OCR Text |
Show ALLEN GRAY; -.The Mystery of Tnrley's Point Betotr a row Romontlo Ohaptoro K From .tho Llfo of a Country Editor. . Jon x. xusiox. Author o " Walter IlRownriiLD," "tlaui ,. laxiMAit." "Dijtm or UiDrona," ad Oral Stories. ( Cnri Uil,M,tr M A JV. JTWfcjf Km. ptptr Company. "Uvl Em-run: Notnavln'secn any thine 'mm , Billy's Crick lately I thot that I would rlto n fu line fur ye Tlmoi aro good hero. Crops Is splondld, an' farmers amoszdan rlowln' corn. . . Tom torlggs fell and brolio his arm last sunda. Jim Jones tali mat Sllrcn to mectla' last ireolc We havo mectla' again at tho school house. Bam hcxrln was hoerd cutsln tho other day, bokaso somo feller had Ills ox yolto. Bam bad better bring bock tho corn knlfo be bor- Tered frum mo iait year, when I wuun't at home. Mad a dance lait nock at Dart Davlsei house. Sol Smith was there, ho was so tall ho bumped his head agin the jlat. SI hod to much corn Jules he made the floor crack, SI Is whlsier. G. L ." " Danger shall not uotcr mo lor a singlo i momonf," said Allen, his bosom heaving with uncontrollable emotions. "I am acting act-ing In a Just cau&? In serving you; I know It is right or you would not havo Imposod , tho task oa me." Tho girl had risen to lior foot, and when I sho heard hli nobb volco, so full of faith F , nndtriwt, GhouxtcnJoJ hor hands toward r? j him, while hor beautiful faco glowed with V ' gratitude ' "Z . ' Tbanlc you! OU, may iloovon reward If you for caylng th,it I had almost cbmo to i- , ' tho conclusion tti.it I would nevor soo an il ' other man wh jut I cojU trust. I am thank- VL I ul that I was lu error, und It is with tho i -.' greatest Joy tkatlhuyo put that fooling for- Jgjs ' over out of tho way." SK sho unconsciously solzcd bis band, send- fa log such a thrill through Allen's frumo at k " tho touch that ho seemed oloctridod. . TO. . " Bertha -Borthat"' ho involuntarily and ' - oJmost'Uncanseloasly crlol. '-W.iat is it Sr-- oil I What is ull this mystery surrounding Jf. ,youl Forglvo my inquUitrvuuos. ,1 fool Vt rjjffiylvfi. ' ' '" uil!ih hUl,hl" Uo cr'oJ. utarllnp back ""Yw " ' i ""aud gailnin toJ'u',tllTa6g'"7'ou' . J' " know not wliaiyquiayyoucoa not J"'v-tt irlf "You misunderstand,, laii Uortha," he ; 'J' f. Jjoursely whlsperod, whllo ucoMfcarsccmed i' ' crecplrij ovor bis heart almost choking his utterance. " You' know not tho motiru that prompts tho question, it Is a orsoiial interest in-terest In yourself and not idlu curiosity. This mystery is doubllosn a family uSalr , which you would very properly l;ccp from tho oyes of tho world. Aguiu 1 assure you t 'tis not Idlo curiosity thai protnp's mo to lift J ' tho mystic vuil; It is thai 1 I'l.tv help you in -j It' your dlblrcjj, for oh, Ui-t'iuj, J.tvtit 1 C VauJ" .1 ? ' tVhat a ohTiclt of horror Sho itttercd and ''"''tI 1 ow s''ran'x trcmhl.ng from hcud to 'J foot from hlin: Then, wrliifflug her hands . 1 .in silent ogopy,)ho gazed so w.ldly nt hi:u t q , that ho began to fear sho bud suddenly tj m , been seized by n Ut of nudiiuss. BjmiII- " 4 i bound and siwcchless for several minutes j , , both stood glirins ul each other. ' , "Bertha MUs Collins!" ho nt last said, in i. a vory penitent volco, "forgivomol For-. For-. get ull that I huvo said I will servo you ' without making uuy furthor luq'tlrlcs, aud, I bo tho errand to tUo grave, I urn ready to fL go." M. Slowly sho opened tho door, and burning B7 u - bcrwhlto sad fauo towui'd hlin, falully said: Bk Adieu!" Bjf " "FarowclU" Ills voico was as faint and B sad as hors. Thoy wcro parting, perhaps B forovor, yot sho was doubly dear to him B now. That crushing weight upou bis heart V teemed almost unbearable m Iio wroto n fow lines to tho forcman.leav- r- . tng somo Instructions In regard to tho busl- By ncs, stating th t ho would roturn in tbrco H . or four days, and thon prepared: for that W, mysterious journoy, It CHAPTER Xlt W- A IX)NO DAtlKllIDE. " All necessary arrangements having boon F . completed, Allen Gray left his oftlcd, and K passing through tho dark, silent village, ' entered tho old, long-deserted turnpike ' Fauslng on tho hill-top ho instinctively gazed down onTurloy's I'olnt, uow buried In slumber, llo almost wished that ho could ,' v run away from tho tolls and vexations that , . bad harrasscd him ovor slnco that mordlng i when tho steamer brought him to tbo land- 'A , lag. Oh, to bo frco from tho bitter envy and if . jealousies which wero blighting tbo vlllago. 3 " Ho was tngagingln a mysterious under- I ' i taking, and really know no c.iuso for tho i Journoy. Ilaltlng a second tlmo on his way v up tbo bill, bo said: Iif " Why am I going I Her conduct has been ( jj - - very jinnatural from tho first, mid I may be ' 3 .following tho mad ravings of a lunatlo. But ft j nothcra. Is somo powerful causo that in- y ducod hor.to ask myasslslaneoin this. That 'O afflicted child is vory dear to her. I promised , aid In taking him to a placo of safoty, and I will keep, my promise even though tho beavens fall I v Wending his way along tho road, now al-i al-i most overgrown with weeds and hushes, ho r v lolt o recurrence of that suporstltlous dread which hod almost ovcrcomohta on a former occasion. He vainly fought against It, yot, by moro than superhuman powor, ho managed man-aged to keep his feelings in subjection. At but the spring was reached, and he found the horse tied as had been rcp-' rcp-' resented. Tho noblo animal, as if awaro of tho Journev boforo him, stamped in his im-pationco im-pationco to bo on tho road. He unfastened tho horse, and, vaulting m Uis saddle, tho sDlritod animal, as light and fTfi'lflBlllMMIMIBBBBBBBBBl Ireoas tho tvuu.u.u u , .iuicu uioni; tho dark winding path to tho turnpike. A dark figure, loading n child so completely complete-ly wrapped up that ho could not at llrst distinguish dis-tinguish its features, enma up to linn. Bending Bend-ing low in his saddle, Allen lifted tho llttlo boy to tho horse's bac and seated tho child boforo him. Tho old negro woman, thrusting into his baud n scaled note, murmured mur-mured tho namo of Mml-mU-tlU UfimllU, "Am 1 to give her this!" ho asked. "Oul, monsieur!" she answered. " Too bad, too bad!" said Allen, tnrustlng tho noto Into his pockot, us his horso started down tho road. " Every ono connected with this confounded mystery is cither dumb or speaks somo foreign langungo except Bertha, who refuses torovcal any thing." Tho child proved to bo a very patlont llttlo fellow, and sat ntleuUy In front of Allen. Fearing that somo of tho villagers might bo awako and that they would sco him, Allen, after enntcring gaily down tho old turn-plko turn-plko to tho bottom of tho hill, turned asldo and rodo around Turloy's Point, cntoWug tho road two miles boyond It Knowing his danger ho becamo quito nervous. Every sound emitted from that dark wood ho construed into a pursuor. From thoso dark rccessos ho socmed to ever sco tbo frightfully stern visago of tho lull, dark man at tho chateau. Tbo demoniacal smllo of triumph on his dark vlsngo bodo no (rood to tho horseman and ills young charge Tho faco followed him ovorywhero. It peered nt htm from tho fence corners, or hcdge-rows,or tho orchard beyond ; wherever ho went, that rovengoful fuco followed him. Down a long lnnc, through n forest, across a bridgo nnd upa hill tho noblo stecd.bcarlng his doublo burden, galloped. Tho child was so still and quiet that Allen thought ho must bo nslcop. It was not until ho attempted .to chango his position that ho found him "AM I TO GiVB llin THIS I" IIH ASKED. awako. Ho turned his great bluo eyen In I muto wondor und appeal to his gufda and companion. "Poor child," eald Allem. " I vor.dor If ho knowo whero bo la going, or what is to bohUfato when ho gels (hero I I wish his upcahiiig und hearing focuitips w- us clear as hU big bluo eyes, 1 would fa.uotn thli mystery. Yd, I am mean enough to pump - chlU to find this out'' Tho mystory of Turlcy's Tolnt had haulod tho Bhi'ov.'di'st nnd most Inquisltlvo of tho vlllago. Evou Allen s. daring waa dcllod by It until ho had boeorao dosporato. It was ono of thoo calm, quiet starlight summer nights, nnd hud It not been for the constant blruln upon his ncrvos, Allen wou'.d havo iouud tho riding pleasant The moon did not rlo until woil on towards morning, and tho forn part of tho night was quito dark, cspcciullywiiuii passing through tho forests. Whllo g.Ulnp'nj nbT n wooded ridge Allen heard .io sounu of horses' hoofs in tho rear. " Aro wo pursued!" ho asTtod himself. no soon bocuiuo oortaln that the horseman, horse-man, was gaining on them. Tho fierce ring of hoofs becamo louder every moment. " I might outrun him," said Allen, " but with this child to look attcr it would bo best to play a gamo of bido and seek," On his loft was a nvrow, dark path loading load-ing down into tho woods, and ho turned his horso Into It Hero ho waited until his pursuer pur-suer had passed along tho road, Tbo ring of iron hoofs upon tbo stony road could bo ' hoard long boforo tho horseman reached tho point opposito whero Allen had reined in his horse. When tho sound of hoofs had diod away in tho dlstanco, tho editor again returned re-turned to tho road and continued his Journey. Jour-ney. The llttlo boy becamo sleepy, yawnod, laid his tired head against Allen's shoulder and was soon buried in slumber. "J.oor llttlo fellow," said Allon, gazing Into that young faco, disfigured with caro and weariness. "His being n part of that terrible mystery has had a fearful effect on him." Tho child had wonderful rcsemblanco to Bertha. Tho fair, boautiful faco nnd golden gold-en curly hair was similar to hers. Undisturbed Undis-turbed by tho easy motion of tho horso, his slumbors woro not disturbed. Allen w is kept nwako by tho responsibility responsibil-ity that was on him. Sometimes ho bUtmcd himself for having undortakon this Journoy ' at tho request of one whom ho really did not Vnow. Was ever man engaged In a moro madcap enterprise! n might ho, after aft-er ull, that It was only a shrewd scheme to make him a tool in an abduction. " Heaven knows It is no wrong on my part," sighed Allen. "But I know that I am committing no wrong. Sho who bade mo do this errand is too good, too puro to mcdltato a wrong. I will not for a moment doubt hor motives. By whomsoever sho may bo surrounded, by whatover mystery sho may bo engulfed, her goodness and tho purity of her motives can not bo questioned." ques-tioned." Ho reached a long bridgo which spanned a small stream. Boforo ho reached tho ap-oroach ap-oroach ho discovered a horseman de3cond- ing tho opposito hill, ana, loormg tnia u was a returning pursuer, Allen rodo down tho crook bank under tho approach to tho -bridge, wlioro ho remained until tho horso-man horso-man hud como over nnd had gone nut of hearing up tho vory road bo himself had como. " if that was n pursuer, he is now on tho back track," thought Allen. Our hero was really In n poor condition for cither Might or defense Tho sleeping child lay heavily Ou him, and ho was totally unarmed. Whon tho horseman was out of car-shot Allen relumed to tho road, crossed tho bridgo and galloped ovor tho opposito bill and along tho bard-beaten road. Night was well-nigh spent and lie was Bevcral miles yet from his Journey's end. "Tills Is cortulnly n remarkably patient child," said tho horicman, gazing into tho faco of tho Bleeping boy, as bis horso cantered can-tered along tho road. "Ho has not, by a gesturo or movement Indicated cither wcurlnoss or impatience. Poor llttlo fellow, fel-low, this Journoy, I hope, will result In great good to you." Tbo moon, well on toward morning, came struggling above tho eastern horizon, but In Its old ngo Its light wai but llttlo. Tho sliver ray thrown upon tho earth was vory palo indeed. Darkness, slowly but suroly, began to fade. Tbo child slept on. Tho eastern horizon hor-izon grow to u bright vormlllion, and stars In tho far cast began to slowly pilo and go out boforo tho approach of n nwro powerful light A new day was coming into existence exist-ence and tho Journoy lacked suvcral miles of completion. CHAPTER Xni. S1LLE. CAUI1.LE. Day dawned, tho sun roso above tho hills and Holds and dried tho sparkling dow-drops dow-drops from tho grass. What a glorious sccno that sun revealed. As' far away as eyes could see woro tho gently rolling hills and green valleys with dark, solemn forests massed In tho background. Farm cottages and flolds wcro every whero In vlow. Smoko could -bo soon Usiunt; frum the kitchens whore tho good houaowivui woro preparing prepar-ing breakfast for Iholr husband. Tula, spiral clouds of palobluo ascended into mid-heaven mid-heaven to becomo a part of it. A glorious day It promised to bo. Prairie poppies und roses caue'dy nodded llic.r heads lu tho gentles. u( warmiug breezes. Tho daw drops nparklcd llko diamonds in tho oarly morning sun, nnd tho air was InJon with tho swootcst perfumo. .fa'd, child awoko shortly nftor sunrl'Cy .iifAj;turayilhl;afW Wu'o,eyoo Iiiquirin"fr ftipon ulsTcoai panlpn 4-AlIon know ho wuu cd i nsk somo question, but was Itnablo to toil what tha question wus, or convey any answer to tho boy. t Tito light of tho morning sun revealed n still nearer rescmbtuueo to Bertha, and ho know that tho child inuat bo a vory near rJlatlvo of hors. Sim had not aald how ucaijy related tho child was to bcr. or that no wad i.uy relation at all. Thcro was so audi hidden in tho p.inucr of tho beautiful sir! t'rat Allen vbi unabla to como to uny iU Isf tulory conclusion Atiiiit (ho llttlo follow began to show algus of roatlcssnjss. Ho gavo uttcr.inca to laur.iculuto bounds ami painlod down tho rood. I BiippoDO ho ii anxious to lrnow how near wo u'.'i) to our jo arnoj 'a oudV'AHon thought "It i tivcn Una'.'.', H wight bu iinpohs.o.,- to gi't him la understand. It can nut hoover ton in'i.tj, and 1 will try to toll una somo wuy.1' TUo child's mind wai very bright, and ho understood ly"tho nods und gestuics of his companion that it was not far. For several momenta tho Uitlo fellow was ;ul"t, and then ho begun to muko signs that uu v:uii hungry. "Poor llttlo fellow, no doubt you aro hungry," hun-gry," said Allen. "Tho llrst houso wo como to, wo will try to get breakfast und havo our horso fed." Unaccustomed to tho saddle, Allen was stiff, sore and weary in every Joint Tho lo.ig rido, without a moment's olco;i or rest, was tailing oven on hU Iron conititutiou. . Ho drew rein lu front ol a country house, and hulled it farmer who was Just harnessing harness-ing his liGn.es to go to his day's work. "Can wo got breakfast und hoi so fed hero?" ho uskod. Tho farmer, with ono oyo closed nnd head slightly to ono side, gazed ut him a inomont and said: " I rcckln so, stranger. Breakfast's 'bout over, though I rcckln tho old oomau kin sheer up u lectio fur yo. Whur'n tho worf d'yocomo from!" Tboflroof mi Inquisitive old farmer was until this moment unlhoughl of, and for a moment Allen was n llttlo disconcerted. Ho know so llttlo about tha mission on which ho was ongagcj that ho doubted if bo could mnko tho explanation satisfactory to tho countryman, uven if ho attetnptod It. Ho evasively answered that thoy caino from up tho country. t , "Umph, humph! that your boy!" asked tho furmor. "Ho, sir,'I am taking him to somo of his relatives who llvo further down tho coun- , try, und aro going away," "Looks llko yo rid 'most nil night," said tbo farmor, examining tbo horso with ono i oyo shut "AVo havo trnvolod a good part of tho night. Wo had to do so to roach tho child's friends In tlmo." ! " Bright boy ar'yo hungry, youngster!'' "Unfortunately tho jioor child is both deaf and dumb." "Abl is that so! Well, it's too bad. Mighty pretty leotlo follcr. Horo, Cliot," called tho farmer to a raggod, dirty urchin, 'who was running abjut in tho yard, "go in tbo houso an' tell ycr maw that thar's a i gent an' leotlo boy horo what want tholr breakfast; an' thon you como back an' feed ' this hoss." J "All right," answered tho boy, runjdngto tho bouse With a feeling of almost complcto exhaustion, ex-haustion, Allen dismounted. Whon tbo farmer tooltiho poor u.i,.a noin mo nuuur ho could scarcely stand. Our horo took tho child's hand in his and lodhlm to tho houso, whero both sank down in chairs. Tho farmer rcmatnod behind to sea that tho horso was properly fed aud curried by Chot "I tellvo that hoss hcz bin rid mighty' hard," said tho farmor, shaking his head knowingly. "That follor ain't pulled the "CAN WB OK BUEASrASlt1' wool over my eyes ns much ns ho thinks ho hoz. I'm goln' to larn somothln about him, causo there's a screw loose shore" With this end in vlow ha went to tho houso, and whllo coffco was grinding nnd meat frying for break-fast, ho proceeded to lntorrognto tho travc'.o: But ho was met by wits much shrowJor than his own, his ovory thrust was oucccssfully parried by a satisfactory explanation, aud making no headway ho was soon almost ready to glvo it up. "Hod a purty hard rido I" said tho fanner, fann-er, "Vory," tho traveler answorcd. " Dark, too, warn't it I" "Bather. Wo laid n moon lato In the night, though it was u very fooblo moon und soon followud by i.m sun," "Sartliny. ULu t travel much aforo the moon rlzl" " Oh no," was thocvaslvo answer. " Good hos, v".io jgh I'' "An oxcallcnt traveler." ' How muc.i d yo g.v fur hlml" "Ho la not mine Ho wus loaded mo to make this Journey." "Must a p'ty.p'jr'g.liard'i.-.'L. Lvus thrustinto the np rtraent t anuounco j. that breakfast wes ready. "Walk In, stranger; I reckln ycr leotlo boy is Uindor hungry." "Ho must bo vory hungry, for I fool faint and wenk myself." Allen touched tho shouTdor of tho dumb boy, who was sitting a uutionlcis as If ho had boon curved f rum Btoue, and tho llttlo follow turned hli wearloj eyes upon him. Ho motioned to tho chi.d to como, and ho roso and followed hi.n to tho dining-room, whoro thoy ivlo tllo'.rbrcakfast. Kovcr did a man .ooi lujs llko riding across tho country, but delays woro dangerous, dan-gerous, and If parties woro In pursuit thoy might overtake him boforo they rcuchoU their do3tInutiou. Settling ids Dill ho ordered his horso, nnd mounting with tho littlo boy boforo him, tbey continued tho.r Journey. Tho child gavo ovldencos of boi-oiicds from continued travel, but Allen uudo hlin to understand that their Journey would coon terminate, and tbu llttlo follow becomo quiot Galloping down n hihy road thoy turnod into a long lauo On every sido could bo heard tho morry whlavloof tho plow-boy, mingled with tho song of tbo lark. Thoy crossed a cunoidcrab'.o ntrlp of prairie, null woro refreshed by tho gentlo bruczo sweeping sweep-ing over it "Poor llttlo fellow," said Allen, when ho dlscovored Uow haggard tho chnd was becoming. be-coming. "Oh, how i w.'.iyou woro nt tho end of your Journey " Tho pra!rlov.is nbout four miles 'wide Tlieyli-d c.asjcd it r.aj wcro entering a grovo pf trooj when, clunc.ii'r to loo!i bock, ho sa',Y two lwraemca nboul thrco miles in his rear coming at full cpood. "Pursued!" cried Allen. Tho child discovering dis-covering tho honomen, n look of terror spread over lib infaml.o fi.ee, and, uttering stranso cries, ho began kicking tho sides of tho horso. Allen increased tho speed nt which thoy werognlnj, an much as ho dared, knowing that n flvc-inllo Jaarnoy was boforo them. They nafKod it loauutor. who turned his oyes inquiring y upoj t'io fuj.tlvcs, but asked co quciiont, u.id Allon kept ntcadlly on, conn losing tho wagoner to view by a bend In tho road. About u mllo furthor on thoy overtook a , boy, ot whom Alien inquired tho dlstanco to Frccchtown. '"Bout thrco miles this wny; 'taln't morc'n half as fur. though, ef yo tako tho nigh wny ahead horo." 1 " How far aro wo from tho ' nigh way t 1 Allen ashed. , " 'Bout a quarter." " Tako ino to It, nnd put mo on tho right road, and I will give you u dollar for your troublo." Tho boy, highly plcasod to earn a dollar so easily, whipped his thui sorrel to a gallop, and booh hrodghv t!ii;,u;itivos to tho ncaror routo, whero In recoivod his promised ro-ward. ro-ward. " Jlst go rlg'it ahead," Bald tho boy, " thar hain't no othor routo to tako yo off," . " Whoro aro you going!" asked Allen. "East." "Atoncol" : "Yes, zur." " You aro In a hurry, aro you!" "Yo bot yo I am, or I'd tako yo right rlum to Frcnchtown myself," " If thero U no road to Jend us off wo can maho it without uuy moro troublo now. Go on, and good luck to you," said Allen, watching llio uoy ui.,. uv tun. sorrel maro H had galloped out of sight " I am glad ho is 'AtiH not going back, for ho might .mootithosa iB men and put thorn ou our trail."' t BJ Tho fugitive liold tho child cfoso In his M arms and pjt hli horsd Into n'run'. 'The BJ gallant steed utmost flaw nlong tb6 wooded 'BJ road. On, o.i ho spod llko tho wind. A jBJ high bridgo wh'.ea spanned n narrow, deep B stream hurst into vlow. Tho gallant steed BJ thundered over tho bridgo and nscendod tho BJ tall hill beyond, , JB FnSichtown wns near; this Journev would JBJJ soon bo endod, but vyhoro was ha to ,oQceal aH himself from thoso wrathful pursuers When sBafl it was ended! Ho hud a very coniplelp do- BJ scrlptlon of Mllo. Cnmlllo's cottagn,' acjABBjBJ thought ho could find ft without trotbV, NH would it affprd oithcr himself or Uio 'WBBBBj shelter from their pursuers whon fqu BjBJH When tho top of tho great Wll had been tVJJ reached tho vlllago nppourcd in night The (BJJ boy rocotntelnciholanU-i.rCi i-pped hit tH hand'jW u.c ight, t tho uu ,iiuichsplr fH was seen nliov ' ho t irf.s, , l BJJ Wlien thrv li-.nl rouvhcl Wx'c If.n of unsthet ' BJJ Mil thov oaw tho hiugo lyiiif luiuw them, BJ Not wishing to attract nny attention Allen Jll reigned in their horso and rode quietly 41sVJJ down Into tho town. 'll Uttering guttorat cries ot delight;' tha '.BJJ dumb boy pointed toward a vino-covered lH cottage which Allen at once recognized by Bj tho description to bo tho houso of Mils. 'BJ Camilla, llo rodo quk-kly to -it A negro BJ man opened tho gatu und motioned him to H Entering tho gato ho found himself in ft BJ tort of court surrounded by a Wall ten feot BJ high. Tho placo looked not a llttlo like ft , J fortification. A woman ubout forty years ot i ago cano out from tho house, and taking H tho llttlo dumb boy who had been lifted to BJ tbo ground in her arms ulmost smothered H I blm with hisses. M Allen had hopo.l lliat Via would moot soma B I ono nt this end t.t t'ao Joumoy who was able ' Wi and willing to cnllghlon hlai on tho perplex- B ing mystory; but lu wus s-.ioii doomed to ills- B appointment, for tharo was uqt uuo of tha .-iB bousohold ublo to epe.'k'EuglLh. ;B Continurd nzf woek |