Litchfield enquirer., 1873-09-11
From the Atlantic Monthly. THE SHORE HOUSE.

From the Atlantic Monthly.
 THE SHORE HOUSE.
 While Aunt Mary and were living in Boston last spring, found with my other letters one morning at breakfast note from one of my friends, which was evi dently written in a very excited state of mind:-
 DEAR ELLY: have plan; think it most delightful plan, in which you and are chief characters. Promise me you will say yes; if you do not, you will have to remember all your life that you broke 8 girls heart. Come round soon as pos sible and lunch with me. I'm all alone, and it's long story. K.
 I told Aunt Mary, Kate wished me to spend the morning with her, and went ''round," very much interested. My latch-key opened the Lancasters' door, which was a great convenience, and l went to the parlor, where I heard Kate practising. I went up to her, and she turned her head and we kissed each oth- CT solemnly. You need not smile; we are not sentimental girls, Kate particularly is much averse to indiscrimate kissing. She has an unkind habit of shying. and some times I see pained look when the cir cumstances are more than commonly ag- gravating.
 ''Sit down, my dear," said she, and took no further notice of me for at least half an hour, while she went on playing furiously. knew her ways, and waited till she spoke:-
 "Have you heard that my grand aunt, Miss Katherine Brandon of Deephaven, is dead?" She had departed this life the November previous. rssrE
 Don't be nonsensical, Kate!''
 ''My grand-aunt died very old, :" contin- ued my friend, ''and was the last of her family. There were two sisters and four or five brothers, one of whom had the honor of being my grandfather, and be- sides these, there were some who died young. Mamma is sole heir to the Deep haven estates, wharf, property, and all, and 1t IS great inconvenience to her. The honse is very old, and my ancestors fol- lowed the sea and brought home the great CT part of its furnishings. I have been there very little, for when was child Miss Katherine found no pleasure in the society of children, and when I was older she did not care to see strangers. I was busy with my lessons, and she grew more and more feeble. I have not been there for years. Mamma often went down. There are lovely woods not:.very far in- land, and delightful rocks at the shore"
 ''Papa has just decided he must go to England in a month, and mamma is go- ing too, which leaves me orphaned. Jack and Willy are to join party to the Adir- ondacks Ill vacation. l have said no to | garding the disposition of my summer, which naturally has had an exasperating effect. I told her yesterday meant to stay in town, but this morning papa had @ letter from the man who lives in the wing of the Shore House, and the most charming idea came into my head, and I said directly, I'm go- ing down to Deephaven to spend my summer 'Whatr said mamma; o you absurd childi do you hear what she says, papaY And he instantly said he should go by all means, and just to think of She vista of rummages which lay before me! That settled it, and my plan came to me in flash, and chattered away at them, and asked mamma if she did mt think you would be the very person to go too, and she does; and I am to take Bridget and Maggie. Aunt Anna will have the other servants. The Dockums live in part of the house, so we will not be lonely, though know you re not afraid of that O Eli nor! won't you go?"
 Mir. and Mrs. Lancaster sailed the Doth of June, and I went to the Lancaster house, and was there to welcome Kate when she came home from New York. We sent Bridget and Maggie and most of our boxes down in company with MT. Dockum day or two before, and found the house opened and set in order for us.
 We left the railway twelve miles from Deephayen, and took passage in stage coach. There was only one passenger beside ourselves. She was very large, thin, weather-beaten woman, and looked so tired and lonesome and good-natured, that could not help saying it was very dusty; and she was apparently delighted to answer that she should think every body was sweeping, and she always felt after she had been in the cars an hour as if she had been taken to pieces and left in the different places. And this was the be- ginning of our friendship with Mrs. Beu- lah Kew.
 After the conversation above mention ed We looked industriously out of the window into the pastures and pine woods. had given up my seat to her. I do not mind riding backward, and, seeing that she did, offered my place, though it sep arated Kate and me, which just then seem ed great calamity. She looked as if had done her the greatest favor of her life; and indeed, she was always the most grateful of women. was often remind cd of a remark which one of my friends once made about another: elf you give Bessie @ half-sheet offpaper, she behaves to you as if it were the most exquisite present she ever had!" Kate and I had some fruit remaining in our lunch-bas- ket, and gave of our substanc to Mrs. Kew. After the first mouthful, we look ed at each other in dismay, demons with oranges clothes on, arn't they?' said Mrs. Kew, as Kate threw hers out of the window, and Imine after it for com- pany; and after t6is we be began to be very friendly indeed. We both fancied the odd woman, there was something so honest and kindly about her.
 'Ares you going to Deephaven, dear?' said she to me; and then: sI wonder If you are going to stay long. All summer? Well, that's cleveF1 I do hope you will come out to the Light ta see me. Young folks most always like my place. Most likely your friends will bring you 'sDo you know the Shore House, the Brandon House?" asked Kate. - s.. ..,. 1 "Well as know the meeting house. Therel wonder did n''t know from the beginning; but I've been up country some weeks to see my mother, and she seemed so set to have me stop till straw berry-time, and would hardly let me come noE. He wrote me some of Mrs. Lancasters folks were going to take the Shore House, but had mt it in mind. and so you are the ones.. It's real sight ly old place, the Brandon House. T used to go and see Miss Katherine before she failed 50. She must have left a power of china-ware. She set great deal by her