Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-10-04

4 hestS oiu oPihSeSt w hS', $50 80
rooms are very large and dreary looking
but dare say can hire little furnitur
in the village, and the garden is reall
superb. l never saw such tulip roots il
my life. And the little brook twinklinl
at the foot of the wall is an idyl in it
SELF"
Miss Briggs, who had good deal O.
poetry in her starved soul. set down tht
can, and reached over to look out Of tn,
window at the golden western sky.
$50 quiet, too said she; 80 Sc
cluded -
But to her amazement, even as sh'
looked she perceived the figure Of stou
old gentleman. bald and specialized. ant
carrying an immense fiat travelling cas-,
under his arm, who was picking his wa!
among the rose.briers that lay prone
across the path, stopping here and there
to examine the growth Of silver-gr
houseleeks On the garden wall.
Miss Briggs, who was somewhat near.
sighted, jumped at once to the conclusion
that this in,erloper was tramp. She
hurled the tin can recklessly down into
the budding currant bushes.
"Go away" she cried.
Mr.. Hyde peered upward, with one
hand back of his ear, "Eh, - said he.
"Or I'll set the dog on you," squeaked
Miss Briggs. encouraged by the shrill bark
Of the terrier.
Woman" said the scientist. "who ART
you"
"rll let you know" said Miss Briggs,
waxing more and more excited in her in
dignation. "How dare you ,respass on
my premises =
How dare you trespass on NINE" re.
torted the old gentleman, curtly.
"He is a msdman," thought Miss
Briggs and she remembered, with thrill
of terror that there was no key to the big
front door and the bolt was rusted into
two pieces.
At the same moment the sound Of
whooping voices was heard through the
wide, echoing halls. and three chubby
lads rushed hilariously in, tumbling one
another as they came.
Hurrah - they shouted; "hurrah
Ain, this jolly old cavern of house /.
Ny here's fire and here's an old
woman" !"
Miss Briggs, who had drawn her head
in from the window, stared at three cher
ry-cheeked invaders. who returned her
gaze with interest.
Boys" said she severely, "what are
you doing here"
Why" said Master Bruce Bellairs.
ata eleven. Its our house. And pa
and ma are helping unpack the cart at
the south door. And have got red
bird, and Johnnys got brood Of Brahma
chickens in basket, and Pierre has 4
monkey
But, boy" said Miss Briggs, with a
little hys,erical gasp. this is my
house"
"No, i, amt" said the three Masters
Bellairs, in chorus Its ours. We've
rented it for year. and pa and ma are
down stairs"
lis that your pa" said Miss Briggs,
with a sudden inspiration, as she pointed
to the old gentleman in the garden, who
stood stock-still. like the Egyptian obe-
lisk.
"No, indeed" said Pierre contemp,u-
ously.
Nothing Of the Sort" said Johnny.
"Our pa ain, such guv as that"
chuckled Bruce.
II think must be asleep and dream
ing." said Miss Briggs, as the door op-
ened. and a stout, blooming ma,ron en-
tered upon the scene, with kerosene
lamp in one hand and basket Of care
fully packed china in the other, while
from her finger depended bird-cage.
"My good woman" said the Reverend
Mrs. Bellairs, suppose you have come
here to see about situation. If you can
bring good references as to character"
"You are entirely mistaken, madam, ="
said Miss Briggs, with energy. Il am
here because"
But at this moment Mrs. Ripple her
self, with Dorcas her maid, entered the
room. She was tall, handsome woman,
dressed in elegant mourning, and she used
an e-glass as she talked, and somehow
she seemed to take up great deal more
reom than anybody else. Mrs. Bellairs
set down the kerosene lamp and the bird
cage, Miss Briggs's terrier stopped bark
ing, and the three boys instinctively re-
tired behind the starch box.
"Who are you all :" said Mrs. Ripple,
surveying the scene through her eye.glass.
"And how came you all to be here :"
81 have taken this house." said Miss
Briggs. with dignity.
$50 have we" said Mrs. Bellairs.
$50 have /" declared the bald headed
old gentleman, who had by this time
made his way up into the ruby light of
Miss Briggs's fire, and stood there, close
ly hugging his fiat travelling case.
dear me-! said Mrs. Ripple "this
is very singular. And 1 have come
here because the house wasn't rented at
ALL"
And then ensued general chorus Of
explanations. laughter. and depreciation,
the general effect of which was heightened
by single combat between Master Pierre
Bellairs's monkey and Miss Briggss ter
rier.
"What are we to do ;" said Miss Briggs,