The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-10
THE HOUSE ON THE HILL.

"WELLP" said Aunt Bina, volume
of inquiry condensed into the rising in
Election.
"Well, John?" said pretty Milly, in
tones softer but no whit less eager, and
jumping up, as she spoke, to help her
husband off with his coat.
John let her assist him, let her hang
the coat upon the peg and the hat over
the coat, before utteringa word in reply
Was there ever a John yet who did not
take certain pleasure in deferring the
satisfaction of female curiosity? He gave
Milly a little smile of thanks, drew a
chair for himself close to hers, held his
hands to the blaze, rubbed them, stretched
his legs out comfortably Then, taking
Milly's fingers into his broad palm, he
stroked them gently, and, regarding the
eXpectant face with twinkle in his ewes.
said, leisurely:
"Well! There's nothing to tell"
Nothing! And you gone all dayl1
cried Milly, aggrieved While Aunt Sa-
bina, adjusting her glasses with the air
of one not to be trifed with, looked
steadily at him and demanded:
''What have you been a-lookin' at,
then? You amt spent the day dom
nothin', l reckon"
Notexactly," admitted John. "Next
thing to it, though. First, l drove up to
Seth Dearborn's to see if his mother-in-
law was going to give up her house, as
Miss Pepper thought. But she amt;
she's going to keep right on as she is.
Then Mari1s Muller told me of place
two miles the other side of the West
farms, and went to look after that"
1.-TWO miles the other side of the West
Farms. o! John. Why, we might as
well go to Waterbury at once" said
Milly.
Don't be scared" said her husband,
dryly. THAT amt to be had, either
faint for sale at all Marius was mis-
taken, rs he pretty generally is. There
isn't anything at all to be had. never
saw such town as this. Business thirty
ing, and the village well off, and gas and
water and everything handy, and not a
house to be had for love or money, I'M
less you build it yourself. The only
chance for fellow who can't build is
that someone should die or move away.
And nobody ever does move away and
hardly anybody dies. call it hard lines,
if we've got to board all our days, or
visit round with you, Aunty, for want
of any other place to 90 to. However,
when said nothing, '7twasn't quite the
truth, either. Aunt Bina, who does that
old house on top of West Hill belong to?
That house back in the woods, you
know"
THAT? Why, it's all falling to pieces,
john remarked his wife; while Aunt
Sabina only answered with grim
"Whypn
"Well, l was thinking, if it could be
had for next to nothing, as | suppose it
could, it might be worth while to take it
and fix it up. / went out of the way to
have look at it. 1t is pretty tumble
down; but Judge the timbers are sound,
and | guess the outside could be tink-
cred up to look decently enough. Imade
a rough calculation that with two hun
dred dollars and giving my own time ii
could be made weather-tight and COM
Portable. What do you think, Auntyp"
81 think you'd better get the idee out
of your head jest as quick as you can. -"
"WhyP" asked Tom, in his turn.
"You amt the first person that has
tired that experiment, sald Aunt ga
bina. Fifteen years ago last Novem-
Der there was n man who took that
house. That was the last time it was
occupied. Irecollect all about it. And
| don't want you and Milly to come out
like that man and wife did"
Fifteen years! Why the house must
have been pretty good house then.
How did they come outP What do you
meanp.
"Well, she had spell of sickness on
her nerves. She amt ever been good
for much since, I've heard tell. And he
had u run of fever. He got over his,
though; and as soon as they could they
moved away. They wouldn't even live
so near the house as this, they said, SO
long as there was any other place to 60
to-"
"Why, what on earth-p' began John,
while Milly frightened her hold on his arm.
N ..