The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-11-06

plate on the shelf, and couldn't resist
Do you use it, may ask, or is it of any
particular value to you2 If not I might
be glad to buy it, if your-1nother were
inclined to sell. It's queer old thing,
and I should like this.'
1T belongs to my aunt-Mrs. Marsh, :"
replied the young lady, briefly. 81 don't
think she would wish to part with it,"
There was no invitation to linger in voice
or manner. Evidently she expected
them to go at once.
IT'S your aunt at home?" asked the
undaunted Mrs. Hunter. II should like
to see her if she is
"No, she is not at home" The tone
was perfectly gentle and polite, but still
with the underlying reserve and surprise
which made Mr.. Frcke feel so uncomfor-
table. Mrs. Hunter apparently did not
share his sensations.
~ must come again some day when
che is home," she went on. "It is really
a delightful old plate. What are these
letters On it; do you know? can't make
them out"
"The letters are B. H, H. They stand
for Barbara Holdsworthy Hagen" said
the girl, coming a step nearer.
"Was she relation ofyour aunt's?"
Her grcat-grandmother Allow me,
it seems to he dusty"-taking the plate
from Mrs. Hunters unwilling tinger,.
'tAnd was your aunt very fond OF here"
inquired that lady insinuatingly.
"She never saw her believe" And
putting the plate back on the shelf, she
closed the door nth gentle decision.
"You must think us very impairment
to NEEDLE with your plate without per-
mission. And indeed ~e are; but please
forgive me. 1t was all my fault; my
friend Mr.. Frekc here had nothing to do
with it, and the truth is, that I am so
foolishly ton6 of old china that cannot
keep my hands off 1t wherever it isl
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 Barbara, not even
Aunt Marsh, who had little tolerance for
pet names or nonsense of any kind.
Everybody said "Raby'' and the crisp
little title seemed to suit her better than
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 is! It seems Just
the place for story. I am devoted to
these old-tashioned houses, and they are
pulling them down so fast all over the
country, it is quite shocking. Do you
think, if I came over some day, your
aunt would let me go over it? it would
be such treat!"-thc smile flashed into
full, brilliant life, frightening the brown
eyes so wonderfully that Mr. Frekc, quite
dazed: said within himself, cit is the
most charming face ever saw" Raby
was fond of the old house. It vexed her
often that her aunt cared SO little for it,
and dwelt on its inconvenience so much
more than on its qualntness. No one
save herself had ever seemed alive to it's
merits before. Mrs. Hunter had made a
| chit"
II think aunt wouldn't mind it," she
said, half to herself, then. If you like
will show it to you now. But there is
nothing to see but the house itself, that
is really curious. I never met with an
other Ekedt.
evil you, indeed? How very kind -
cried Mrs. Hunter, with rapid, raptur-
GUS blink in Mr.. Freke's direction. Her
imagination was already at work cheap
ening 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 a disappointment
awaited Mrs. Hunter, for these rooms
were altogether unfinished. Up stairs
they met the same experience; in the two
occupied chambers the simplest furni-
ture; dust and bare emptiness everywhere
else. Even the garnet held nothing to
reward search-none of the spinning.
wheels, or antique brasses, or eight-dav
clocks with broken cogs, which Mrs.
Hunters soul coveted. Her taste for old
houses was simulated one. What she
really cared for was their purchasable
contents, and failing to find these, her in
terest visibly tagged. In vain Rally, with a
pretty graclousness, pointed out the real
ly curious points about the old dwelling
the wainscotings, the high carved chin
ney pieces, the oddly paneled shutters;
showed the recess under the flooring in
which valuables might be hidden in case
of need, the bedroom in the lcan-to adj
dition, shingled roof descended to form
part of the ceiling; and even told ghost
story, the story Of lady in a rustling
skirt, which skirt, she averred, r,,stled
still IF windy nights: she herself had
heard it. Mrs. Hunter listened without
interest. He1 thoughts were dwelling on
the old plate, and she did not notice, as
did Mr.. Freke, how excitement had quick
ened Raby's bloom and frightened her
eyes with positive beauty as she led the
way from room with a cordial, simple
grace, from which all stiffness and re-