Lost Man's Lane: A Second Episode in the Life of Amelia Butterworth Read online

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  LOST MAN'S LANE

  A SECOND EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF AMELIA BUTTERWORTH

  BY ANNA KATHARINE GREEN

  (MRS. CHARLES ROHLFS)

  Author of "That Affair Next Door," "The Leavenworth Case," "The Forsaken Inn," etc.

  G. P. PUTNAM'S SONSNEW YORK & LONDONThe Knickerbocker Press1899

  COPYRIGHT, 1898BY ANNA KATHARINE ROHLFS

  Entered at Stationers' Hall, London

  Set up and electrotyped March, 1898. Reprinted March, 1898;April, 1898; July, 1898; Aug., 1898; Oct., 1898; Aug., 1899

  The Knickerbocker Press, New York

  To ELIZABETH D. SHEPARD COUSIN AND FRIEND THIS BOOKIS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED

  PREFACE

  A word to my readers before they begin these pages.

  As a woman of inborn principle and strict Presbyterian training, I hatedeception and cannot abide subterfuge. This is why, after a year or moreof hesitation, I have felt myself constrained to put into words the truehistory of the events surrounding the solution of that great mysterywhich made Lost Man's Lane the dread of the neighboring country.Feminine delicacy, and a natural shrinking from revealing to the worldcertain weaknesses on my part, inseparable from a true relation of thistale, led me to consent to the publication of that meagre and decidedlyfalsified account of the matter which has appeared in some of ourleading papers.

  But conscience has regained its sway in my breast, and with all dueconfidence in your forbearance, I herein take my rightful place in theseannals, of whose interest and importance I now leave you to judge.

  AMELIA BUTTERWORTH.

  GRAMERCY PARK, NEW YORK.

  CONTENTS

  _BOOK I_ THE KNOLLYS FAMILY

  I.--A VISIT FROM MR. GRYCE

  II.--I AM TEMPTED

  III.--I SUCCUMB

  IV.--A GHOSTLY INTERIOR

  V.--A STRANGE HOUSEHOLD

  VI.--A SOMBRE EVENING

  VII.--THE FIRST NIGHT

  VIII.--ON THE STAIRS

  IX.--A NEW ACQUAINTANCE

  X.--SECRET INSTRUCTIONS

  XI.--MEN, WOMEN, AND GHOSTS

  XII.--THE PHANTOM COACH

  XIII.--GOSSIP

  XIV.--I FORGET MY AGE, OR, RATHER, REMEMBER IT

  _BOOK II_ THE FLOWER PARLOR

  XV.--LUCETTA FULFILS MY EXPECTATION OF HER

  XVI.--LOREEN

  XVII.--THE FLOWER PARLOR

  XVIII.--THE SECOND NIGHT

  XIX.--A KNOT OF CRAPE

  XX.--QUESTIONS

  XXI.--MOTHER JANE

  XXII.--THE THIRD NIGHT

  _BOOK III_ FORWARD AND BACK

  XXIII.--ROOM 3, HOTEL CARTER

  XXIV.--THE ENIGMA OF NUMBERS

  XXV.--TRIFLES, BUT NOT TRIFLING

  XXVI.--A POINT GAINED

  XXVII.--THE TEXT WITNESSETH

  XXVIII.--AN INTRUSION

  XXIX.--IN THE CELLAR

  XXX.--INVESTIGATION

  XXXI.--STRATEGY

  XXXII.--RELIEF

  _BOOK IV_ THE BIRDS OF THE AIR

  XXXIII.--LUCETTA

  XXXIV.--CONDITIONS

  XXXV--THE DOVE

  XXXVI.--AN HOUR OF STARTLING EXPERIENCES

  XXXVII.--I ASTONISH MR. GRYCE AND HE ASTONISHES ME

  XXXVIII.--A FEW WORDS

  XXXIX.--UNDER A CRIMSON SKY

  XL.--EXPLANATIONS

  EPILOGUE

  LOST MAN'S LANE

  _BOOK I_

  THE KNOLLYS FAMILY