South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-05-12
A sTRAN NOE sToRY
sY CHARLES .. .rwro..

ire OF my cosy little library. perusing
the pages or q new work on psychology,
which l had received day or two lie.
fore. when the servant entered and han.
ded me letter from my old college
chum. George Ingram. inviting me down
to his place to spend the holidays
George and had not seen each other
for upward OF fifteen years, though we
had corresponded occasionally during
that interval. 1 had always thought
much Of George. and am confident he
entertained toward me the strongest
feeling Of friendship. read the letter
over several times. There was an air
OF mystery about it which excited my
curiosity. Ur
BE sure to come" he wrote. Though
the place is very dnll think, rs we
have both passed the heyday Of our
youth, we can manage to enjoy our.
selves in quiet sensible manner. am
anxious to shake you by the hand again.
old boy, and. over something hot, review
the past, and laugh over the thousand
follies Of youth. Besides, Iwish to con-
suit you about matter of much impor-
lance to myself and another. Don't
mistake my meaning. Though the per-
son referred to is female, am not in
sane enough to contemplate matrimony
Mt my time of life. l shall expect you
on the afternoon train, and will be at
the station when it arrives
What can be the nature Of the affair
upon which he desires to consult me?"
l unused.
After some deliberation, l decided to
accept the invitation. Rising early the
next morning, | packed my valise, took
the early train. and at three O'clock that
afternoon stood upon the Plainville sta.
ton, warmly shaking the hand of the
friend Of bygone days.
George was n man on the shady side
of fifty, and, rs his letter would imply,
n bachelor. lie had, after years ofpov.
erty and disappointment, come into pos
session, by inheritance, of q distant
relative. Not large fortune, but suf.
ticient to enable him to live comfortably
and enjoy life in his own peculiar fash
ion. lie had purchased the homestead.
which ut his fathers death had been sold
TO satisfy the horde Of clamorous credi.
tors where, rs had heard. lived in Sc.
clusion with only his books and a very
deaf and half-blinded housekecper, Mrs.
Badger by name.
AS We made our way over the rough,
frozen road, behind q very aged, used-up
horse, ventured to ask my companion
the nature Of the affair to which lie had
so mystericusly referred in his letter.
81 will explain that TO you to-mor-
row.. was his reply. NO business to-.
day
! And so the subject was. much to my
dissatisfaction, disposed of for the time
| being.
An hours ride brought us to the house,
which was built offs stone. after the Dutch
style of architecture, and stood some
distance from the road in the midst of
clump of trees, leahess and bare,
standing out in bold relief against the
horizon, resembling the skeletons OF
some strange monsters thrown together
in heap upon the rising ground.
Dinner was waiting our arrival, and
having made some alterations in nv tot.
let, | was ushercd by my host into the
spacious old dining.room. We had just
taken our seats at the table after my in.
PRODUCTION to Mrs. Badger, who imao.
med, from the vinegary expression of
her countcnance, was not over.pleased
with my appearance, when the door o.
pencd, and girl of perhaps eighteen
not more-quietly entered the apart.
ment, and crossed to the place opposite
me. l was very much surprised ut the
appearance OF one of whose presence in
the house / had not received the slight.
est intimation, and must have stared ut
her in very awkward manner, for her
eyes, which had first met mine. sought
the floor. and her cheeks colored deeply.
30. thousand pardons, Mat" ex.
claimed my host; this is my niece,
Miss Ingram
/ clumsily acknowledged the intro.
duction. and it was not until the meal
was almost over that regained my self.
possession. j felt confident that my
friends niece was the person so vague.
i ly referred to in his letter. After dinner
VIC retired TO the library. Miss Ingram
babe us goodnight quite early i'm the
evening. after which George brought
out some cigars and made some negns.
over which, enveloped in a cloud of
smoke, VIC recalled many a wild prank
Of dare devil adventure enacted i'm tho
Inadcap days OF youth. 1t was not un.
I'll the clock struck one that +, lamp in
hand, and followed 10y George, assembled
the stairs TO my room. We parted at
the door, lac promising TO wake me early.
The apartment which was to occa.
~ was large and square, and had two
+ dormer windows in one side. through
which the pale December moon shone.
The furniture, which consisted Of bed.
stead, wash-stand, and few chairs was
maple, and Of 4 style quite obsolete -
such as is found within old farmhouses
in out-of'the-way places, where the taste
Tor oiled black walnut and polished rose.
wood has not yet reached. Upon the
walls hung a few steel cngravinea. neat.
4 ~ framed
AS was fatigued with my tourney
and the negus had made me drowsv. I
was soon in bed. and. in less time than
u takes to write it, had passed into
| dreamland.
had slant t,rc,I.lT..