Crawfordsville Weekly Journal, Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, 11 November 1898 — Page 7

ABSTRACTS OF TITLE

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The Time

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OTICETO HEIRS, CREDITORS, ETC.

In 'the matter of the estate of Mary A. Lee, deceased. In the Montgomery Cir«ult Court, September term. 18U8.

Notice is hereby given that Peter .S. Kennedy, as administratorof the 'estate of Mary A. Lee, deceased, has presented and filed his accounts and vouchers in final settlement of said estate,and that the same will come up for tbelexamlnation and action of said Circuit Court on the 26th day of November, 1898, at which time all heirs, creditors or lepateebof said estate are required to appear in said court and show cause If any there be, why said accounts and vouchers should not be approved, and the heirs and distributees of said estate are also notified to be In said court at the time aforesaid and make proof of heirship.

Dated this 3d day of-November, 1808. PETKR S. KENNEDY, ll.ll-2t Administrator.

LOST MAN'S LANE.

By ANNA KATHARINE QREEN.

TCopyrlght, 1897, by Anna K. Rohlfs.l

CHAPTER VII THE FIRST NIGHT.

I spoke with a due regard to truth when I told Miss Knollys that I entertaiueel no fears at the prospect of sleeping apart from the rest of tho family I am a woman of courage—or so I have always believed—and at home occtipy my second floor alone without the least apprehension. But there is a difference in these two abiding places, as I think yon are ready by this time to acknowledge, and, though I felt little of what is called fear, I certainly did not experience my usual satisfaction in tho minute preparations with which I am accustomed to make myself comfortable for the night. There was a gloom both within and without the four bare walls between which I now found myself shut which 1 would have been something less than* human not to feel, and though I had no dread of being overcome by it I was glad to add something to the cheer of the sii'.t by opening my trunk and taking out a few of those little matters of personal equipment without which the brightest room looks barred and a den like this too desolate for habitation

Then took a good look about me to see how could obtain for myself some sense of security for the night, without which it would be impossiblo to gut even a modicum of rest. The bed was light anil could bo pulled upfront of the door This was something. The windows—but there was but one, and that was heavily draped with some thick, dark stuff, very funereal in its appearance. Going to it, I pulled aside the heavy folds and looked out. Amass of heavy foliage at once met my oye, obstructing the view of tho sky and adding much to the louesomeness of tho situation. I let the curtain fall again and sat down in a chair to think.

Tho shortness of the candle end wirh which I had been provided had struck me as significant, so significant that I had not allowed it to burn long after Miss Knollys had left me. If these girls, charming, no doubt, but sly, had thought to shorten my watch by shortening my candle I would give then: no cause to think but that their ruse had been successful. The foresight whi"h causes me to add a winter wrap to my stock of clothing even when tho weather is at the hottest leads me to place a half dozen or so of candles in my trunk, and so I had only to open a little oblong box in my upper tray to havo the means at my disposal of keeping a light all night. do far, so good. I had a light, but had I anything else in case that William Knollys—but here Miss Knollys' look and reassuring words recurred to me. "Whatever you may hear—if you hear anything—will have no reference to yourself and need not disturb you. 1 was in no danger myself, but others. Why did I think there might be others to whom that reassurance would not quite atmlvr

Not knowing how to answer these thoughts and fully conscious that sleep would not visit me at once under existing circumstances, I finally made up my mind that I would not attempt to lie down till my mind had become better satisfied that sleep on my part would be desirablo. So after making the various little arrangements already alluded to I drew over my shoulders a comfortable shawl and set myself to listen for what I feared would be more than one dreary hour of this not to be envied night.

And here just let me stop to mention that, carefully considered as all my precautions were, I had forgotten one thing upon leaving home that at this minute made me very nearly miserable. 1 haa not included among my effects the alcoholic lamp and all the other private and particular conveniences which I have for making tea in my own apartment. Had I had them with me and had I bnt been able to make and sip a cup of my own delicious tea through the ordeal of listening for whatever sounds might come to disturb the midnight stillness of this house, what relief it would have been to my spirits and in what a different light 1 might have regarded Mr. Gryce and the errand into which his suspicious had driven me. But I not only lacked this element of comfort, but tho satisfaction of thinking that it was any one's fault but my own. Lela had laid her hand on that teapot, but I had shaken my head, fearing that tho sight of it might offend the eyes of my young hostesses. But I had not calculated in being put in a remoto comer like this of a house large enough to accommodate a dozen families, and if ever I travel again—

But this is a matter personal to Amelia Butterworth, you say, and of no interest to us. And you are right. I will not inflict my little foibles upon you again.

Eleven o'clock came and went. I had heard no sound. Twelve, and I began to think that all was not quite so still as before that I certainly could hear now and then faint noises as of a door creaking on its hinges, or the smothered sound of stealthily moving feet. Yet all was so far from being distinct that for some time I hesitated to acknowledge to myself that something was going on in tho house which was not to be looked for in a home professing to be simply tho abode of a decent young man and two very quiet appearing young ladies, and even after the noises and whispering had increased to such an extent that I could even distinguish the sullen tones of the brother from the softer and more carefully modulated accents of Lucetta and her sister, 1 found myself ready to explain tho matter by any conjecture short of that which involved these delicate young ladies in any scheme of secret wickedness.

But when I found there was likely to bo no diminution in the vaiuous noises *ud movement that was taking place in

tne front of the house and that only something much out of the ordinary could account for all this stir so long after midnight in a country house I docided that only person insensiblo to all sight and sound could be expected to remain asleep under such circumstances and that I would seem perfectly justified in tho eyes of theso young people themselves for opening my door and taking a peep down the corridor. So without further ado I drew my bed aside and glanced out.

All was perfectly dark and silent in the great house. The only light visiblo came from the candle burning in tho room behind me, and as for sound it was almost too still—it was tho stillness of intent rather than that of natural repose.

This was so unexpected that for an instant I stood baffled and wondering. Then my nose went up, aiid I laughed quietly to mysefcf. I could see nothing and I could hear nothing, but Amelia Butterworth, like most of her kind, boasts of more than two senses, and happily there was something to smell. A quickly blown out ouudlo leaves a witness behind it to sensitive nostrils like mine, and this witness assured me that the darkness was deceptive. Some one had just passed tho head of my corridor with a light,, and because the light was extinguished it did not follow that tho person who had held it was far away. Indeed, I thought that now I heard a palpitating breath. "Humph," I cried out loud, but as if in unconscious communion with myself, "it is not often I have so vivid a dream. I was sure that I heard steps in tho hall. I'm afraid I'm growing nervous.''

Nothing moved. No ono answered me. "Miss Knollys!" I called firmly.

No reply. "Lucetta, dear!" I thought- this appeal would go unanswered also, but when I raised my voice for the third time a sudden rushing sound took place down the corridor, and Lucetta's excited figure, fully dressed, appeared in the faint circle of light caused by my now rapidly waning candle. "Miss Butterworth, what is the matter?" sho asked, making as if she would draw mo into my room, a proceeding which I took good care she should not succeed in, however. Giving a glance at her dress, which was the same she had worn at tho supper table, I laughingly said: "Isn't that a question I should rather ask you? It is 2 o'clock by my watch, and yon, for all your very evident delicacy and fatigue, are still up. What does it mean, my dear? Havo I put you out so completely by my coming that none of you can sloep?"

Her eyes, which had fallen before mine, quickly looked up. "I am sorry," sho began, flushing and trying to take a peep into my room, possibly to see if I had been to bed myself. "We did not mean to disturb yon, but—but— Oh. Miss Butterworth, pray excuse our makeshifts and our poverty. We wished to fix up another room for you and were ashamed to have you see how little we had to do it with, so wo were moving some things out of our own room tonight, and"—

Here her voice broke, and she burst into an almost uncontrollable flood of tears. "Don't," she murmured, "don't," as, quite thoroughly ashamed, I began to utter some excuses. "I shall be all right in a moment. I am used to humiliations. Only," and her whole body seemed to join in the plea, it trembled so, "do not, I pray, speak quite so loud. My brother is more sensitive than even Loreen and myself about theso things, and if he should hear"—

Hero a suppressed oath from way down tho hall assured me that he did hear, but I gave no sign of my recognition of this fact, and Lucetta added quickly: He would not forgive us for our carelessness in waking you. Ho is rough sometimes, but so good at heart, so good.''

This, with tho other small matter I had just mentioned, caused in mo a slight reaction. He good? I did not believe it. Yet her eyes showed no wavering when I looked at her fixedly, and feeling that I had perhaps been doing injustice to them all and that all I had seen which was odd and difficult to explain in their conduct was, as she evidently meant to intimate, due to their efforts to make a sudden guest comfortable amid their poverty, I put the best face I could on the matter and gavo tho poor, pitiful, pleading face a kiss. I was startled to feel how cold her forehead was and, moro and more concerned, loaded her down with such assurances of appreciation as came to my lips and sent her back to her own room with tho advice that sho would trouble herself no moro about fixing up any other room for mo that I had emptied my trunk out here and did not propose to move again for the few days I intended to remain with them. "Only," said I, as her whole face showed relief, "we will go to tho locksmith tomorrow and get a key, and you shall seo that after tonight I have a cup of tea brought to my room just before I retire. I am no good without my cup of tea, my dear. What keeps other people awake makes me Bleep." "Oh, you shall have that!" she cried, with an eagerness that was almost unnatural, and then slipping from my grasp she uttered another hasty apology for having roused me from my sleep and ran hastily back.

I stretched out my arm for the candle guttering in my room and held it up to light her. She seemed to shrink at sight of its rays and the last vision I had of her speeding figure showed me that same look of dread on her pallid features which had aroused my interest in our first interview. "She may have explained why tho threo of them are up this time of night,'' I muttered, "but she has not explained why her every conversation is seasoned by an expression of fear."

And, brooding over this, I went back to my room and. pushing the bed again

against the door, lay down upon it and out of sheer chagrin, I think, foil fast asleep.

CHAPTER VHL

ON THIS STAIRS.

I did not wake up till morning. Tho room was so dark that I do not know as I should havo wakened then if my habits of exact punctuality had not boen aided by a geutlo knock at my door. ""Who's tliore?" I called, fori could not say "Come in" till I had moved my bed and made way for tho door to open. "Hannah with warm water," said a voice, at which I made haste to rise. Hannah was tho woman who had waited on us at dinner.

The sight of her pleasant countenance, which nevertheless looked a trifle haggard I thought, was a welcome relief after the somber features of tho night. Addressing her with my usual brusqueness, but with quito my usual kindness, I asked how the young ladies were feeling this morning.

Her answer mado a great show of frankness. "Oh, they are much as usual," wid she. "Miss Loroen is in tho kitchon and Miss Lucetta will soon bo here to inquire how you are. I hope you passed a good night yourself, ma'am."

I had slept moro than I ought to perhaps and made hasto to reassure her as to my own condition. Then seeing that a little talk would not bo unwelcome to this hearty woman, tired to death possibly with life in this dreary house, I made somo cxcuse for keeping her a few minutes, saying as I did so: ""What an immense dwelling this is for four persons to live in, or have you another inmate which I have not seen?"

I thought her buxom color showed a momentary sign of failing, but it all came back with her answer, which was given in a round, hearty voice. "Oh, I'm the only maid, madam. I cook and sweep and all. I couldn't abide another near me. Even Mr. Simsbury, who tends the cow and horse and who only comes in for his dinner, worrits mo by spells. I like to have my own way in the kitchen, except when the young ladies choose to come in. Is thero anything more you want, ma'am, and will you have tea or coffee for breakfast?''

I told her that I always drank coffeo in tho morning and would have liked to have added another question or two, but she gave mo no chance. As she went out I saw her glance at my candlostiok. There was only a half burned end in it. She is calculating, too, how long I sat up, thought

Lucetta stood at tho head of the stairs as I went down. "Will you excuse me for a few momonts?" said sho. "I am not quite ready to follow you, but will bo soon. "I will take a look at tho grounds."

I thought sho hesitatod for a moment then her face lighted up. "Be sure you don't encounter tho dog," she cried and slipped hastily down aside hall I had not noticod the night before. "Ah, a good way to keep me in," thought "ButI shall see the grounds yet if I have to poison that dog." Notwithstanding, I mado no haste to leave the house. Somo might think that Lucetta had got the better of me, but that is not a good reason for placing myself in uncalled for danger. 1 don't believe in tempting Providence, especially where a dog is concerned.

Instead of that I stood still and looked up and down the halls, endeavoring to get some idea of their plan and of tho location of my own room in reference to the rest.

I found that tho main hall ran at right angles to tho long corridor down which 1 had just come, and noting that the doors opening into it were of a size and finish vastly superior to those I had passed in the corridor just mentioned 1 judged that the best bedrooms all lay front and that I had been quartered at the end of what had once been considered as the servants' hall. At my right, as I looked down the stairs, ran a wall with a break beyond which was what looked like an opening into another corridor, and indeed I afterward learned that the long series of rooms of which mine was tho last had its counterpart on the other side of this enormous dwelling, giving to the house the shape of a long, square U.

I was looking in some wonderment at this opening and marveling over tho extravagant hospitality of those days which necessitated such a number of rooms in a private gentleman's homo when I heard a door open beyond it and two voices speaking. One was rough and careless, unmistakably that of William Knollys. Tho other was slow and timid and was just as unmistakably that of the man who had driven me to this house the day before. They wen talking of some elderly person and I had good senso enough not to allow my indignation to blind mo to tho fact that by that elderly person they meant mo. This is important, for their words were not without significance. "How shall wo keep tho old girl out of the house till it is all over?" was what I heard drop from William's surly lips. "Lucettahas a plan," was the hardly distinguishable answer. "I am to take"—

That was all I could hear a closing door shut off the rest, but that was enough. Something, then, was going on in this house of a dark if not mysterious character, and the attempts mado by these two interesting and devoted girls to cover up this fact by explanations founded on their poverty had been but subterfuges after all. Grieved on their account, but inwardly grateful to the imprudence of this moro than reckless brother for this not to be mistaken glimpse into tho truth, I slowly descended the stairs in that state of complete self possession which is given by a secret knowledge of the intentions formed against us by those whoso actions we have reason to suspect.

Henceforth I had but one duty—to penetrate the mystery of this household. Whether it was the ono suspected by Mr. Gryce or another of a loss evil and

dangerous charactor hardly mattered my oyes. While tho blight of it rested upon this family oyes would be lowered and heads shaken at their name. This, if I could help it, must no longer be. If guilt lay at tho bottom of all this fear and subterfuge, then this guilt must bo known if innocence— I thought of the brothor's lowering brow and felt it incompatible with innocence, but remembering Mr. Gryce's remarks on this subject read an instant lecture to myself and, putting all oonolusions aside, devoted the few minutos in which I found myself alono in tho dining room to a careful preparation of my mind for its duty, which was not likely to bo of tho simplest character if Lucotta's keon wits were to bo pitted against mine.

CHAPTER IX. A VISITOR.

When my mind is set free from doubt and fully settled upon any course, I am capablo of much good nature and seeming simplicity. I was therefore able to maintain my own at tho breakfast table with some success, so that the meal passed off without any of tho disagreeable experiences of the night before. Perhaps tho fact that Loreen presided at tho coffeo urn instead of Lucetta had something to do with this. Her calm, even looks seemod to put some restraint upon tho boisterous outbursts to which "William was only too liable, while her less excitablo nature suffered less if by any chanco ho did break out and startle tho decorous silence by ono of his rude guffaws.

I am a slow eater, but I folt forced to hurry through that meal or be left eating alone at tho end. This did not put mo in the best of humor toward its close, for I hated to risk an indigestion just when my faculties needed to bo unusually alert. I compromised by leaving the board hungry, but I did it with such a smile that I do not think Miss Knollys ever knew that I had not risen from any table so ill satisfied in years. "I will leave you to my brother for a few minutes, said she, hastily tripping from tho room. "I pray that you will net think of going to your room till wo havo had an opportunity of arranging :t."

I instantly mado up my mind I would go there, and that, too, before tho arranging process wis over. But I must seo what I could make of William first.

I thought that ho was not a very promising subject as I turned back to him and followed his huge but ungainly figuro toward tho front of the house. "I thought yon might liko to soe the grounds," he growled, evidently not enjoying tho rolo assigned him. "They aro so attractive," ho sneered. "Children hereabout call them the jungle." ""Who's to blame for that?" I asked, with only a partial humoring of his ill naturo. "You havo a sturdy pair of arms of your own, and a littlo trimming here and a little trimming thore would havo given quite a different appearance to this undergrowth. A gentleman usually takes pride in his place." "Yes, when it's all his. This belongs to my sisters as much as to mo. What's the use of my bothering myself about it?"

The man was so selfish ho did not even seem to realize tho extent of the exhibition ho mado of it. Indeed ho seemed to take prido in what he probably called his independence. I began to feel tho most iutenso aversion for him, and only with the greatest difficulty could prolong this conversation unmoved. "I should think," said I, "that it would be a pleasure for you to give that much assistance to your sisters. They do not seem to bo sparing in their attempts to ploaso yon."

He snapped his fingers, and I was afraid a dog or two would come leaping around the corner of the house. But it was only his way of expressing disdain. "Oh, tho girls aro well enough," he grumbled, "but they will stick to the place. Lucetta might havo married a half dozen times, and one time 1 thought sho was going to, but she turned straight around and sent him off, and that mado mo mad beyond everything. Why should she hang herself on to me liko a bur when thore are other folks willing to take on tho burden?"

It was tho most palpablo display of egotism I had ever seen and ono of the most revolting. I was so disgusted by it that I spoke up without any too much caution. "Perhaps sho thinks sho can bo useful to you," 1 said. "I have known sisters give up their own happiness on no better grounds." "Useful:'"' ho sneered. "It's a usefulness a man liko me can dispenso with Do you know what I would like?"

Wo were standing in ono of the tangled pathways with our faces turned toward the bouso. As he spoke ho looked up and mado a rudo sort of gesture toward tho blank expanse of empty and frequently curtainlesB. windows. "I would liko that great houso all to myself, to make one, huge bachelor's hall of. I would like to feel that I could tramp from one end of it to the other without awakening an echo I did not chooso to hear there. I would not find It too big. I would not find it too lonesome. I and my dogs would know how to fill it, wouldn't wo, Saracen? Oh, 1 forgot Saracen is locked up."

The way he mumbled tho last sentence showed displeasure, but I gave little hoed to that. The gloating way in which ho said he and his dogs would fill it had given me a sort of turn. I began to have something more than an aversion for tho man. Ho inspired mo with something liko terror. "Your wishes," said I with as little expression as possible, "seem to leave your sinters entirely out of your calculations. How would your mother regard that if she could see you from the place where sho is gone?"

He turned upon mo with a look of anger that made his features positively ugly. "Whet do you mean by speaking of her to me. Have I spoken of her to

yon? Is thero any reason why you should lug my mother into this conversation? If so, say so and bo"—

Ho did not swear at me ho did not dare to, but he came precious near to it end that was enough to make mo recoil." "Sho was my friend," said I. "I knew and loved her before you were born. That was why I spoko of her, and I think it very natural myself.

Ho seemed to feel ashamod. Ho grumbled oufc some sort of apology and looked •bout quite helplessly, possibly for the dog he manifestly was in tho habit of having forever at his heels. I took advantage of this look to smooth my own ruffled features. "She was a beautiful girl," I remarked en tho principle that, tho ice oiioo broken, it ii not best to hesitate about jumping ai Was your father equally handsome for a man?" "My dither—yes, let's talk of father. Ho was it judge of horses, he was. When he died, *here were threo mares in that stable not to be beat this side of Albany, but tho!«a devils of executors sold them, and I—--veil, you had a chance to test the speed of old Bess yesterday. You weren't afraid of being thrown out, I take it. Great Soott, to think of a man of my twites owning no other horse than that!" "You nnvo not answered my question," 1 suggested, turning him about and moving toward tho gate. "Oh, about the way my father looked 1 What does that matter? Ho was handsome though. Folks say that I got whatever good looks I have from him. Ha was bip—bigger than I am, and while he lived— "What did you malto a fellow talk for""

I don't know why I did, but I was certainly astonished at tho result. This great-, huge lump of selfish clay had actually shown feeling and was ashamed of it, liko the lout he was. "Yesterday," said I, anxious to change the subject, "I had difficulty in getting in through that gate wo aro pointing

for.

Couldn't vovi lift it

straight with just a littlo effort?" He paused, looked at mo to seo if 1 were in earnest, then took a clogged step toward the gato I was still indicating with my resoluto right hand, but before ho could touch it ho saw something on that deserted and ominous highway which made hi in start in sudden surprise.

Why, Trohm," he cried, "is that you? Well, it's an age since I havo seen you turn that corner on a visit, to us. "Somo time, certainly," answered a hearty and pleasant voico, and before I could quite drop tho look of mingled severity with which I was endeavoring to shame this young mail into some decent show of interest in this placo and assumo tho moro becoming aspect of a lady caught unawares at an early morning hour plucking flowers from a stunted syringa a gentleman stepped into sight on the other side of the fence with a look and a bow so genial and devoid of mystery that I experienced for the first time since entering the gloomy precincts of this town a completo sensation of pleasure. "Miss Butterworth, explained Mr. Knollys with a somewhat forced gesture in my direction. "A guest of my sister's," he weut on and looked as if ho hoped I would retire, though ho mado no motion to welcomo Mr. Trohm in, but rather leaned a littlo conspicuously On tho gato as if anxious to show that ho had no idea that the other's intention went any further than tho passing of a few neighborly comments at tho gate.

I liko to pleaso the young even when they aro no moro agreeable than this host of mine, and if tho gentleman who had just shown himself had been equally immature I would certainly have left them to havo their talk out undisturbed, but ho was not. He was older hu was even of sufficient years for the judgment to havo been thoroughly matured and his every faculty developed. I thereforo could not see why my society would bo considered an intrusion by him, so I waited and was tho recipient of his next sentence. "I am happy," said he, "to havo tho ploasuro of a personal introduction to Miss Butterworth. I did not expect it. The surprise is all the moro agreeable. I only anticipated being allowed to leave this package and letter with the maid. They are addressed to you, madam, and wero left at my houso by mistake."

I could not hide my astonishment. "I live in tho next house below," said he. "Tho boy who brought theso from tho postoffice—you see they are registered mail matter, madam—was a stupid lad. and I could not induce him to como any farther up tho road. 1 hope you will excuse the present messenger uud believe thero has been no delay."

I bowed with what must have seemed an abstracted politeness. The letter was from New York, and, as I strongly suspected, from Mr. Gryco. Somehow this fact created in me an unmistakable embarrassment. I put both letter and package in my pocket and endeavored to meet the gentleman's eye with my accustomed ease in the presence of strangers. But, strange to say, I had no sooner done so than I saw that ho was no more at his ease than myself. He smiled, glanced at William, mado an offhand remark or so about the weather, but ho could not deceive eyes sharpened by such experience as mine. Something disturbed him, something connected with me. It mado my cheek a little hot to acknowledge this even to myself, but it was so very evident in his whole look and manner that I began to cast about for the means of ridding ourselves of William when that blundering youth suddenly spoke: "I suppose he was afraid to come up the lane. Do you know, I think you're brave to attempt it, Trohm. We haven't a very good name up here." And with a sudden, perfectly unnatural burst he broke out Into one of his huge guffaws that so shook the old gate on which he was leaning that I thought it would tumble down with him before our eyes.

TO BE CONTINUED.

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