The Pocket Books
A series designed to represent the three aspects of Americanromance,—adventure, mystery and humor
The Amethyst Box By Anna Katharine Green
A detective story of a Newport wedding
The House in the Mist By Anna Katharine Green
A tale of unexpected fortunes. Including also The Ruby and the Caldron
Enchantment By Harold MacGrath
Short stories of whimsical adventure
The Princess Elopes By Harold MacGrath
An extravagant romance of a European Duchy
The Motormaniacs By Lloyd Osbourne
Tales of the road and the automobile
THE
HOUSE IN THE MIST
By
ANNA KATHARINE GREEN
Author of
The Millionaire Baby
The Amethyst Box
The Filigree Ball, etc., etc.
INDIANAPOLIS
THE BOBBS-MERRILL COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
Copyright 1905
The Bobbs-Merrill Company
CONTENTS
THE HOUSE IN THE MIST
THE RUBY AND THE CALDRON
THE HOUSE IN THE MIST
I
AN OPEN DOOR
It was a night to drive any man indoors. Not only was the darknessimpenetrable, but the raw mist enveloping hill and valley made the openroad anything but desirable to a belated wayfarer like myself.
Being young, untrammeled, and naturally indifferent to danger, I was notaverse to adventure; and having my fortune to make, was always on thelook-out for El Dorado, which, to ardent souls, lies ever beyond thenext turning. Consequently, when I saw a light shimmering through themist at my right, I resolved to make for it and the shelter it soopportunely offered.
But I did not realize then, as I do now, that shelter does notnecessarily imply refuge, or I might not have undertaken this adventure[Pg 4]with so light a heart. Yet, who knows? The impulses of an unfetteredspirit lean toward daring, and youth, as I have said, seeks the strange,the unknown and, sometimes, the terrible.
My path toward this light was by no means an easy one. After confusedwanderings through tangled hedges, and a struggle with obstacles ofwhose nature I received the most curious impression in