The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1915-01-29

She was so amazed at this that she
stepped back and attempted to address
the stranger. But before she had got
much further than a timid and hest
tating Madam" h woman, reused
into action possibly by her interior
ence, made a quick gesture suggestive
of impotence II not rebuke. and NOV
ing %resolutely towards the gate Miss
Weeks had so in~discreetly left un-
guarded, pushed it open and disap-
peared within, dragging the little child
after her.
And she's in there still?"
Il haven't seen her come out"
Then what's the matter with your"
called a burly, high-strung woman,
stepping hastily from the group and
laying her hand upon the gate still
standing temptingly ajar. "It's no
time for nonsense" she announced. as
she pushed 1t open and stepped
promptly in. followed by the motley
group Of men and women who, II they
lacked courage to lead. certainly
showed willingness to follow.
One glance and they felt their cour-
age rewarded.
Rumor, which so often deceives,
proved itself correct in this case. A
second gate confronted them exactly
like the first, even to the point Of
being held open by a pebble placed
against the post. And a second fence,
also! built upon the same pattern as
the they had just passed through;
the two forming a double barrier as
mysterious to contemplate in fact as
it had ever been in fancy. In gazing
at these fences and the %canyonlike
walk stretching between them the
band Of curious invaders forgot their
prime errand for a moment.
But whatever the mysteries of the
place, a greater one awaited them be-
yond, and presently realizing this, they
burst with one accord through the Sec
ond gate into the mass of greenery
which, either from neglect or inten-
ton, masked this side of the Ostrander
homestead.
Never before had they beheld so law
leSS d SlOMNh VI IL HOusG 81 pltltly
lost amid vines and shrubbery. Two
solemn fir trees, which were all that
remained of an old-time and famous
group, kept guard over the INTENDED
lawn, adding their suggestion of age
and brooding melancholy to the all
of desolation infesting the whole place
One might be approaching a tomb, fol
all token that appeared of human pres
ence. Even sound was lacking. Il
| was like a painted scene-a dream O
human extinction.
lnstinctively the women faltered ant
the men drew back; then the yer.
silence caused a sudden reaction, ant
with one simultaneous rush they mad
4 for the only entrance they saw an,
burst without further ceremony int
the house.
A ommon hall and common full
4 nishings confronted them. More the
d could not gather; for blocked as tn
4 doorway was by their crowding fs
ures, the little light which sifted /
over their heads was not enough t
show up details. Hating with one a,
cord in what seemed to be the middl
of the uncarpeted floor, they waite
for some indication Of a clear passag,
way to the great room where the judg
would undoubtedly be found in conve
sation with his strange guest.
The m of the hard voice an
N self-satisied demeanor who had star
n ed them Upon this adventure was sti
a | l-~l, L,t np-- ,hA -,,o;1AI -,h-n -
: found herself face to face with
heavy curtain instead Of a yie,din
y door.
Look at this!" she whispered, pus
w. ing the curtain inward with a quis
re- movement.
III. Sunshine! A stream Of it, dazzlir
n. them almost to blindness and sendir
en- them, one and all, pellmell back upt
al. zach other! However dismal the a
ng proach, here all was In brilliant Zig
with every evidence before them
busy life.
90 The room was not only filled. b
re- crammed, with furniture. This W
,ht the first thing they noticed; then,
,at their blinking eyes became acct
tOHlcu W thC 6ioiC ah0 = II NIX
re. pected confusion of tables and chat
ant and screens and standing receptacl
for books and pamphlets and box
in labeled and padlocked, they behe
eft something else.
no. The judge was there, but in what
not condition.
II From the end of the forty-foot roc
ley his seated figure confronted them,
ate lent. staring and unmoving. Wi
,ur- clenched fingers gripping the arms
his great chair and head held forwal
vas he looked like m frozen at the n
AXE ment of doom, such the expression
1ge features usually SO noble. and M
her almost unr~ecognizable we're it not
pie the snow white of his locks and
lea unmistakable brow.
and Frozen! Not an eyelash culver,
the nor was there any perceptible mo