American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-06-12
TIE QUEER FAMILY NEXT DOOR.

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TIE QUEER FAMILY NEXT DOOR.
"Weu, you can do as you please,
mamma, but I shall call upon them,"
said Stella Walters, withsa defiant toss
of the head.
but, my DEAR" her mother remon-
stratcd, gently, '.you know nothing
about them"
al know that they've taken the Stu
art House, furnished it sp,endidly, and
had the grounds put in beautiful order.
, know they're very stylish, and there's
neighborhood is so stupid and poky, 1
shofild think you'd be glad to have me
make pleasant friends"
You know l am glad" answered
Mrs. Walters, ..but can't think it safe
to make acquaintances YOU know abso-
lutely nothing about. They come here
without letters of introduction-tha
we know of and they attend no
church,
"What do care where they came
fromr' Stella burst out, scornfully. "or
where they go to church! or whether
their grandfather sold soapi know
they look nice, they live in beautiful
place, and have plenty of money. and
Il III uOt SOiug " NC ticu dOWu ny any
old-fogy notions about family connec-
tions,' or any such stuff.
But" went on Mrs. Walters, '.there
is certainly something queer about
- them. They keep no servants, that we
have seen, and the gentlemen are often
at home all day, as though they had
no business; besides, no one ever calls
upon them, and they scarcely ever go
out"
'sJust as il that were a crime! Why,
you scarcely ever go out yourself. and
they have no calls probably because
they're strangers, and most people are
SO cowardly that they daren't call until
they have been introduced, and know
what Mrs Grundy has to say about
them hate such thingsr'
1t was plain that the more she said,
the more determined Stella became; so
Mrs. Walters made no reply. 1t was
years since she had been able to control
her daughter, and il seemed quite too
late to attempt it now.
As soon as Stella finished the flower
she was embroidering, she left the
room. Iua few moments, her mother
heard her ring the bell for her maid,
and she knew that Stella was dressing.
After awhile, she saw the sef-wflled
girl, in her most elegant calling cos
tune, taking her way to the Stuart
place, which was the next house to their
own.
Stella slowly walked up the long APP
proach to the grand hosse, revolving
in her mind who she should call for
since she did not know the name of the
family-and admiring the beauty of the
freshly-decorated grounds
Its qneer that the outside door
should not be OPEN" she thought, as
she went up the broad steps and rang
q the bell Taa4 H. r,,-
Several minutes passed. and there
was no response. She rang again. She
heard blind opened very softly from
above, and in a few moments steps came
e to the door. Keys were turned, chains
let down, and the door opened slowly
and with apparent caution.
A stout-looking middle-agcd woman,
with her sleeves rolled up, and flour ON
her apron, stood there.
what did you want, miss" she
asked, shortly.
. 81 want to see the ladies'" answered
= Stella. haughtily. Il came to call on
them she added, as the woman
seemed to expect something more.
"Ohr' said the woman. 'Tll speak
10 them;'' and she closed the door and
went away.
ri =.sWhat rudenessr' thought Stella,
p with burning face. "No doubt she's a
stupid country thing. l shouldn't think
they'd keep her.
But now the door opened again.
"You are to send up your name," was
the message she received.
well, / declarer' thought Stella,
feeling insulted, and half-inclined to 60
home without calling; 'the ladies are
as;queer as the servant; but perhaps
they are foreigners"
That thought quieted her rising in
dignation, and she waited, after send
ing up. her card, till the rough servant
came again, opened the door, and asked
her in. y
The parIor into which she was shown
was furnished in a costly and fashy
manner, though it was so dark she could
scarcely see.
dear mer' she thought; "this. Is
dismal enough! don't see how they
can bear to be so shut up, the grounds
are SO pretty to look out on. But what
lovely things they haver' she thought
looking eagerly around at the fine fur
nishings.
After few minutes. without having
heard sound, she suddenly became
conscious that lady stood in the door
looking intently at her. The blood
rushed to her face, as though she had
been caught stealing; though when she
came to think of it afterwards, she saw
that it was the lady who should have
blushed.
IL beg your pardonr' she STAN
mered; (" / did not hear you had come
in,e and / was noticing how beautifully
you have fixed up the old house,
On this, the lady came forward slow
ly. called her by name, asked her to b.
seated, and sat down herself, but il
b" an uneasy manner, as though she ex
pected to hear some business.
She was "a very pretty woman, abou
thirty years of age, dressed in a sill
and lace morning dress; but she had al
anxious expression that surprised Stel
In, in the midst of so much luxury.
Stella chatted away Of neighborhoo'
affairs, of how pleasant that the oil
house, which had stood empty a year
was taken at last; expressed a hop
that they would be neighborly, ant
SO on
Gradually, the lady seemed to grow
- more at ease. and after while she tool
part III instrumentation, and began t,
ask questions-very politely, but afte
all, rather searching ones, as Stella re
=. -HHembered afterward.
Who lives on the other side of us
How many gentlemen are there in tn
house? Was her mother able to e
out? and where was her fatherP Ha
they any trouble in getting good sery
antsp and how many did they keep?