The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-07-12

these letters on 1t; do you know? l
can't make them out"
"The letters are B. II. II. They stand
for Barbara Noteworthy Hagen" said
the girl, coming step nearer.
"Was she relation of your aunt's?"
"Her great-grandmother Allow me;
it seems to be dusty"-taking the plate
from Mrs. Hunters unwilling fingers.
"And was your aunt very fond of
herr" inquired that lady, insinuatingly.
She never saw her, | believe" And
putting the plate back on the shelf, she
closed the door with gentle decision.
You must think us very impairment
TO NEEDLE with your plate without per-
mission. And indeed we are; but please
forgive me. 1t was all my fault; my
friend Mr.. Freke here had nothing to do
with it, and the truth is, that | am so
foolishIy fond of old china that cannot
keep my hands off it wherever it is"
The tone was very winning and Raby's
face relaxed in spite of itself. Barbara
Hagen Glenn was my girls name, but no
one ever called her arbara, not even Aunt
Marsh, who had little tolerance for pet
names or nonsense of any kind. Every
body said "Raby," and the crisp little
title seemed to suit her better than a
| longer and finer one could. She half
smiled; and when Mrs Hunter went on
| still in the same charming tone" What
an odd, and curious, and delightful
! looking old house this Isl 1t seems lust
the place for story. | am devoted to
these old-fashioned houses, and they are
| pulling them down SO fast all over the
country, it is quite shocking. Do you
| think, | if came over some day, your
aunt would let me go over it?-it would
be such treat! THE smile flashed
into full, brilliant life, Frightening the
brown eyes so wonderfully that Mr.
Freke, quite dazed, said within himself,
g 1t is the most charming fact ever saw"
Raby was fond of the old house. 1t
Yexed her often that her aunt cared SO
little for it, and dwelt on its inconven-
fences so much more than on its quaint
ness. No one save herself had ever
! seemed alive to its merits before. Mrs
| Hunter had made hit"
81 think aunt wouldn't mind it," she
! said, half to herself, then. ''If you like
| viii show it to you now. But there is
nothing to see but the house itself. That
is really curious. never met with an
other like il"
"Will you, indeed7 How very kindp
cried Mrs. Hunter. with a rapid, raptur-
Gus blink in Mr.. Freke's direction. Her
imagination was already at work cheap
enlng the treasures of the attic, as they
followed their young hostess down the
long entry which separated the kitchen
from the front of the house.
A large square room lay on either side
| Of the entry. But here disappointment
awaited Mrs. Hunter, for these rooms
were altogether unfinished. Upstairs
they met the same experience; in the
two occupied chambers the simplest
furniture; dust and bare emptiness
everywhere else. Even the garnet held
nothing to reward search-n0ne of the
spinning wheels, or antique brasses, or
eight-day clocks with broken cogs, which
Mrs. Hunters soul coveted. Her taste
for old houses was a simulated one.
What she really cared for was their pur
| chasable contents, and falling these, her
interest Visibly tagged. In vain Raby,
with pretty graciousness, pointed out
the really curious points about the old
dwelling-the Wainscotings, the high
carved chimney pieces, the oddly panel
ed shutters; showed the recess under the
! flooring in which valuables might be
hidden in case of need, the bed room in
the lean-to addition, where shingled
roof decended to form part of the cell
ing; and even told ghost story, the
story of lady il rustling skirt, which
skirt she averred rustled still of windy
nights; she herself had heard il. Mrs.
Hunter listened without interest. Her
thoughts were dwelling on the old plate,
and she did not notice, as did Mrs
Freke, how excitement quickened
Raby's bloom and frightened her eyes
with positive beauty as she led the way
from room to room with cordial simple
grace, from which all reserve and stiff
ness had fed.
"And now about that piece Of china, I"
Mrs. Hunter said, suddenly, as they re-
gained the kitchen. "Do you think
your aunt would be likely to be in to-
morrow? [ must come over and talk
with her about it; or perhaps, Mr.
Freke, you viii come for me if the HoI-
mans arrive and am detained?"
With pleasure"
Raby's face clouded 4 little.
81 do not think my aunt will sell the
plate, she said, in rather constrained
voice; "but she will propably be st
home"
"We can but try" laughed Mrs
Hunter. GOOD afternoon, Miss-Miss
Marsh, and thank you ever 50 much"
She swept down the walk. Mr.. Freke
paused.
at was very good of you to take so
much trouble for u.s." he said, in a tone
whose sincerity Raby recognized. every
probably your aunt may not care to sell
the plate-I should not myself if l
owned such q one-but if Mrs. Hunter
gives me the commission, ] shall certain
ly come, for the pleasure of making
another call upon you" He lifted his
hat as he spoke, and with a courteous
bow followed Mrs. Hunter down the
path.
"That's a real gentleman" solilo-
quized Raby, as they drove Off "And
she-I don't know. She's pretty, and
her voice is pleasant, but somehow
there's q difference. | don't think | like
her-quite." She had her own ideas
about life, this little Raby, about "reaP'
ladies and "real" gentlemen, and in
stinct helped her surely to conclusions
usually arrived at only by the slow
process Of experience.
Mr.. Freke did drive over next day
He was received very grimly by Aunt
Sabina Marsh, whom he found intrench-
ed, as it were, in front of her corner
cupboard, and resolved not to cede her
plate, or listen 10 any arguments on the
subject. This refusal, soOth to say,
20 LII ~ ,,.-tin1rIa or Grief 70 the dialnral