Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-09-01
Ggt Sturp Gtlltr,
THE HEIR-AT-LAW.

When resided in a street at the west end
of the town, which, thirty years ago, was rath-
er famous for its physicians, there was one
house, and that, too, Immediately facing that
which occupied, which was a constant source
of conjecture to my family and servants.
AS regarded myself, saw very little of it,
and thought less, for my attention was by far
too much engaged by my profession, and the
many strange and exciting scenes that grew
out of its practice, to speculate about my neigh
bors; but, certainly, number 10, opposite, un-
der any other circumstances, would have en-
gagged my curiosity
1t was a large house, having width of
three windows, and like my own, no doubt,
containing suficiency of rooms for a tolera-
bic London establishments but never did ac-
commodatiOns seem to be so utterly thrown
away as upon my neighbors, for not only were
the parlor windows closed up by shutters, but
the drawing room was in like condition, and
50 on all the way up the house, that we
could only come to the conclusion that the oc-
cupier of the premises lived at the back of the
house.
But who was the occupier
This was question often asked but never
answered. We went so far as to ask the tax
gatherer, but he could give no information.
don't know his name,' said he; it is an
old man, and when called and asked him for
his name, he said What's that to you 4 and
asked me what was to pay and upon my
naming the sum, he laid it on an old chair in
the hall, and told me to take it and 90 away
In appearance this mysterious parsonage
for we had all seen him-was rather short and
stout But when he went abroad it was al
ways sufficiently late in the evening to pre-
vent us from having very clear view of him,
and he was invariably wrapped up in such an
ample great coat that nothing could be caught
sight of but his heels and his hat, with an
ocean of broadcloth between them
This went for nearly year, and the
gOssips of the neighborhood got almost mad
dened from the fact that they knew no facts of
No. 10. People used TO look at the house
for half an hour at a time; ballads were made
about it, and sung under its windows Re
ports were raised of ghosts on the parapet and
at the attic windows, and great crowds were
collected 10 look at them But the little old
man remained perfectly unmoved by all these
demonstrations of public interest, and he never
took the slightest notice. Nay, when one
night vigorous cry of fire was raised in
the street, and head was out of every win
dow of every other house, there was no such
thing at No. 10. All there was cold, calm
and Indifferent.
At length a most notable phenomenon, in
the shape of woman, presented itself at No
TO- A woman, apparently about thirty years
of age, was observed to go in and come out
now and then. She had the slatternly, i'll ia
vored appearance Of servant who had been
SO long out of place that she had given up all
idea of getting one by attention to her personal
appearance.
Now thought every body, we shall find it
out but week passed away, and nothing
came Of it, until one evening, when | was sit
ting alone in my stndy, my servant rushed in
to the room, exclaiming-
sOh sir, sir, you can find it all out now
Jumped up and got behind chair, for
really thought my usually quiet enough do
mestic was mad.
What do you mean z / said.
'Oh! No. lO-No. 10, sir. She has come.
Here's No. 10 in the hall, sir
No. 10 in the hall Why, how did it get
therel'
'Oh, sir, it's not an it. It's the woman,
sir, from No. 10, and she wants to see you,
sir
Show her in-show her in
A woman, arrayed in very tawdry, decay
ed finery, was ushered into my room and l
certainly recognized her as the female whom
had occasionally chanced to see come out of
No. 10, but she did not at all improve upon a
closer acquaintance .r..
] found she was coarse, vain, vulgar wo-
man, and there were unmistakable evidences
about her countenance of disposition to in
dulge freely in alcoholic compounds of not the
mildest character.
Sir she said with toss of the head and
swing Of all her apparel, which, no doubt, she
thought very fine and surprising, you are wan
ted at No. IO.'
BY whomp said I.
Mr.. Smythes.' #f-5l
-Oh. Mr.. Smythes lives at No. 10. does
he! Very we'll. Is he seriously il!'
So he says. But old people have such fan
cies, you know, sir. They haven't no sort of
consideration for other folks as wishes to enjoy
themselves little
May ask in what capacity you are with
Mr.. Smythes 2 said land said it with such
absolute gravity, that it was difficult to refuse
me an answer, although could see that the lady
was puzzled what sort of one to give that
would be consistent with her dignity.
Oh, he got very bad, and had me from the
registers office to take care of him. But ne
would not have doctor till tonight, and now
ne thinks he is much worse. don't think he
has got any thing
IL shall be over in three minutes said.
Within the space Of time that had men
toned was, for the first time, most unexpect-
edly knocking at No. 10. The door was OPEN
ed, after rather long pause, by the woman,