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


"a vign asrurs iat t.-d va En-
lNEE, nails. Auaan Dias "a
- huns ~ tsi@sJy ori
~ iie u4n,el portfolio
= and itasvirEs SrifN
materials distributed abouI a table b.,
duc-d fof tbs purpoee aAa ada.ihit.
10 lhe n4eagef bookshelf ilr ~
Baedekers pocket atlas, cbmpn''
hausise American railway guide srK
.tal volumes III German and fpuh
loeip and The place WAS not 80 naJ
Arnitage slept for an hour afisi o
simple luncheon had t'een prepared ~
Oscar. studied bis letters aud rahle
grams made. In fact. some Notes 10
regard 10 them and wcoie replies
Then al o'clock be told Oscar to sad
die the horses
III is spring. and in April man's
blood viii mol be- quiet We shall 10
forth aud taste the air
He had studied the map Of Lamar
county with care and led the way out
Of his own preserve by the road over
which they bad entered IN the morn
ing Oscar and bis horses were q
credit TO the training Of the American
army and would have passed iuspec
lion anywhere Armliage watched his
adjutant with approval The man
feryed without question, and quicker
Of wit than OF speech. his hun gaun-
ile,ed hand went 10 his hat brim when
ever Arnitaae addressed him
They sought again the spot whence
Armitage had first looked down upon
Storm valley, and he opened his pocket
map. the better TO clarity his ideas OF
the region
I'VE shall go down into the valley.
Oscar" he said, and thereafter II was
he that led
They struck presently into an old
road that had been an early highway
across the mountains Above aud be
low the forest hang gloomiIy, and pass
ing clouds darkened the slopes and oe
easionally spilled rain Annitage drew
on his cloak, and Oscar enyeloped him
self In slcker as they rode through
a sharp shower. At a lower level they
came into fair weather again aud
crossing bridge, rode down into
Storm valley. The road al once bore
marks OF care, and they passed a mum
Der of traps that spoke Enthusiastically OF
cities and riders whose mounts knew
well the bride paths OF Central park
The hotel loomed massively before
them and beyond were handsome es-
tates and ambitious mansions scat
tered through the valley and on the
lower slopes.
Armltage paused In a clump of trees
and dismounted.
"You viii stay here until come
back. And remember that we don't
know any one, aud at our time OF life,
Oscar. one should be wary OF making
new acqualntances."
He tossed his cloak over the saddle
and walked toward the inn The sizs
of the place and the great number OF
people going and coming surprised
him, but in the numbers he saw. his
own security. and he walked boldly up
the steps of the main hotel entrance
He stepped into the long corridor oil
the inn. where many people lollnged
about. and heard with keen satisfaction
and relief the click of a telegraph In
strument that seemed at once TO bring
him into contact with the remote
world He filed his kilograms and
walked the length of the broad hall,
his riding crop under his arm. The
gay banter and laughter Of group OF
young men aud women just returned
from drive gave him touch OF heart
ache. for there was a girl somewhere
In the valley whom he had followed
across the sea. and these people were
of her own world-they undoubtedly
knew her. very likely she came often
to this huge earavansary and mingled
with them.
At the entrance he passed Baron Won
Marhof the Austrian ambassador.
who by reason of the death of his roy
al chief. had taken a cottage al the
Springs TO emphasize his abstention
from the life of the capital. The am
bassador lifted his eyes aud bowed to
Armitage. AS he bowed to a great
many young men whose names he
never remembered: but, oddly enough
the baron paused, stared after Arml
tage for moment. then shook bis
head and walked on with knit brows
Armitage had lifted his hat and passed
out. tapping his leg with his crop,
He walked toward the private houses |
that lay scattered over the valley and
along the gradual slope Of the bills as
though carelessly flung from dice
box Many OF the places were hand |
some estates. with imposing houses sci
amid beautiful gardens. llllf a mile
from the hotel he stopped a passing /
negro 10 ask who owned a large house 4
that stood well back from the road |
The man answered. He seemed anx I
ious TO impart further Information /
aud Armitage awaited himself OF the /
opportunity
How near II Judge CialbOrne's .
place. he asked
The man pointed II was the next \
house on the righthand side. and Ar /
mltage smiled TO himself aud stroled (
on.
He looked down IN moment upon /
pretty estate, distinguished by It's 4
formal garden. but With The broad 1
acres OF practical farm stretch
ing far out into the valley The lawn
terraces were green. broken only by 4
plots OF spring flowers The walks
were walled Ia box and priyet The
house. OF the pillared colonial type,
crowned a series OF terraces long
pergola with pillars topped by red