She did not speak of Alice Johnson, but she thought of her. John, too,

thought of Alice Johnson, wondering how she would look to him who might

have married the daughter of a count. He had not told Anna of this, and

he was about preparing to leave her, when, changing the conversation,

she said: "Did we ever write to you--no, we didn't--about that mysterious

stranger, that man who stopped for a day or two at the hotel, nearly two

years ago, and made so many inquiries about us and our place, pretending

he wanted to buy it in exchange for city property, and that some one had

told him it was for sale?"

"What man? Who was he?" John asked; and Anna replied: "He called himself Bronson."

Advertisement..

"Describe him," John said, settling back so that his face was partly

concealed in the shadow.

"Rather tall, firmly-knit figure, with what I imagine people mean when

they say a bullet-head, that is, a round, hard head, with keen gray

eyes, sandy mustache, and a scar or something on his right temple. Are

you cold?" and she turned quickly to her brother, who had shuddered

involuntarily at her description, for well he knew now who that man was.

But why had he come there? This John did not know, and as it was

necessary to appear natural, he answered to Anna's inquiry, that he

thought he had taken cold, as the cars were badly warmed.

"But, go on; tell me more of this Bronson. He heard our house was for

sale. How, pray?"

"From some one in New York; and the landlord suggested it might have

been you."

"It's false. I never told him so," and John spoke savagely.

"Then you did know him? What was he? We were half afraid of him, he

behaved so strangely," Anna said, looking wonderingly at her brother,

whose face alternately flushed and then grew pale.

Simple little Anna, how John blessed her in his heart for possessing so

little insight into the genuine springs of his character, for when he

answered: "Of course I don't know him--I mean that I never told any one that

Terrace Hill was for sale."

She believed what he said, and very innocently continued: "Had there been a trifle more of fun in my nature, I should, have teased

Eudora, by telling her he came here to see her or Asenath. He was very

curious for a sight of all of us."

"Did he come here--into the house?" John asked; and Anna replied: "Why, yes. He was rather coarse-looking, to be sure, with marks of

dissipation, but very gentlemanly and even pleasing in his address."

Anna went on: "He was exceedingly polite--apologized for troubling me,

and then stated his business. I told him he must have been misinformed,

as we never dreamed of selling. He took his leave, looking back all the

way through the park, and evidently examining minutely the house and

grounds. Mother was so fidgety after it, declaring him a burglar, and

keeping a watch for several nights after his departure."




Most Popular