Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-12-24

would not leave for court till his re
turn-he had never. in all the eighl
years she had been sitting in tina
window making buttonholes, shown
any hesitation in his methodical re
locking of the gate and subsequent
quick departure. "a.
But this morning he had fingered IL
the gateway peering to right and lef
in a way so unlike himself that the mo
ment he was out of sight she could no
help running down the lane to see /
her suspicious were correct. And the,
were. Not only had he left the gat,
unlocked, but he had done so pur
posely.
She had about decided that it wa
only proper for her to enter and max,
sure that all was right with the judg,
when she saw a woman looking at he,
from the road-a woman all in purpl,
even to the veil which hid her fea
lures. A little child was with her, AM
the two must have stepped into tn,
road from behind some Of the bushes
as neither of them we're anywhere II
sight when she herself came running
down from the corner.
1t was enough to startle anyone. es
pecially as the woman did not speak
but Just stood silent and watching he
through a veil the like of which wa
not to be found in Shelby, and whicl
in itself was enough to rouse a decen
woman's suspicious.
She vas so amazed at this that sh,
stepped back and attempted to address
the stranger. But before she had go
much further than a timid and hes
| tating Madam" the woman, rouse,
into action possibly by her interior
ence, made a quick gesture suggestiv,
of impatience if not rebuke, and NOV
ing resolutely towards the gate Mis-
Weeks had so indiscreetly left un
guarded, pushed it open and disar
peared within, dragging the little chill,
after her.
And she's in there still?"
Il haven't see her come out"
Then what's the matter with you?
called a burly, high-strung woman
stepping hastily from the group ant
laying her hand upon the gate still
standing temptingly ajar. TITS n,
time for nonsense" she announced, al
she pushed it open and stepped
promptly in, followed by the motle,
group of men and women who, if the,
lacked courage to lead, c~ertainl!
showed willingness to follow.
One glance and they felt their cour
age rewarded.
Rumor, which so often deceives
proved itself correct in this case. 4
second gate confronted them exactl.
like the first, even to the point O
being held open by a pebble PLACED
/ against the post. And a second fence
also! built upon the same pattern al
the n they had just passed through
the two forming a double barrier a!
mysterious to contemplate in fact al
it had ever been in fancy. In gazing
at these fences and the canyonlikt
walk stretching between them thu
band of curious invaders forgot theil
prime errand for a moment.
But whatever the mysteries Of thu
place, a greater one awaited them be
yond, and presently realizing this, they
burst with n accord through the sec
ond gate into the mass of greenery
which, either from neglect or inten
ton, masked this side of the Ostrandel
homestead.
Never before had they beheld so law
less a growth or a house so completely
lost amid vines and shrubbery. TIVE
solemn fir trees, which were all tina.
remained of an old-time and famous
group, kept guard over the untende(
lawn, adding their suggestion Of agt
and brooding melancholy to the al,
of desolation% infesting the whole place
One might be approaching a tomb, 70,
all token that appeared of human pres
ence. Even sound was lacking. l
was like a painted scene-a dream O
human extinction.
Instinctively the women faltered an,
the men drew back; then the yer,
silence caused a sudden reaction, an,
with one simultaneous rush they mad,
for the only entrance they saw an,
burst without further ceremony int,
the house.
A common hall and common fur
nishings confronted them. More the,
could not gather; for blocked as tn,
doorway was by their crowding fig
ures, the little light which sifted Il
over their heads was not enough b
show UP details. Hating with one ac
cord in what seemed to be the middl
Of the uncarpeted floor, they waite,
for some indication of a clear passage
way to the great room where the judg
would undoubtedly be found in convel
sation with his strange guest.
The woman Of the hard voice an,
self-satisf1ed demeanor who had star
y