brought back to reality.

"What you doin' to me, Montgomery Sturtevant? I'll tell your grandma!"

"Ain't meanin' to hurt you, A-A-Alfy. I--Don't you d-do that. I--Say,
I'm goin' to h-h-hide in the s-s-secret chamb--er. Don't you t-t-tell
anybody. You fetch my s-s-s-supper up after dark. An' some w-w-water.
Fetch enough to l-l-last--forever! I don't know as I s-s-shall
ever--ever--dare to c-c-come down."

The Mansion where the Sturtevants had lived during many generations was
a house even older than The Maples. It was far more quaintly ancient in
style, and had been one of the many "Headquarters" of our Revolutionary
generals. The earliest built house in the county, the part first erected
still stood strong and intact, though little used now. On this portion
of the Mansion the roof ended sharp at the eaves on one side, and but a
few feet above the ground; the opposite side being two full stories and
attic in height. Within this "old part" were many curious rooms, one
having the peculiarity of seven doors and but one window; a monster
fireplace, wherein one could stand and look straight up to the sky
through the great stone chimney, and where still hung a rusty gigantic
crane, once used for the roasting of meats and boiling of pots; but,
most curious of all, a perpendicular shaft leading to a "secret chamber"
beneath the sloping roof. To ascend this shaft one climbed upon small
triangular steps fitted alternately in the rear corners of it; and it
was entered through a sliding, spring-secured panel of the
"keeping-room." No stranger would have discovered that the panel was a
doorway, and even to Alfaretta it suggested deeds of darkness and
treachery. The utmost Montgomery had yet been able to persuade her to
do was to peep fearfully up that uncanny stair-way, from the dimness
below to the utter gloom at top. To ascend it, as he did, nimbly hand
over hand--the mere thought of it set her shuddering.

Now he was gone, and--there! She knew it. She heard him softly crossing
the bare floor of the "old part" in his stockinged feet, heard the rusty
squeak of the ancient spring-fastening, fancied that she heard--though
she could not--his swift ascent of the ladder stairs, and--heard no
more.

But she was now far wider awake than the pinch on her ear had made her,
and she was terribly disturbed. In that house everybody, meaning Madam
and herself, did what its young "master" desired. Of course on the
lady's part there were some