Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-01-16
Story Of Chapman Hall.
BY FRANCES HENsHAw BADEN.

louSiNS luQulicu d y"o'S A' "AA
was riding leisurely along through tn
beautiful valley of v.
The man thus accosted drew his rein
and waited until the other came up t.
his side, and then deliberately survey
ing him, said:
sWell, no, none near by. The village
is six miles off. There's a nice hous,
there for travellers, you will find.
"No, indeed, I'll not find mysel
there tonight, if there is any Other
shelter nearer. I am dreadfully tired
now. Why, there" pointing with hi:
whip to the southwest, 81 see what look;
from this distance like very spaciou:
building. 1 should think 1t would af-
ford accommodation for hundreds. Can
not stop there, think you?"
Another long deliberate look from the
old man, with a comical expression af-
ter, and breaking into chuckling little
laugh, he answered:
Hardly, if your life depended on it. ,
"Why not:'
"Cause, you're too young, and faI
too good looking. Come along, sir.
'Taint no use to be wasting your time
casting longing looks toward the Hall
1t looks cloudy, and nights drawing
nigh. There is no hope for you there,
for if the rain was to come as it did in
Noah's time, they wouldn't let you in
up there. Come on. My place is only
a mile up the road, and although it is
hardly the place for starchy chap like
you, still I'll do the best can for you.
Betsey will give you as good bowl OF
milk as the valley affords, and toss you
up short cake in less time; and you're
welcome, if you will"
"Thank You, friend; and if your
Betsey is like you, shall be far better
suited than in the public-house of the
village. But you have excited my Gu
riosity about that great house on the
hill there. You say they would not
take me in. Who are they?'
"The women folks"
"Women are usually kind, consider
ate, charitable"
"Other women may be, and are, but
not the Chapmans. That is, not to men
folks; they hate men, even such poor
specimens as 1. Although lame, old
and nearly blind, they won't let me in.
side the inner gate. And the likes OF
you. truly think that Old Hit Man.
kind would set the dogs on you, and
believe she was giving you your de-
serts," said che old man, with another
chuckling laugh.
"And who is she? And how can ]
possibly have incurred her ill-will? ?''
asked the young traveller.
She's the FORTRESS. Her name is
Mehitabel Mankin. But the folks round
about here have shortened and changed
her name to suit her nature. You, or
any other good looking young man, is
her abomination, and her mistresses,
every one of them, feel just as Hit does.
In fact they have taught her to think
men the awfulest animals that live"
cha. ha! How l would like to get
a peep at those folks. They are an in
teresting set, truly. How many are
there living there?"
"Seven of the ladies-six of the
hands.
"All women?"
"Just so.''
cold and ugly, every one, Pm sure" !"
"Now you never was more mistaken
in your life. They are not very young.
except Miss Silvia, their neice. She is
not seventeen, and my Betsey says the
sun never shone OH such perfect beau
ty as she. And her six aunts are all
handsome. The Chapmans were always
noted for their good looks, and of late
years they have been noted for some
thing else
"Their hatred Of our sex you mean,
suppose. But surely the beautiful Silvia
does not feel so too?''
"Weli, she has had no chance OF
thinking for herself. She has never
seen a man, that 1 know of, except old
Father Goodman, the priest, who comes
to their chapel to say mass. They never
/, go out to church. Pretty Miss Silvia
could no more judge of mems looks by
Father Goodman's than anybody could
imagine your appearance by mine. But
Mister, we have been talking for fifteen
minutes, and no names called. Mine i;
John Freeman, cooper by trade"
GA good, honest name and trade
Mine is Paul Hartley, and my profes
sion an artist"
Jerusalem! If them folks on tht
hill knew that a picter painter was
within a mile of "The Hail." they
would call out the whole pack of hound:
and run you out of the neighborhOod
Oh, I'd like to see old Hits eyes fiasl
if she knowed your nearGbouts," sait
John Freeman, and the woods reechoet
his merry, ringing laugh.
"Do tell me all about those women
and who they are. Men haters, ant
particular artist detesters? Something
must have happened to have so changed
their natures. Pm sure there is stor,
to tell about that Hail."
"That's so. But there Is my cot
Alighti I'll attend to your horse. Bet
sey, make this young gentleman wei
=, come"
Betsey came to the door smiling, an,
! a very good looking woman she was
Paul felt quite easy about trusting him
self to her care. Pushing forward he
best chair, and soon after handing Pan
glass of cool water, she hurried out t
get ready what her John had promised
1t was not long ere John and Pau
Hartley returned to their conversation
concerning the Chapmans, and Pau
! urged that his host should tell him thei
story. But John would not. He was
generous fellow, and although he dearl
loved chance to talk and tell storie.
his Betsey was very fond of the sam
way of spending spare hour, so Ii
left the pleasure tor her, saying:
"No. Wait Il bit. Betsey will te
. you. She lived Mt the Hall when
. happened, and of course knows bette
than about it."
Paul's mind was filled with thought
pt of the beautiful Silvia. Soon Betse