Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-06-06
''TO Let---Kipple Grange. %

HAA' A0ASJ A0 6oSJ
houses on his list in his time, but never
one so persistently, unalterably, perse-
veringly on his list as Ripple Grange.
Year after year it had figured on bis
books as Desirable Country Residence
to be had on Reasonable Terms;" year
after year it had hung hopelessly on his
hands.
Nor was Mr.. Pixley the only real-es-
tate agent who had wrestled, SO to speak,
with Ripple Grange. Other land-bro-
kers and rent-collectors had had their
'.try" at it, with equally unsatisfactory
results. 1t had been advertised in news
papers, and pasted up on bulletin-bcards
and still it remained "Kipple Grange
To Let.'
"Hang the old place." said Mr.. Pix
ley vehemently scratching his bald head.
Il wish it would burn down, or blow
away, or something 1t is disgrace to
a business man to keep such an eyesore
on his list. I've great mind to put
old Miss Briggs into it. to keep it in or
der till can get better tenant. She
wants place cheap. I'll let her have
Ripple Grange for nothing"
So when Miss Briggs came tiptoeing
into the real-estate ofice-a faded, mel
ancholy little old maid, leading her ter
rier dog by its string, and wearing
green veil to neutralize the spring winds
Mr.. Pixley told her that Ripple Grange
should be hers, for the present, at least.
you'll very probably find it lonely"
said he.
IL dote on the country" said Miss
Briggs.
"And very much out of repair" he
added.
81 don't doubt but that it will do for
me" said the little old spinster, her fa-
ded eyes Frightening.
Probably, also there's a ghost about
the premises, "jocosely uttered the agent
Miss Briggs shook her head with
sad smile. "It's live people I'm afraid
Of" said she, 'not dead ones"
"Well," said Mr.. Pixley, "Kipple
Grange shall be yours this quarter, if
you'll fix up the garden little, and
give the place Gved-in sort of look. Of
course it will be for sale, and | shall
expect you to do your best for our inter
ests."
And Miss Briggs courtesied, and said
"Yes. [ WILL" and withdrew, greatly
elated in spirit.
Upon the same day, the 25 of April,
Mr.. Beggarall, the real-estate agent of
Dorchester, let Ripple Grange to old
Mr.. Hyde, who was naturalist and
botanist and an entomologlst, to say
nothing of half dozen other ists, and
who wanted quiet country home, with
woods and meadows in its vicinity, so
as to prosecute his beloved sciences.
And MacP Pherson & Co., of Long Island,
made bargain with the Rev. Mr.. Bel
lairs, an invalid clergyman, who was in
search of country air and complete re-
pose. Mrs. Bellairs was pattern house.
keeper. and gloried in the prospect of
bleaching. new-laid eggs, wild
raspberries, and plenty of plums and
apricots for preserving purposes.
And, strangely enough it never occur
red to any of the three real-estate agents
to let the other two know of his action.
There is never any demand for Kip
pie Grange" said MACPHERSON & Co.,
indiferently.
an write to Pixley and old Mac
when I get time, "said Beggarall.
There's no hurry about Ripple
Grange" thought Pixley. "If Miss
Briggs keeps it from tumbling to pieces,
she will do very WE'LL"
Meanwhile Mrs. Ripple herself, the
plump widow whose grandfather ON her
husbands side had bequeathed her this
impracticable piece of property. began
to think of running down to look at it
herself. "They tell me there's no such
thing as letting it," said she. "I've a
mind to 60 down and see for myself.
One really pines for the country, now
that they are selling lilac blossoms and
pansies in the streets; and I'm quite
sure that change of air would do me
good. I'll take Dorcas, my maid, and
few cans of peaches and sardines, and
we'll picnic at Ripple Grange, just for
the fun of the thing"
"It never rains but it pours," saith
the ancient proverb; SO upon this windy
blooming April day, when the sunny
meadow slopes were purpled all over
with wild violets, and the yellow narcis-
sus was shaking its golden tassels over
the neglected borders of Ripple Grange,
the old brick house, which had stood
empty for six good years at least, be-
came all of sudden alive.
1t was an ancient mildewed structure
on the edge of wood, an old red house
whose front garden, tangled over with
rose-briers, and grown with the fantas-
tic trunks of mossy pear-trees. and ap-
| ptoe bot loooaJ o1r,o,& L.