Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1880-07-15
MISS GAY.

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thrush and blackbird sing in the quiet
evening, The place is gathered into
peaceful calm, aud to find yourself in
Mauvile Square, after the dust and tur-
MOL of the city, is as great change as
for the citizen of sleepy cathedral town
to find himself on prairie with the feel
ing of inexhaustible relief always arising
from the absence of walls. But in Man
vile Square you find no solitude. Lightly
swung broughams and landaus aud victo-
rias brush over the smooth roadway now
and then you can on no line day put
your head out of front window without
hearing the laughter of rosy-cheeked chill
dren and the palter of tiny feet. Here the
sunlight seemed always to come early and
stay late. Summer loved the place and
fingered longer here than even at Kew
The square had no pretentions TO splendor
or wealth, or fashion, or distinction. The
houses were modern, well-built, whole
some and roomy. The grass and shrubs
in the Enclosure were kept neatly and effi-
GENTLY, but there was no such prudery In |
the gardening as forbade cricket to 4-year-
old boys or the laughing scamper OF chill
dren through the trees. The genii of the |
place were peace and prosperous plenty |
and courteous services No angry word |
ever invaded that Tempe of London. No |
dun ever cast shadow on its clean nag |
way or wholesome grass. The houses all
belonged to one landlord, who was rich |
man and owned property in several other
parts of London. He had made one rule |
over all his house property, and that was
to take 10 per cent. year less for his
houses than he could easily get, and to be
much more particular as to the people he
accepted as tenants than most landlords.
1t was not enough to satisfy him that the
tenant was solvent and responsible; he
would also be convinced that the sppli-
cant for a house of his was free from any
thing that could make him dlsagreesble
neighbor Those who took houses were
to be clearly informed that one of the ad
vantages of the place was that there were
to be no dodgers in Manyille Square.
When,Dr. Stephen Brooks took his house
he read the clause with satisfaction. When
man paid e130 year for house in the
suburbs he expected not to have dodgers
next door Mrs. Brooks was delighted at
the stringency of this proyiso. They had
had hard fight in the world. They were
childless. Neither was now young, aud
little responsibility becomes very accepta-
BILE in the middle of life of women, when
youth and young matronhood have. been
spent in narrow ways. For ten years DR..
Brooks and his wife lived in quiet, easy
life in the square, and then, when he was
60 and she 50, he died. He had saved a
little money-not much. When all debts
and expenses had been paid there was no
more that el 800 for the widow. Her
friends recommended her to give up this
house at once, sell of what furniture she
would not absolutely need, and take a
small house out farther. She wrote to the
landlord and he replied, saying he would
be most happy to do anything he could
for her. He recommended her to do
nothing definite for day or two, until he
had called. Between the dispatch of that
letter and the visit to Mrs. Brooks the
landlord was observed to call at every
house in the square, When he saw the
widow he was extremely polite and con-
Riderate. He hoped she would not con-
slider it impairment on his part if he
alluded to her affairs. He could not help
hearing people speaking Of her, for she
and her husband had been the most popu-
lar people in the square. Among things
he heard the cause of her wishing to give
up the house was, that her circumstances
had naturally been reduced by her
husbands death. He had ventured to
come with a suggestion, which, if she did
not feel disposed to adopt she would, he
felt sure, take as well meant. All the
people in the square were most anxious
she should not leave it, and would do
everything in their power to help her. He,
too, would be 10th to lose an old and
valued resident. Now, what he came pre-
pared to do was to cancel the sub-letting
clause of her lease.
Thus it arose in the year 1879, in one
house in Manville Square lodgings could
be secured, and that Edwin Oolthurst
lived as ledger with Mrs. Brooks He
occupied a room at the top of the house,
looking into the square. He went into
city every day Immediately after breakfast
and was not home till near 6 in the even
ing. He was quiet and unassuming, spoke
in soft low voice, and never was sc
pleased as when he could steal in and ou
unperceived. He had no companions Oh
friends. He lived altogether to himself
No one ever called upon him. He Away
came home straight from his business ant
went 10 his room. AT . o'clock he can't
down and ate some supper, mostly il
silence. Mrs Brooks had great likinl
for the young man, and often said sht
wished he would have some of his friend
with him on Sunday. But he always mad
the same answer "Thank you, Mrs
Brooks. 1t is very good of you to thinl
of it. But there is no one care to as
Just now He had taste for entomology
and reading, and he spent all his Sunday
and his evenings over his books or hi
cases of specimens. Toward the end O
May Mrs. Brooks thought he was lookn
very i'll, and attributed this to his war
of variety in life, and she feared his grea
carelessness about meals. Often at suppC
it slipped from him that he had cate
nothing since breakfast that morning
Mrs. Brooks made up her mind she woul
see he ate his supper at all events E
toward the end of May she was always
the dining room when that meal WI
served for him. ..-... ...
Early in June, while he was in IL
dining Mrs. Brooks pulled a lett,
out Of her pocket and said MIR. Col
hurst, / got letter from lady tn
morning. She has been recommended
come here by a lady who stopped here
by lady who was with me for a fe
months last year. / want to answer Ii
letter at once, and | cannot read part
the letter or the signature. Will you
80 kind as to try if you can make it out
Certainly. Let me see it. "
He took it, and, after looking at it
while, read out;
Htdr W1jam; nv friend. Mrs SAip,0l
tells me should hc lncky II You allow me
come and stay with ypu lul - fortnight
three week. business takes mu to Lundt
My niece accompanies Inc, We shall uo
two bedrooms, opening into uuu another, "a
Il private sittlngr0um, We come mp tps
II doctor lOu need not bo alarmed. 4
complaint is neither infectious uurdaugcro
An carly reply viii obIgc, yours faithfully,
HLLEN GAY
Five nights after that Miss Gay
proved to be spinster arrived with !
niece.
"You remember said Mrs. Brooks IL
night to Colhurst, AZ he ate his supp
''the letter l showed you few days a
from lady recommended to me by M
Shipstone!' ayes, the writing was
very legible" "rhat is it. Well IL
came this morning. don't wonder at
coming up to town for advice. | do
think she has many weeks life in h
She's bent on one side, as thin as char
and quite yellow and pinched. | dc
think she came day too soon, poor
lady. She isn't very old-nothing like
old as but death is in her face
death is in her face"
81 am very sorry for the poor lad
said Colhurst seriously. He had 81
pathetic nature and a serious manner.
"But her niece, Mr.. Colhurst, her ME
/ don't think / ever saw any one y.