt,
had been the monkish refectory in bygone
days. 1t looked very bleak and cold now,
although a small fire sputtered and spar
kled in the corner Of the great iron CRATE.
There was a pan upon the fire, and the
deal table in the center of the room was
laid out roughly as for a meal. The can
die, which the old woman had carried in,
was the only light. though the Pickering
fire cast strange fantastic shadows in the
further corners and among the great oak
en- rafters which forme. the ceiling.
Come up to the fire, my DEAR" said the |
old woman. Take off your cloak and /,
warm yourself" She held her own shriv- |
eled arms towards the blaze as though !
her short exposure to the night air had
chilled her. Glancing at her, Kate saw
that her face was sharp-featured and cum ,
ming, with loose lower lip which exposed |
line of yellow teeth, and q chin which |
brstled with a tuft of long grey hairs.
From without there came the crunchinA |
of gravel as the wagonette turned and rat
tied down the avenue. Kate listened to
the sound of the wheels until they died
away in the distance. They seemed some
how to be the last link which bound her
to the human race Her heart failed her
completely, and she burst into tears.
whats the matter then?" the old
woman asked, looking up at her. What
are We crying about?'
"Oh, 1 am so miserable and so lonely"
she cried. What have l done that l
should be so unhappy? Why should be
taken to this horrible, horrible placer"
whats the matter with the placer
asked her withered companion, II don't
see nought amss with it, Here's Mr..
a-comin'. He don't grumble
at the place, l warrant"
The merchant was not in the best OF
for he had had an alteration
with the driver about the fare, and was
cold into the bargain. "At it again." he
said roughly, as he entered. 1T is who
ought to weep, l think, who have been
put to all this trouble and inconvenience
by your disobedience and weakness of
mind"
Kate did not answer but sat upon
coarse deal chair beside the fire. and
buried her face in her hands. All manner
Of vague fears and fancies filled her mind.
What was Tom doing now? How quickly
be would fly to her rescue did he but
know how strangely she was situated. She
determined that her very first action next
morning should be to write to Mrs. Dms-
1ale, and to tell her, not only where she
was, but all that had occurred. The re-
lection that she cou do this cheered her
heart, and she managed to eat a little of
the supper which the old woman had now
placed upon the table. 1t was a rough
stew of some sort, but the long journey
mad given an edge to their appetites, and l
he merchant, though usually epicurean in s
ls tastes, ate a hearty meal.
Ito be continued
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