The Jackson herald., 1910-01-06
BY EE5GN
ME.REDY7H S1a@ 6
MxgsHOZ>SONS y
ILLUSTRATIONS SI
R4Y WIQL.7ERcS
<yapyRHhV /2o/ lSy 6o68S -fTPRHZ< ca
CHAPTER I.

fpOH tHe TeCelpI VI olouu"'N u ~"
|age, which was, to be sure. harmless
Enough In itself. but, like many other
scraps OF paper that blow about the
world, the forerunner of confusion and
trouble.
My friend, Mr.. John Glenarm. had
gone abroad for the summer with his
Family and had turned over to me
bis house at Annandale that l might
)njoy its seclusion and comfort while
ritlng my book on Russian Rivers
II John Glenarm had not taken his
kmiiy abroad with him when he went
Turkey to give the sultan's engi-
eers lessons In bridge building; II
had not accepted his kind offer Of
o house at Annandalo for the sum-
er; and II Paul Stoddard had not
int me that telegram. should never
I've written this narrative. But such
Is the predestined way of II. rose
pm the boat l was caulking. and,
IN the waves from the receding
Gamer slapping the pier. read this
essage:
Stamford. Conn, June s.
feet Miss Ppuicia Holbrook AMMAN
ie station, hvc twenty Chicago express
d conduct her TO ST. Agatha's school.
here she is expected. She will explain
ncultics. I have assured her of your
mpathy and ala. VIII Join you later IL
cessary. imperative engagements call
elsewhere. STODDAitD.
To say that was angry when ]
ad this message is to belittle the
),sh
owing heat. had accepted Glen.
ms offer of tho house at Annandale
causc It promised peace. and now !
as ordered by telegraph to meet a
range person OF whom | had never
hrd, listen to her story. and tender
sympathy and aid. ! glanced at
watch. 1t was already after four.
played In transmission" was
nped across the telegraph form
harmed later thai II had lain half
day In AnnanGale, New York
at was now face to face with
tuation. and without opportunity
his orders back to Stoddard
ted to. Nor did I even know
d from Stamboul, and / am
clear in my mind-being an
rishnuh with rather vngue notions OF
american geography-whether Con-
|ecticut is north or south OF Massa-
husetts.
"Ijima!"
l called my japanese boy from the
penthouse, and he appeared, paint
rush in hand.
"Order the double trap. and tell
hem to hurry"
I reflected, as l picked ap my coat
nd walked toward the house. that II
my one but Paul Stoddard had sent
ie such a message / should most GER
Iinly have ignored It; but knew him
man who did not make demands
impose obligations lightly. AS the
under and superior OF the Protestant
ligious Order OF the Brothers of
bethlehem he was, knew, an ex-
leedingly busy man. His religious
puse was In the Virginia mountains;
ut he spent much time In quiet. hum.
e service in city slums. In lumber
amps. In the mines of Pennsylvania;
nd occasionally he appeared like a
Prophet from the wilderness in some
great church OF New York, and
preached with n marvellous eloquence
10 wondering throngs.
The trap swung into the arched
riveway and bade the coachman
bake haste to the Annandale station.
The handsome bays were soon trot-
ing swiftly toward the village. while
drew on my gloves and considered
the situation. A certain Miss Hol-
brook. of whose existence l had been
Utterly ignorant an hour before, was
bout to arrive at Annandale. A
bergman, whom ! had not seen for
wo years. had telegraphed me from
town In Connecticut to meet this
erson, conduct her to st. Agatha 8
hool-just closed for the summer, as
tnew-and to volunteer my services
difficulties that were darkly indi-
led In telegram Of Is words. The
hder OF the message I knew to be
serious character, and a gentleman
distinguished social connections.
e name Of the lady signified moth
except that she was unmarried; /;
d as Stoddard's acquaintance was
(ong all sorts and conditions OF
fn could assume nothing more
IA that the unknown had appealed
him as priest and that he had
5at her to Lake Annandale to shake
N the burdens of the world In the
pnventual air Of st. Agathas.
The Chicago express whistled foI
|hnandale just as we gained the edge
the village. 1t paused a grudging
oment and was gone before We
cached the station. l jumped out
nd ran through the waiting room tc
he platform, where he agent was
gathering up the mail bags, while an
assistant loaded truck with trunks
glanced about, and the moment was
an important one In my life. Stand
ing quite ah'ne beside several pieces
of hand baasa Was a lady-unmis
takably lady-leanins lightly upoI
an umbrella and holding under hel