Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-24
A RARE CASE.

fields had been turned up BY the plOw, the clay
showed reddish brown when the fog lifted
everywhere else tender green hue was spread
from the thin ears OF spring wheat or the grass
on the pasture land. The spot was so little
lonely In reality that noises from the town
mingled with the murnur OF the waves upon
the beach below.
You might have fancied It a place from
whence no cry for help could be heard; place
for misanthrope to live alone In; a fitting
spot 10 De the scene OF waySide robbery. De-
Olate IL certainly was, without any fancy In the
matter. Nothing like tree sheltered IL; mere
were only the fields. the sky. and the waste Oh
waters beyond the cliffs edge. The plaster had
fallen from the walls and left brown patches on
them here and there The garden was over
grown with weeds. and one or two 0utOultuinSS
at the rear had been suffered 10 fau altogether
into diSrepar. The fact was the mouse was no
longer used as the dWe!Iing-nousee 10 tne arm arm
could be fOnnd 10 take IT, Meantime III was IN
charge OF a Young woman scarcely past girl
hood " lao was leaning against the top bar o.
tie gate aIa looking out into the fog.
She might have Z, ga watching for the tena3
tLa; lever came. for at every sound upon the
rood ste listened intently. and turned her head
e. follow with her eyes the different vehicles
thai from time TO time came out of the fog on
her right baud 10 vanish into the fog on her
LEFT. Ike phantom visitors from aworld beyond.
Perhaps this idea OF phantom visitors had
suggested Itself TO the girl, for her eyes looked
heightened, aud her restless glance BETRAYED a
mind i'll at case. Her lips moved, too, as though
nom living much alone she had contracted
habit OF talking to herself. Indifferent pass.
ers-by. CHANGING TO notice the figure at The
gate, saw only Just the sort of person one would
expect TO see in such a place. Others who
locked more attenttvely might have seen an I'M
happy. terrified gil, not yet accustomed to the
place she filled just now: one for whom il might
have been better to have a friend at hand: one
for whom IL might not be We'll TO live alone.
She be there again." remarked one OF two
men, walking at the head of a team of horses
drawing WagOn-lOad or Goals.
she be always there replied his companion.
I've come along days, and Pve come along
nights; I've passed by Stonedene in fair weather
and In storms as threatened TO send the wagon
over TIE Gill: ana days or nights, fair weather
or foul, I've seen her on the watch
On the lookout for tenant for Master
Drew, said the first speaker, cracking the long
cart-Whtp in his hand.
Aye; so IT would appear"
=" Yet the house doesn't let remarked the
ether. looking back over his shoulder as they
PASSED the gate.
Nor it won't let, Why, who'd take it? Who.
In their senses. leaStwiSe?"
Along OF 1t oeing that much out of repair,
You mean?"
IL don't mean no such thing What's aday'5
work or so about place like that? IL won't let
because It's an unlucky house. Drew Is an I'M
upon the house. Who but Drew would have
pul mad woman in for to take charge OF it?
There spell upon 1t, say
Both men looked back. but the house was no
longer visible; the fog hid ii.
Inc next person TO pass along the road was
Drew himself; and 1t must be allowed that il
DitN Ndo 1tdtlS dill man, ne tailed TO
look the part There was about him certain
cheerfulneSS Of aspect that might have DENIED
the worst ill-luck could do him. 1t was in the
cheerfuleSt of voices. too that half checking
the horse in the shafts OF the light cart ne
drove, he called out greeting TO his care-taker
as he went by or would have gone by, had not
an lmploring gesture of her hand induced him
10 pull up altogether.
The gate at which she stood opened upon a
farm track leading to the crest OF the Downs.
The door OF the house was at the side of the
no. Id
woman now threw open.
Must turn in. ma amp said the farmer, in
his hearty voice. We'll, If there's no help for
il, suppose must, though time presses with
me this afternoon"
"Do trouble you so often that you grudge
me few minutes? When l asked you to leave
me here promised to give no trouble; have
kept my word, she said
"You haye-to be sure you have; the more
reason | should turn in now, or at any time
when you make a point OF it. Maybe it is in
my interest you make point Of IL to-day; you
think l should see to the place bit; there's
more plaster fallen. No chance OF tenant with
1t is an unlucky house, or so they say she
replied, glancing careleSsly round upon the
fallen plaster lying where it fell and the tangled
81 don't hold with ilI-luek. Law bless you.
ma'am, I've seen too much of life for that. A
man makes his own auckland woman too
The girl shook her head impatiently.
Il tell you they call it an ullucky house
What has il been to me2 and yOu-did you do
so well here that you can afford to laugh at tn
nOtien?r
Times were hard he sud; '.luek had nargh'
to do with IT; and times have mended with IN
since. But ii you don't like the house, why no
leave ITO
Il must earn my living" she returned
quickly. He would be better pleased should
do Il at alone. as am here, than In the old way.
j an sure OF it. Mr.. Drew"
''If the house let's began the farmer: but
she cut short his speech.
"If il lets will come back 10 you; but till II
Goes some one must be here, and why not "a
well as another? There was gentleman came
10 look over it only the other day
You told him what lonesome-seemng place
ii was, for all it stands so near the town." said
the farmer with somewhat rueful look upon
his round and CHEEKY countenance.
% / did, she replied, eagerly; land how the
wind sweeps across the Downs: or when it
blows from the sea on stormy days is so strong
and fierce you can scarce keep your feet out
side the door,"
And how warm it Is in summer" Drew sug-
gested.
Certainly; | told him that as well-how
there Is no speck OF shade anywhere within
sight, except the shadow thrown By the house
itself-an unIucky house, Mr.. Drew
:" Aye; I've no doubt you told him all about
II. and that he went away fully satisfied. aud
with no notion OF coming 70 me or OF wanting
any further information, said Drew. dryly.
that get no tenant
He knew very well that he should get none as
long as this woman was here; this woman who.
H.
count it the greatest that could still befall her
should she have TO leave Stonedene.
You have heard nothing she asked after
moment OrtwO or silence, during which ner eyes
turned again to watch the road before the gate
''IOu would be sure and tell me il you had III
was 10 you he Said-what did he say: Tell me
the words again." She drew a step or two nearer.
and laid her hand upon the side or the cart as
she spoke.
:" 1t was on the Downs" he began, but she
interrupted him again, and took up the tale her
sell.
Yes, with the sheep feeding all round You
two were alOne-he had sent me back. The
bells were ringing in the churches OF the town
i hear them now; IL was on the Downs. and he
said
1--WE walked bit together Drew went on
as though by lengtheling the narrative. he
sought TO calm her. and yet knew It would all
end as IL had ended many times before 1T
was a summer afternoon and everything was
very still and peaceful and when 1t came to
goodbye between US, ne Just wrung my hand
and said, Take care OF my wife, Drew, till come
back
It'll he comes back oh, listen TO the waves
upon the shore" she cried It'll he comes
back and with that fell TO bitter weeping
Her distress, which he had seen growing and
which he knew OF Old would overcome her at
the repetition OF the words, he would have
spared her II he could, bat which she forced
from his lips each time they spoke together
had an odd effect upon Drew. The respectful
tone In which he had hitherto addressed her
changed at once 10 one more familiar; he Ieant
down from the cart and patted her upon the