The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-30
NUMBER II. +"
THE MYSTERY
OF THE
THATCHED HOUSE.
From the Month";

lrroH1 The Month
1t was, clean, bright, wholesome, thor
oughly lovable house. The first time saw il,
fell In love with 1t. and wanted to live In 10
at once. 1t fascinated me- When crossed
its threshold, felt ss If had opened book
whose perusal promised enchantn,enk I felt n
passionate longing to have been born here. TO
have been expected by tho brown old watchful
walls for years before it had been my turn 20
exist ID the world. I felt despoiled of INV
rights; because there was here q hoard OF
wealth which might not touch, placed mat
beyond the reach of my hand. I was tantal.
lied j; because the secrets of O sweetly odoroua
past hung about the shady corners, and the
sunny window-frames, and the grotssoue
hearth-places; and their breath was no moro
to me than the scent of dried rose leaves.
1t was my fault that we bought the Thatched
House. We wanted q country home: and
hearing that this was for sale, we drove many
miles one showery April morning to Wow the
place, and Judge if 1t might suit our need,
Aunt Featherstone objected to ig from the frat.
and often boasted of her own sagaeity in doing
30, after the Thatched House had proved itself
an incubus dreadful Old Men of the Monp.
tainS, not to be shaken from our necks. I once
was bold enough to tell her that temper. and
net sagscity, was the cause Of her dialike that
Aptsl Tnornihg We drove In 40 open piston.
and Aunt Festhe1st6ne got aosne dscvs Of rails
on her now silk dress. Consequently alss was
out Of humor with every thing.and sehemeatly
pronounced her veto upon the purchase of the
Thatohed Honss.
was spoiled girl, however; and / thought
1t hard that 4 might not have my own way
In this mstter % in everything else. As we
drove along lonely road across o wild, open
country, bad worshiPped the broken, gold
edged rsin.cloadS, and abe hills, with their
waving lines of light aud their soft trailing
shadows. had caught the shower in my face,
md laughed and dried my limp curls with my
pocket-handkerchef. l was disposed to love
everything saw, and cIapped my hands when
We stopped before the sad-lOokinS old gates,
with their messy brick pillars, and their iron
arms folded across, as II mournful1y forbiddinR
inquiry into some long hushed-up and forgot
jen mystery. When we swept along the silent
venue my heart leaped up in grestinet to the
yrsDd old trees, that rose towering freshly ct,
very curve, spreading their masses Of green
oliage right and left, and hinging showers Of
diamond drops TO the ground wbsnsver the
'reeCe lifted the tresseS of q drowsy boush, or
bird pOised itS slender weight upon q twiH.
nd then shot of suddenly into the bloe.
Aunt Featherstone exclaimed against the
ouse the very moment We came In sight of IL.
{ was not the sort of thing we wantsd at all.
he said. IL bad not got modern porch, and
was all hooks and angles on the outside.
he lower windows were too long and narrow,
nd the upper ones too small, and pointing up
bove the caves in that old fashioned, inc6n-
enient manner. To crown its absurdities, the
Dof was matched. No. no, Aunt Featbesst0ne
aid, it necessary for Such old houses to
xist for sake Of pictures and romances;
ut as for people Of common sense going to
We in them, that was ont Of the question.
left her still outside with Der ye-giasses
velled at the chimneys, and darted into the
ouH6 to explore An old womsd preceded me
iSh jingling bunch Of keys, unlocking An
Ie DOOR, throwing open Tbs sh5tts9s aud
tting the long levsls Of supahino fan cset tho
dcarpeted Hoors.t It vas sIi dsliaaohs, 1
iosehE the long dibink-foom With Ga tall
indows opening like doors uDon she bread
ayel, the Sirca1ar drAWing-Foom nith "a
roofing, the doubts Gights oe
hiding stairs, the rOomy passages, ths nu-
erous chambers Of all shapes and slses oPen-
3 one ont Of another and chasing zach other
Om end to end Of the house; and above ali,
. charming old rustie balcony, Running
dfl the waist Of the buiiding like albeit, and
Il lag enc, almost quick as = bird 6suid 13y,
ON oas Of those dear old po,hted uindoWs
der the caves down ampnrs ihs sWof.bods
Inv e-