t f r - A rni n vcr J b Q CSf IN THE LIFE OF AMELIA BUTTERWOfflH feDVANNA KATHAPINE AUTHOR OFTHELEAVEMVADCTH CATE ntMiurk irvrt t vp -nut AFrAiD kifxt dooe -COPYRIGHT IB97BV ANMA K ROHLV CTC DC OHAlTHR I1L I HUCCUMll That nif ht the tempter hml his own yny with 1110 Witliout much dilllculty lio iicr nimletl mo that my neglect of Al then Hurrounlis children was without any oxunso that what had heen my duty toward tin m when I know them Ui ho loft inothoilw H and alouo had htv oino an imperative demand mum mo now tlmt tho town in which thoy lhetl had lieoonie ovorhhadowed hy u niysteiy which could not but iitlect tho comfort and haiiiinoM of all its inhabitants I could not wait a day 1 recalled all that 1 had heaid of poor Altheas short and none too happy marriage and immedi ately felt hiicli a burning dosiro to see if hor delicate and cHpielo beauty how woll I remembered it had been lopeated in her laugh tern that I found myself packing my trunk bofoio 1 know it I had not been from homo for a long time all tho better reason why I should have u change now and whon I called together Mrs Randolph and tho sen ants and told them of my intention of leav ing on tho early morning train it creat ed qnito a sensation in tho houto and i littlo burmiso But I had tho best of explanations to give I had been thinking of my dead mend and consoienco would not let mo neglect her dear and possibly unhappy progeny any longer I had purposed many times to visit them mid now I was going to do it When I camo to a decision it was usually suddenly and I novor rested aftr having onco made up my mind My sentiment went so far that I got down an old album and began hunting up tho pictures I bad brought away with mo from boarding school Hers wero among them mid I really did ex perience moro or less compunction when 1 baw again tho delicato yet daring fea tures which had onco had a vory great inllueuco oer my mind What a teas ing sprite sho was yet what a will sho had and how strange it was that hav ing been so intimate as girls wo neer know anything of each other as women Had it been her fault or my fault Was hor marriage to blame for it or my spiu storhood Dlvlicult to toll then impos sible to toll now I would not even think of it again tivo as a warning Nothing must btand between mo and her children now that my attention has been called to them again I did not mean to take them by sur prise that is not entirely Tho invita tion which they had sent mo years ago was still in force making it simply nec essity for mo to telegraph them that I had decided to make them a isit and that they might expect mo by tho noon train If in times gono by they had been propeily instiucted by their moth er as to tho character of her old friend this need not put them out I am not a woman of unbounded expectations 1 do not look for tho comforts abroad 1 am uncustomed to at home and if as 1 havo reason to believe their means aro not of tho greatest I should only bo provoked at any extra effort to make mo feel at homo in tho humble cottigo suited to thoir fortunes So tho telegram was sent and my preparations completed for an early de parture But resolved as I was to mako this visit my determination camo near re ceiving a chock Just as I was leaving tho house at tho very moment in fact when tho hackman was carrying out my trunk I saw a man approaching ma with ovory ovidenco of haste Ho had a letter in his hand which ho held out to mo as soon as ho camo within reach For Miss Buttcrworth ho said Private and immodiato Ah thought I a communication from Mr Gryco and hesitated for a moment whether to open it then and there or thrust it in my pocket and read jt at my loisuro on tho cara The lattor courso would bo far tho easiest for my jhnntls wero cumbered with tho various ismall articles I coimidcr indispensablo to tho comfortable enjoyment of tho iJiortest journey and tho glasses with out which I cannot read a word wero in tho very bottom of my pocket under somo other equally necessary articles of pnaller sizo But somothing in the mans expect ant look warned mo that ho would nov or leavo mo till I had read tho note so with a sigh I callod Lola to my aid and after sovoral vain nttompts to roach my glasses succeeded in pulling thorn out at last und by thoir help reading tho fol lowing hurried lines Ibah JIaium I Bond you this by a n iftor monMungor than myself Do not lot anything that I may havo wild last night influence you to leave your comfortablo homo Tho advon turo off rs too many Uungors tor u woman Rrnl tho inoloBod O Tho inclosod was a tolegram from Obadiah Trohm sent during tho night and ovidently just received at head quarters Its contents woro certainly not teasburiug Another person mlsstnB Boon to hove en tered Lost Mnnn lane Never Been to havo t oino out of It A harmless lid know n as Billy Jtufns VMuitHtobodonu Wire orders K Mr Gryco bade mo say that ho would bo up hero sonio timo beforo noon said tho man seeing mo look with sonio blankness at these words Nothing moro was needed to pull mo together Foldiug up tho letter 1 put u in my bag Say to Mr Gryco from mo that my intended visit cannot bo postponed I remarked I havo telegraphed to my Jrieuibi to oxnoct mo and onlv a treat emergency would lead mo to disappoint them 1 will bo glad to receive Mr Gryoo on my return And without fin titer parley 1 took my bundles back from Lola and piocoedcd at onco to tho carriage Why should I show any fail urn of courage at an event that was but a lepetition of tho very ones which made my visit necessary Was I a like ly ono to fall victim to a mystery to which my eyes havo been opened Had 1 not been sullleieiitly warned of tho dangers of Lost Mans lane to keep my selt at a respectable distanco fioni tho place of peril 1 was going to visit the children of my once dowitod fi lend If there wero perils of no ordinary natuio to bo encountered there was I not all tho more called upon to go if only as a moral suppoit to these young people who per haps themselves were paralyed by fear Ye Mr Gryco anil nothing now should hold mo back 1 even felt an in creased desire to leach tho scene of these mysteries and chafed some at tho length of tho journey which was of a moro te dious character than I expected A poor beginning for events requiring patience s well as great moral courage but I littlo know what was beforo mo and only considered that every moment spent on this hot and dusty train kept mo thus much longer lrom tho embraces of Altheas childien I recovered my equanimity however as wo approached Tho scenery was really beautiful and tho consciousness that I should soon alight at tho moun tain station which had playod a moro or less serious part in Mr Grycos nar rative awakened in mo a pleasnrahlo excitement which should havo been a sufficient warning to mo that tho spirit which had led mo through that alfair next door had seized mo again in a way that meant equal absorption if not equal success Tho number of small packages I car ried gavo mo enough to think of at tho moment of alighting but ns boon as 1 was safely again on terra firm a I tlnow a hasty glance around to seo if any of Altheas children wero thcro to meet mo I felt that I would know them at onco Sho had been so characteristically pretty they could not fail to show some likeness which would lead to an instant recognition while they eonld not fail to know mo But whilo there wero two or threo country maidens to bo seen standing in and around tho littlo pavil ion known hero as tho mountain station I saw no ouo who by any stretch of im agination could bo regal ded as of Al thci Buiroughs blood or breeding Somewhat disappointed for I had ex pected diiloient results from my tele gram I stepped up to tho station mas ter and asked him whether I would havo any dillicultv in piocuring a car- riago to take mo to Miss Knollys house Ho staled it set med to mo unnecessari ly long beforo replying Waal said he Simmons is usu ally heie hut I dont seo him round today Perhaps ono of these farmer lads will take it But thoy all drew back with a sort of scared look and I was beginning to tuck up my skirts preparatory to walking when a littlo old man of very meek ap pearanco drove up in a vory old fash ioned coach and with a hesitating air springing entirely from bashfulness managed to abk if I was Mibs Butter worth I hastened to assure him that I was whereupon ho stammered out some words about Miss Knollys and how sor ry sho was that bho could not como for mo herself Then ho pointed to his couch and made mo understand that I was to step into it and go with him It was not an altogether encouraging outlook especially as I saw tho heads of tho various onlookers draw together and many curious looks directed at us both and tho conveyance that was to carry us But I was in no mood to bo daunted now and accepting tho old cod gers apologies with what grace I could I stopped into tho wagon and prepared mysolf for a rido into town But it seems I was not to bo allowed to enter upon this adventure without another warning Whilo tho old man was engaged in bringing my trunk tho station master approached mo with great civility and with a touch of his hut asked if it was my intention to spend a few days with tho Missos Knol lys I told him that it was and thinking it best to establish my position at onco in tho eyes of tho wholo town added with a politouoss equal to his own that I was au old friend of tho family and had been coining to visit them for years but hud never found it convenient till now and that I hoped thoy woro all well und would bo glad to seo mo Ho niado sonio sort of reply showing considerable embarrassment thon pluck ing up his courage wild with marked constraint PerhapH you havo not heard that this villago just now is uudcr a cloud I havo hoard I said innocently that ono or two men havo disappeared from hero somewhat mysteriously Is that what yon mean Yes ho answered Ono person a boy disappeared only two days ago Thats bad I said but what has that to do with mo I asked smilingly for I saw he was not at tho cud of his talk Oh nothing ho cried eagerly only I didnt know but you might bo timid - Oh Im not at all tijuidl I has- Tirfi NORFOLK NEWS THURSDAY SKPTEMHKU 21 1891 tened to say If I wero I should not havo como hero nt all Such matters dont affect mo And I spread out my skirts and arranged mjsolf for my rido as if tho horrors he had mentioned had made no moio impression upon mo than if his chat had been of tho weather Perhaps 1 overdid it for ho looked at mo for another moment in a curious lingering way then ho walked oil and 1 saw him enter tho citolo of gossips on tho platform wheio he stood shaking his head as long as wo wero within sight Befoio taking his seat my driver es cort gavo me a furtive glance as he stooped to tear from ono of tho spokes a bit of rag that seemed to have been caught there He was evidently prepar ing to make a good impression and to do mo suitable honor My companion who was tho shiest man 1 ever saw did not spealc a woid while descending the hill 1 talked and endeavored to mako him too but his re plies wero moio giunts or half syllables which conveyed no information what ever As we floated tho thicket how oor ho allowed himself au ejaculation or two as he pointed out tho beauties of tho landscape And indeed it was woll worth his admiration and mine had my mind been free to enjoy it But tho houses which now began to appear on either side of tho way drew my atten tion fioni the mountains We wero still somewhat lemoto from the town weio rapidly approaching the head of that lauo of ovil fame with whoso teiriblo history my thoughts wero at this timo full I was so anxious not to pass it Aithnut ono look into its grousomo re josses that I kept my head persistently turned that way till I felt Iwas at tract tug tho attention of my companion As this was not desirable I put on a non chalant look and began chatting about what I saw But he had lapsed into his farly silence and only answered by a snap of Ins whip at tho horso whoso jog trot needed a littlo urging Suddenly I myself grow still Tho houses weio growing fewor on tho loft hand side of tho way and I saw beyond the dark boimhs of n nine thicket Wo file Jffi 1 is faces of these young jH oplo 1 recognized the fact that they were tho victims of a well of cireunistances so tragic and in comprehensible hat only a woman like myself would lie able to clear them away and lestore these glils o tho con lldence of tho people around them 1 forgot that these guls bad a brother and that But not a Wind to finest nil the truth 1 w ish this story to giow up on ou just as it did upon me and with just as little piopatatiou Tho farmer who diove me anil whom 1 afterwaid learned was called Sims buiy showed a certain dogged inteiest in ni behavioi that would havo amused me or at hast hao awakened my ills diiiu under ciicumstanees of a less hulling nature 1 saw his eye roll in a soi t of wonder over my person which may have been held a little mote sillily than was necessary and soldo dually on my face with a look I might have thought eomplimeulriy had 1 bad any thought to bestow on such matters Not till vve had passed I ho path branching up thtough the woods toward the moun tain did ho sui lit to withdiaw it nor did I fail to lind it lhed again upon mo as wo lode by lit little hut occupied by the old woman eonsuleied so haimless by Mr Gryco Pei haps ho had a reason for tins as I was very much intoiested In this hul and its occupant about which 1 fell fieo to i lierish my own seciel doubts so in teiirttd that I cast il a veiy shaipglauro and was glad when I caught a glimpse tluough the doorway of the old clones bent form and toothless jaws mumbling over a piece of bread sho was engaged in eating as wo passed hor Mother lane explained my com panion hienking tho silence of many minutes And yonder is Miss Knollys he added lilting his whip and pointing towaul the halt concealed faeado of a huge and pretentious dwelling a few rods failher on down the load She will bo powoiltil glad jo see you miss Company is senrco in tlieso pails Astonished at this sudden launch into com ei sat ion by one whose reserve even 1 had found it impossible to pencil ate I gavo him the allable yiMfcUa israsssi KT m rmimm VH LA rAPfc XLJStsrSSV ffl Js3 Mmm ffifcIgiSS unrr r i HTjiuJKic - x vi - 3r sr mlmFffl W8m hi i Jit vi il rt yrrvivA 1 f iwssl 1 IPS T SiVT A FLASH IN ONH OF THE UPPIUl WINDOWS woro Hearing Lost Mans lane wo wero abreast of it wo were turning into it I could not roprobs tho exclamation that escaped mo Whoro aro wo going I nbked To Miss Knollys houso ho found words to say smiting his horso again hut with a sidelong glance at mo this timo full of uneasy inquiry Bo thoy live on thiB road said I remembering with a certain shock Mr Grycos suspicious description of tho two young ladies who with thoir broth er inhabited tho dilapidated mansion marked in tho map ho had shown me Certain was tho laconic answer and obliged to bo satisfied with this I drow nij self up with just ono longing look behind mo at tho cheerful highway wo wero so rapidly leaving A cottage with an open window in which a childs head could bo seen nodding eagerly toward mo met my eyes and filled me with quite nn odd sonso of dis comfort as I realised that I had caught tho attention of ono of tho littlo crip ples who according to Mr Gryco al ways kept watch over this entrance in to Ixist Mans luno Another moment aud tho pino brnnchos had shut tho vi sion out but I did not soon forget that eager childish faco and pointing hand marking mo out as mi intruder if not a possible victim to tho horrors of this ill reputed lano But I was awaro of no secret llinching from tho adventure in to which I was plunging On tho con trary I felt a strange and flerco delight in thus being thrust into tho very heart of this mystery which I had only ox pected to approach by degrees The warning message sent mo by Mr Gryco had acquired under it a deeper and moro significant meaning as did tho looks which had lieen cast mo by tho station master and his gossips on tho hillside but in my present mood tlieso very tokens of tho serious nature of my undertaking only gavo an added spur to my courage I felt my brain clear and my heart expand as if even now before I had so much us sot uves on tho ly expected and then looked agerly to ward tho houso It was as Mr Gryco had intimated eminently forbidding even at that distance and as wo ap proached nearer and I was given a full view of its worn and discolored front I felt myself forced to acknowledge that never in my life had my eyes fallen upon a habitation moro given over to neglect or loss promising in its hospital ity Had it not been for tho thin circle of hmoko eddying up from ono of its bro ken ehiinnoys I should havo looked up on tho place us ouo which had not known tho caro or presence of man for years There was a riot of shrubbery in tho yard a lack of tho commonest at tention to order in tho way tho vines trooped m tangled masses over tho very faco of tho desolate porch that gavo to tho broken pilasters and decayed win dow frames of this dreariest of facades that look ot abandonment which only becomes picturesqno when nature has usurped tho prerogative of man aud taken entirely to herself tho empty walls and falling casements of what was onco a human dwelling That any ono should bo living in it now and that I who have never been able to seo a chair standing crooked or a curtain nwry without a sensation of tho keenest discomfort bhouhl bo on tho point of deliberately entering its doors as an in mate filled mo at tho moment with such a sonso of unreality that I descend ed from tho carnage m a sort of a dream mid was making my way through ono of tho gaps in tho high nntiquo fenco that separated tho yard from tho gateway when Mr Simsbury stopped me and pointed out tho gate 1 did not think it worth while to apologro lor tho broken imliugs cer tainly offered as good au entrance as tho gate which had slipped from lto hinges and hung but a few inches open But I took tho course ho indicated hold ing up my skirts as well as my pack ages would allow and treading gingerly for fear of tho snails and toads tliat In cumbered such portions of tho path an the weeds had left visible As I went on something In the silence of the spot struck uio Was 1 becoming oveisensi tive to impressions or was there some thing leally uncanny in tho absolute lack of sound or movement in a dwell ing of such dimensions But I should not have said movement for at that in slant I saw a Hash In one of tho tippet windows as of a cuitalii being stealth ily thaw n ami as stealthily let fall again ami though it pivo mo tho piom ise of some soil of greeting theio was a furllvonoss in the action thai was so in keeping with tho suspicious of Mi Givco that I felt my neives braced at once to mount the ball doen uniiiv II ing looking steps that led to tho fiout door Hut no sooner had I done this with what I am lam to thing was mv In st air than I sudih nlv collapsnl with what must have been a movement of suddi u audio me quite oiupicln usihlo full foiwhilel do not quail beloio men and have a leasonablo loititmlolu Mm picsiiieeol most tlungt is i orpoti ill and moial I am not quite myself in laco of a lampmt ami hatlmig dog It is mv one weal nesH I i an divulge thai mui h now and while I usually can ami uu dor most ciiruiuslances do succeed in hiding mix nutwuid manilevtutloii ol my inner trepidation I always tool that it would bo a happy dav toi no whin dogs would be banished liom ho altii turns and homes ol men I hen I iliiul I would begin lo live in good uniiisi and poi haps enjoy li ips into Ihccoimtrv which now Iorallmv appatciit In ux i v 1 icgaid moio in ho light ol a p nam e than a pleasme Imagine then how hard I found il lo lelaiu my si II possession oi evt n anv appearance ol dignity when at the mo meiil I was slielehiug Ioith my hand toward the knocker of tins Inhospitable mansion I lit unl using fmui somowlicio 1 never lightly knew whom the howl of a tlog so keen pioiciug ami iiolongcd that it fiighlenttl Iho very biitls over my head ami sent them Ily lug liom Iho x lues in clouds II was tho unhappicst kind of wol come lot inc I did not know whether it camo liom w itbin or without and when alter a moment of indecision I saw the door open I am not suit whether Iho smile I calli tl up lo ginco Iho occasion had any of tho real Amelia Butlerwoilh in it sti much was my mlutl tliv uled be tween a tlesiro to produce a lavoiahlo impression ami a verv decided ami not to bo hidden fear of the tlog who hud greeted my airiviil with such an mui nous howl Call oir Iho dog 1 nwtl almost beforo I saw what sort of poison 1 was addressing Mr Giyte when I told him of this later said I could not have made a moro ftignillcaul introduction of myself to tho Knollys mansion iTo tin until uimI Ni xt Wink I ALWAYS USE i - r L 3 I r i U ELiiP COCOA PURE HEALTHFUL jJnmnijHfrjiFtT jn - r 4 HUMPHREYS VETERINARYSPECIFICS FEVEIIB LunsFover Milk Fcrer nJRPHAItS Umencu Ulioumatkia Sl EPIZOOTIC DUtempor SBwlWOIlMH B0 rub jJjCOlGIIB Coltli inftueraa JJCOLIC nrltyarhc nimrrhna GO Prevent MIHCAIIIUAOK Si w KUVIV BLADDER DIBOIIDKIUJ JjJDAD CONDITION flurtm Cosb COc each Rtablo Caso Ten Bpoctflcn Hook Ac 97 At drunKlt or efnt prepaid on rixflpl of nrtcn Humphrey Kodlclnu Co Cor William ft Jobn Bin Nuw York Vetmunxuy Mahdal Bert Fuck NERVOUS DEBILITY vital WEAKNESS nnd Prostration from Over work or other causes Humphreys Homooputhlo Specifics No 28 In uoo over AO years tho only uuocessful romody lpcrvlalorflvlaUanillir80vlalpowderfor5 Suld lj IJrurcliU or aeDt fott wl4 jarecclj i of rlrc BCU UUSIS BKO CO Cor tlUlUs Jtlui bu h lork TIIRTI F nil ls fast kk lUniLL UIL popularity ami he coming a household necrsiity Thero is no medicine that will so quickly relievo pain It is nn antiseptic destroys mi crohes and disease hrecdiug gonns You cannot allord to lo without it Sc and Mo at druggists Guaranteed by J 1 Cosgrovo Prop Oakdalo Nb ffi ii n Beautiful Women I Thero nro fow women ih honu liful iih thoy might ho Iowilnr mid paint nnd eonim licH dont mako rood lookn Itoauly u fiiinply nn imposnihility without health lcuutiftil women nro fow Ileoanal healthy women aro fow Tho way in havo a fair factt aud a woll rounded liguro it to tako TREES AND PLANTS m A umk razors riiii in hat old and I imo triod 5 O medicine that cut oh nil female o Iroiililctt and wcakncHHOH and 2 IrauiH It iimkeii an diircrenco J J what the doctora call the iron- w n hie if thoro in any thing tho S S mat tor in the distinctly feminine org aiiH Bradlfields Pc male Regulator will help 5 g and cure it II is ood for J regular or painful iniiiHlrual ion u for liMicon hiea for fulling of tho womli for norvoiwnoRH head- J ache haokaeho and dizzinoHH Take it and e ot well Then 3 your old time irliidi featured J and hVuio will he renlored n Sold liy ilruiccliilfi lor 1 a liotllc M TIID IIKADIUILD KriGUIATOIt CO m g ATLAnTA GA BnasencBaaeB FrazQc Axie Great HSSkM i m rmiittiMm MDinh nnT wninuiv tvii nThw rnr it i unhK iinnm r w i imim hm WflifJS i v- rg Not affected by Heat or Cold Highest Awards at Centennial Paris and Worlds Fair Unnuhdared pRAZER LUBRICATOR CO Factorial Chclago St Louli Now York A full line IrultTrcc if llcnl Vurlelkn at lliird Times Irlcex Hnuil fruit in 1 11 i o MII1 MillloiiH of Htiuuhiirrr lilmitx very tlirifl mui uxll roottcl lintllin mihi nifir lioiim mui hiivn fidiKlit or tixiirnv Bnnil fur prlci lint li Norlh Bend Nurseries North lUml dc County NeH ifli Free Reclining Chair Cars on all Trains qiHK SERVICE CLOSE CONNECTIONS TWO DAILY HAST TltAINb HACII WAV IIETWKKN OMAHA AND Atchison Kansas City and St Louis With direct connections to all South ern and Eastern ikjIiiIh Unexcollfd timo uml iiocdiiiintxliitioiis tO till Famous Hot Sorines of Arkansas BE SURE TO SECURE TICKETS VIA THIS LINE For morn complt to lufonnntlou descriptive pniniililotti etc nddrutsb J 0 rillliLIITI W V HAKNES A I F and P A T IA Sontlicubt Cor lllli and IonlaHStB OMAHA NE1IKABKA ihrVrirWiHjifiTv iMiiii rw r rn rw 1 1 mim jmm jflfeaiHkHHrfBHiaABwiaB PALI Tltmi reESS i m OntMlS Mnnrfftv mnrnlnt Sunt fi Uikrir ii iti ttn iu ii students wllli pliiCM to work flit board Vou cn attend Ibis collect for bulf Hit money reotilrnd to co Hlsowbere tend n S6 ntuue and addrehhi of joihik people Interested In bu ltins education and net our Colleire Weekly n ear free Our new claloir fret o one any nuurei iioiikiioiiii lillllt 1IMIH11U Neb H C TRUMAN WALL PAPLR From ioc a Double Roll up Window Shades Rrom Kouldins Painis Oils Glass 04 n uist Brushes Etc Etc miming rapcr nangins una uccuraiivc w otk oi i air rricr