HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1900-08-10, Page 7eIP* VE F.R11.
i
51 J4 ANNE tl T 1 HV AL OR4 L MYp.
41)
copyri ht, 189e, lair S'eaAnefte Ii',
'PPaltvortii, sti
i.�(t'S, i 1 musically in the larch breaches over
presume se, blit, Thomas, ',lis head; splashes of Sunshine pecked
':my dear tiny, this Is a very abrupt tate browu earth of the narrow bridle
'termination to onr talk. I have much path, aIo whistled aloud In the full-
-to .say yet about your' own a1T'aire. Hess of his boyish content. At a rapid
Tbero are many points we have not canter he swung Into tbe open before
'touched upon," the hall clear,
"I am sorry, sir, but I shall start . A strange group clustered about his
.back to college very soon in the morn- front doorsteps scut him forward with
a bound, ressy was there leaning over
something that lay prone en the veran-
du, floor. Martin, his owil yard luau,
was flinging his legs over tbo horse
Clarence Westover had ridden away
from the Matthews gate un hour be-
fere. Westover , sand affectionately, "And rest assured, Gown, with bared was heed aand blanched
my dear guardian, that whether we cheeks, wringing his hands and giving
talk or don't tail(, whether you w'ite or Wildly impossible orders to everybody
don't write, I am content to leave my
-affairs In tbe hands of the man my
• deet' father lofted And trusted,"
The lawyer's square set jaws quiv-
•ered for a moment, but he wrung
Tom's hand cordially, "Thank you,
my boy, thank you. A guardian's post -
,tion is not an enviable one at best. You
have made mine much easier by your
'kind words."
As Tom redo away front the cottage,
:sore and disappointed about Olivia, and
smarting with a sense of defeat, it ea -
cursed to him that lie was rather glad
he had made that little speech to his
guardian. •It was like exorcising for-
•evet• any feeling of distrust that alight
have been aroused by that.erazy non-
• -sense of "Mother" Spillman's, which,
in spite of Mtn, had obtruded . itself
'Once or twice during the day.
Yes, he would go back to college. ear
,ly In the morning. He would not even
Wait to see Oliie.agafn, Ile would start
ion his foreign tour straight from col-
•lege. he would measure hirnself by
broader standards before he should see
her again, he must be without flaw in
ber eyes when Ire should finally ask
sizer to be his wife,
Not for a moment dM he relinquish
*that cberisbed purpose.
.And so be rode along under the swett
,:,14s. -.melting locusts on the shady roadside
'revising his beautiful vision, but never
'once doubting the final outcome.
Row silly rte had been to flare up in
'that style at sight of Clarence West-
•oven! It bad all been so simple when
•explained. He hoped the . dear little
Ailing was having a real Jolly ride. He
;prouounced himself a sulky dolt. .In-
:berently sunny natured and generous,
rag;, If there is anything of Impor-
tance, 1, presume it can be co]nlnunt-
eated by letter, Tftere are some things
: nt the hall I want to took intobefore
leaving again." Ile held out his hand
and looked down lute Iris guardian's
face from his superior height frankl
$e swun{I rapidty through the door and
up the stairway.
Tom could never attain to a fully de-
yeloped case of the sulks. He rode
forward whistling •softly. IIe bad all
the quiet roadside to himself.
'IIe would speed this bis last evening
In the old Hall writing a long letter to
'►Mite. IIe composed it as he rode
=Slowly through tbe weedy bridle paths
•on the outskirts of his own lands
;stvltcbing at the tall intrusive beads of
•sumtte and sassafras bashes that
brushed against his stirrups. He
;Would tell 011ie how impossible it was
for him to go so far away as Europe
;Without letting' her know of his love
and asklug her to wait awhile until he
should come back less etude and in•
CbmpTete, better proportioned for hav-
. Ing measured himlf by other• stand-
ards. What a churl be had been for
getting so vexed with her that moru-
sing! Everything she said showed her
Interest in hint, and if she did paid:
a trim with her little patronizing airs it
Was the result of her being the sole
onlpanlon of the Hiatt who bad to
Took rafter hint and his interests and
Who doubtless had ot'ten consulted her.
I3y the time be swelled the outer
gate to his own parklike Inclkstiro
Olivia stood absolved in his loyal boor, beard her and here marlin a rue -
heart. She was altogether' 'lovely and fttt`face to say kindly: -
Tom trust
worthy. lie, tirottou, airs ."t wish you would not worry so to
tart ill mannered cub, not tv of tity to ,
at once. Still, white and motionless,
Olivia, his 011ie, lay the neutral (Ig-
oe of this excited group.
Tom's tall form was soon added to it.
Ile pushed Westover away without
apology. His grieved young fare was
terrible In its stern wrath,
"You bare kiiled her. flow dared.
you mount her au an untried horse?"
Westover was too utterly miserable
to resent this masterful arraignment.
"An idoit fired a gun behind the
hedge. Both horses. bolted. Braxton,
If she dies 1'11 blow my brains out."
"Yon have none to blow out," said
Tom, with brutal candor.. Then, stoop-
ing and lifting the nuconsetous girl in
his arms, he swung rapidly through
the door and up the stairway, followed
by a wailing and useless group,
CHAPTER IX.
A STTI(T].Ti AT 34IDNIaTTT,
Clear, piercing, startling, a woman's
voice rang out upon the solemn still-
ness of the Broxton house at midnight.
Mr. Matthews, starting i'rotn a trou-
bled sleep, sprang hastily out of bed
and immediately lost itis bearings.
He had forgotten In the first fright-
ened moment that he was sleeping in
a strange bedroom. his surroundings
baffled hint, He could not find a door,
The location of the matchbox, If such
a thing existed Iu his old friend's
chamber, was an unsolvable mystery.
He struck his head viiientiy against
the coruer of an old fasbioned armor
and recoiled against an unfamiliar taa•
ble. Finally he stood stock still where
he was, dreading other collisions..
Where was Olivia,. and who had
screamed?
Presently. matters cleared themselves
in his fully aroused brain. He had
been sent for by Tom in wild haste,
Clarence Westover himself had ,gallop-
ed after. Dr. Govan. The two mots
had reached Broxton within a few
moments of each other. They found
011ie seated on the sofa In tbo library
soundly berating Tom for having "rais-
ed such a to do about nothing"- and in-
cidentally for having abused Clarence
Westover.
"I am not hurt at all, papa. It is too
bad to give you such a scare. I was
just a little stunned by the fall, but I
never was unconscious. 1 beard, but
could not taik. .Tom was really quite
rude to poor Mr. Westover when he
was not at all to Wattle for niy riding
tine horse nor for tbat stupid man's
shooting on the other side of the
hedge. He even told him he bad no
brains. I wish people would some-
times try to be more Just to other peo-
ple."
"I do, too,".said Tom, turning angri-
ly on his heel and leaving the room.
Then Dr. Govan came and searched
liligeutlY for broken bones without
(hiding any, but be .pronounced her
listiuctIy feverish and badly shaken
up. "She had best stay where she is
for the nlgbt, Put her to bed at once
and keep her there until 1 can see her
again In the morning," was his deem
sten.
So while the sun Was still staining
the •western sky a vivid red, picked
out with glorious purples and golds,
Simon's wife bad spread the great four
poster in Miss Lucetta's room with
sweet smelling sheets of fine old linen
and thrown wide the shutters so that
Olivia, lying under' the blue brocatelle
canopy, might gaze out at the sunset
glories of tho' dy f ug day. Site bad pro-
tested violently.
"There is noticing the tonnes tit all
with we, papa. 1 eon perteetly well
O home, i 'outratites
,
g tt d
after c what
t
Imre saki to 'that, for 1 eau't possibly
stay."
Tom, who forma it impossible to
keep very far hinny front the library
button ho pretty boots. Sun never' get away from here 011ie. It Is not tis
Shone upon sweeter maiden It wits if I dkl not areae phut or room, you
iii
tt,
know. Your anxiety to get nway Is
Meet and proper he sliouicl go through rather rough on mc, 1P ,,on are angry
some sort of probationary toil to ren- because I told Westover he tIId net
icer him
x
b less unworthy of her. l
Y a t e nava any brains to blow out, 1'!t ride
never t tepid o d be quite worthy l Iter Is over there and apologize to him to-
tal, no, never! But she wettld be his- fright. I'll do anything you want done,
after a little While, all itis. His pulses 011ie, I'll oven go flown tb Slnou''
bounded Joyously. Life was assuming ! ,
moment. xt made him glad to think loittl
roster tints with the 10855 to strap and 01x050 myself."
passing; of each Tula humblo ui>otogy was received
it would. be In his power to gratify „ y
, , It is tr0ry MO
single, Tom had torn clown te the care
taker's cottage to impress his wife
,ressy into set vier' as la(ly's timid. Bo•
tween them ail 011ie tuns treated like
a. queen temporarily.' disqualified from
relguhtg, But te come hack to that
scream.
Noreen Matthews' first thought was
for Olivia, Something had frightened
Iter. Gad, would he never find a door?
Ile diel finally and groped his way
through it into the large (lark central
hall. Absolute stleuce enwrapped the
house. Ile tiptoed neress cite hail to -
put an ear to the keyhole •ef OTiviu's
door,
4verything was quiet inside. Ile
had a distinct recollection of bow ells,
matly that particular door creaked
and groaned an its hinges, It would
be scarcely worth while to arouse Ol-
lie just to tell her tbgt site had had a
niglitmare. Doubtless she bad been.
dreautiug of the runaway or perhaps of
the tnnaty who had died in this gloomy
old house. Personally he found it a
most depressing spot.
The sort thud or stippered fees: broke
the deathlike stillness. Glancing nerv-
ously over his shoulder, he saw Tour,
fully (tressed, advant:ing with a light-
ed candle held high over his hod.
"hello, Air. Matthews!"
"Well, `,Bourns?"
"I thought T beard a noise, a scream."
"chow many tunes?"
"Only once."
"I beard it too, 1 Itnagiue Olivia has
been having bad dreams,"
"But it carne from down stairs. My
room is:Immediately over the library,
you know,"
A clammy sweat broke out on the
lawyer's forehead and bedew d the
backs of his bands..
"A-h-cr, what do you make of it,
Thomas?" lie asked nervously,
"Xotiring at all until I Investigate
it. 1 ata going down Stairs. ill you
come with mer'
"Why—.well, yes, of course, f you
think it worth while. But 1 a quite
sure it came from my daughter' ro0tn.
She is sleeping very quietly now, and
I do not care to open her door because
it creaks so infernally,"
]Ie had atoll to do to keep his teeth
from chattering and displayed no con-
spicuous ardor for the expedition Tole
advanced resolutely toward the stair-
case.
"I think I `shall feel better satisfied
for looking the house over."
He was strongly minded to tell his
guardian of the unpleasant experience
that had befallen him on them mora -
hie watch night, His guardian ad an
oquelly strong Impulse to give is ex-
perience ou the eve of 011ie's fete.
Nothing came, however, of the fleeting
Inclination on either side.
Tbotnas proceeded to descen he
steps with his candle helot high. at -
thews promised to follow as so as
he could get into his dressing n.
1
c
s
If
m
s
tt
e
s
at
e
t
e
h
h
c
cl t
Mat-
thews
i.he gown proved elusive, and •
progress was slow.
Presently a cry scarcely cess st
ding than the one that bad broken
his sound slumber ascended from t
.floor below. -It was -i Tout I3i'oxto
voice.
"011ie, Olivia, what on earth are y
doing down there? By Jove, she is
a dead fillet!' Mr. Matthews, 1101
quick:" Before be had time to pia
his candle on the table his guardh
was in the room looking like a un
who has received bis deathblow.
'There, in .a heap on the floor, h
shinlug hair failing In a thick ma
over her pallid face and closed eye
lay Olivia. Iter father gathered It
to his heart with a frightened cry an
Laid her on a sofa,
Tom lighted a gas Jet and rustle
toward the diuing room in search o
water. Every receptacle was etnpt
of course. The outdoor cisterns Ever
his only hope. When he got Intel
Olivia had regained consciousness. bu sobbing and clinging to her fa
ther's neck with a frightened elute
Her eyes were wide rItb terror, as
short irrepressible shudders ran one
her body visibly every few secouds.
She was pleading excitedly with her
father.
"'.rake Inc home, father; take int'
array now, this very minute, papa.
You know I did not want to stay. Oh.
horrible, horrible;"
Tom held a glass of water to her
quivering lips. His face was scarcely
Tess pale than hers. •
"Drink this water, 011ie, dear, and
then tell us what has frightened
See, I will light every gas jet in the
house so as to show you that you nave
been frightened by a nibbling mouse,
and I will stay down stairs to keep the
mice quiet all the rest of the night if
olily you Won't say noythiug more
about going home at midnight."
She draatk the waterr ettger•ly. Then.
finding hot' Courage canto baC1, with
the eotnpnnlousblp of the men and the
illumination of the house, 'she said
more steridily;
"As if
1 �„.
could
he
I lit
nand
b by a
mouse! You are very geed. Tom. to a
most troublesome guest. 1 ant sorry I
WAS 40ltgly to y011 this aftei•nooti. But
I don't went to stay," She sh1%'et't'd
and Chun; closet' to her Tattler, "Oh,
father, t father, , it was so frightful.
1l. so
g
distinct! 1 wilt never, det'et' get overr
it!"
bili
ar-
tip
he
n's
ou
in
•e.
00
18
to
er
sa
5,
t'1'
c. cl
P
h
c1
ucts
on y
to git•
hal>p
e
The
itt he
matte
1tat1 n
hiding
mask.
a•. 1'
after 't
et' sat
(tort t tvrtnt tot tterms.", "1 (1
t over h'ltat, Olivia? I. insist up.
our Germing yourself sudlelently
e iuo a lucid atcottnt of What hats
tied."
d
re 'W ` +
tax nn t r
n
t Omit t
1a
stn nn
r ass
i' father's voice and manner whleh
her stare' at hint la surprise. She
o means• or knowing that he was
Ids own fears behind that stern
5 you going to geoid inc. Tattier;
all 1 have gone 'through? 1 nen
v Pott look so cross before,"
on't Went to seoi(T you at all, ttty
y. I only ---1 meati",- itis strong
Jaws were twttchlug eonvui-
IlIs nerves were rabidly get.
to upper hand of hint, II* looked
htgly at 'Tom. .
took tux the task of tiuestlonlua
her ever wish, let her wish for tta'v'et largo lrrretises, T
so costly or unattainabie a tiring.
Rte Make such
1,°'I'ur sure, but 1
:t'`ot' your sake, [try swcct, 1 ain glad ,,, rs t , u arty
Of all the wealth that is imine, gind of $tie Ittust, s+ti(1 I)r'. C1avall with dnrliu
the store of gems hidden away some- authority, ;r Square
Where, n1I for you, Oilit> ail for 5'ou. Sha shalIr said bee Cather with de. steely,
my beloved! The breath (if wild elsion, ting 11
>,`lenlatis tilled his uostrils; l]ird3 pipedt rd, the matter having taken that lu'plot'
Tont
with tetatter soothing Iii Itis ,manner'.
what
t; SO
Fort
ring
> so
one,
ng;
the
in
Oh.
But
net
of
nt•
ng
eok
Tt,
ng
0u
be
tit
rat
tb
as
t -
id
TEr
he
as
or
nd
ei•,
11
as
in
•s
ls.
fain
le
e
•
Y
e
0
e
e
0
"We are risking yon to tell no
frightened you so badly, 011ie, :deal,
res to punish titan or theta or it.
see, we t' ttut to be doing soneti
nbraut it, but the are all In the dart
frtr,'t
She shook her bend mournfully,
"Oh, there Is nothing to be 4
Torn; ]lothlUg you can 4o4 notill
nothing anybody can do. Sell
place, Tom, nod int stranger's live
You can never be happy here.
papa, papal"
Her father liiad hhusolf well in ha
uott', Then she had seen it tool
neither site nor Thomas mast susp
that her experience was a repotitlou
his own. Ile maintained his stern
titttde even to cite point of disepgagl
her ringing arms front about leis n
and holcllug her bands In a firm cies
"Olivia, 1 insist upon your nett
morn rationally. What brought y
Clown stairs at such an hoar of t
night?"
"Why, yon made me go to bed
sob a
r
e (Tail
i l tons hope of the clay ti
by midnight I was. wide awake, wi
no more sleep Left in my eyes. Try
l iuight, I just got wider awake e
ery moment. So 1 thought 1 eon
slip down stairs without anybot
knowing it and get a book out of t
library. T stole .down just as softly
one of triose mice Tom tanks about, f
1 was afraid of the steps ereaking a
waking you up. And then, oh, faith
oh, Tout; just as I stepped over the
brary doorsill I saw, just as plainly
I see both of you now, a tall figure
white standing by Colonel Broxton
deski Whoever It was stood with h
head bent low over the desk. A fat
light, that seemed to come from ti
bosom of—of--the tltiug shone on tit
desk. .1 screamed and dropped an
Candie and didu't know anything tor
until I heard 'l'oin's voice, papa, an
felt your arms about ale. That is all.'
Her story told, she began to weep s
hysterically that further questiouin
would have boon cruelty, tier fathe
wrapped his arms about Iter and pony
eel soothing endearments into her ears
"'Then oho had seen it, too;" was tit
unspoken thought of both mon. 'Ph
sound of Olivia's sobs nearly brok
Tom's !toilet. His voice shook a Intl
as he asked briskly:
"Wouldn't a glass of wine be goof
for her, lir, Matthews?"
"No wine, thank you, Thomas; a lit
tie bromide now, if you could flud suet
a thing about the house."
"There is a medicine cabinet in fa-
ther's room. I'll explore it."
Qtivia
.raised her bead and listened
until his footsteps could no longer he,
heard. Then she said:
"Papa, I would rattler not hove told
that story In poor Tout's presence, haft
yon made Inc." Her teeth were eIiat•
tering, anci she dune to tint eniwut•
slyely. "Father, do you believe there
are such.tbings as ghosts?"
"Of course I do not. No sensible per-
son does," her father answered, with
explosive violence.
"Not even after people have seen one,
papa, with their own eyes?"
"No one ever bas seen one, Olivia.
You were unstrung by your accident,
and prowling about at midnight in this
gloomy old house did tbe rest."
"I was not at alt unstrung, father.
I slept like a baby until I had all the
sleep I needed."
"And, having become sleepless In a
strange bed, yon grew fanciful. Rest
assured, my love, you did not see a
g -
"Then what did I see, father, thee,
right through the open glass door?
You know I am not fanciful, and I
know what I saw—a faint light shiniug
ou the ceiling of the study and some-
thing tall and white, as tall as old
Colonel Eroxton, leaning over his
desk."
Tito hawyer's tongue felt dry and
hot as It clove t0 the roof of his mouth,
CIammy moisture stood in great beads
on his forehead. He cleared his throat
.to gain command of his voice, but only
M°MULLEN'3 POULTRY NETTIN(
antlLgWPf FENCI.NO8
are not surpassed in the WORLD.
s yT t t.^ti x r s �n rr., • Their Woven Wire .i','t'1I('1rig;R have stood
stood over fifteen ;(,(l:. of very snooeutd
n;� r testin • on I JtRIi and fAMLWAY.
Special offers made this year on 'l'
• These tools are all nmtiuf,o'tur(.'c1 by
The Ontario Wire Fencing Co., Limited of Piton Dot,
Por sale by the Hardware r 1 >
1♦fe. chants and General Dealers throughout Canada.
Also by the Can, Hardware Jobbers. -
Gen, Agents --Tire 13. Greening Wire Co,, of Ifamiltou and Ilfontreal.
Agent for Railway hfenciug-_James Cooper, itloittreal.
lefgrCorrespoudence with the manufacturers invited,
.,,
an toed A Travelling
GENERAL A,GENT.
fNT+
An experienced canvasser, or a man with good character
and address, with the necessary atAity to travel from town
to town and appoint agents. No canvassing, Salary and ex-
penses paid, Position permanent and promotion according t
oe
merit,
The Bradley-Garretson, Co,, rr,
OR ANT ih'B'!t''(>If 1). O2'T
rii,...14.121,41N4/9,4a laitttsa&aaesersta-laratoesca4aoliailiotraWava,sla-saesEattalail,
1 `STM. k
1
•
In. Office Stationery
THE TIES is Up -to -Date.
A superior stock of
BILL HEADS,
MEMORANDUMS,
MS,
1
1
STATEMENTS. EN ,? L p S
SHIPPING TAGS,
CARDBOARDS, ETC.
ALWAYS ON HAND.
We employ skilled, workmen, have the
Latest designs in type, execute first-class work
and charge reasonable prices. Give us a trial
for your next stationery.
THE TIMES OFFICE,
�• _ 1���� W g'�'YI'�T `Q"'f/�.•��� V•�� f'Y 3+"'08' TIYV 4v'�
EIcr father wrapped his arras about her.
a husky whisper escaped from his lips.
"Who was It, father? What was It?
Why don't
youanswer me"?'
Her Insistence Irritated hint. tier
wide -questioning eyes would not loose
their bold of his agitated race. IIe
took refuge in i'ouglla]ess.
"ROW can I explain away the
ea -
Mies of a frightened T girl's itna ina.
tion? 1 presume women always con.
jure up something grotesque when
they rind themselvesawake et nn un -
1151(0l boo." He knew that he Tv:t9
tttnligning one of the bravest little
Sett
is tort1
etv'
artci
, but his u
eeessit
knewto law.
atv
"Father,. Yeti tire being absolutely un-
just and cruelly unkind. You know I
ani not Imagiilativo in that way. You
know I tum not a, coward. But we will
let It stop at that. I hear font touting
back,"
-When Tom stood eros her, proffering
the brout{tie all &nixed ready for tak-
ing, site looked up into his pate and
worried trace with 0115 of her Sweetest
mulles, Suddenly site put out n hand
and drew hint down en the sofa by her
side,
",!'oto, Gear, you are entirely too good
to die, I have worried you straight
REPAN•S TABREs
Doctors
A Gro
Preseriptio
For ma50
nd
Ten for five tants, it ]5rei(;gast3 Grocers, Restauram et
Saloons, News•Stands, neral Starer rod Barbera 'They banish }lain, induce sleep, and prolong lite.
Cme Meet rebel' No matter what`t the matter, one wilt
r: t
you gond, Ten tampion and one thens,mi rota•
montals ant by mail to any Address an r<teipt td mire,
Cy the klpans Chemical Co., tooSprute St„ New t'otit City,