Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-09-23

the door at the foot OF the stairs. Gals y
| said he.
Dot threw her book down, with an exclama.
| ton. - I,
''See what it is. Dot" said 1, iazlly. .I fancy
ne wants to know just what time we want that
| carriage"
.well'" said Dot, over the stair rail, with
such asperity that 1 wondered he didn't quail;
but Mr.. Stubbs was not of the stuff that
quails.
'Lessee-ye didn't want that Vaughn till
long bout three, did We? Ye didn't want 1t
right after dinner, did ye?'
laughed family. ''You might tell him we'd
like cit it about three, Dot" suggested
necessary emphasis. 81 gave you the hour"
Vase Waal, guess he'll be here bout the
right time. He's pretty sure to be along"
| With grim determination Dot shut the door
and took up her book. and we read in silence
for an hour. Then looked at my watch.
''Dot," said |, isn't that wagon coming be-
| tween half past two and three?" / think"
Seals" said familiar voice, s'its pretty nigh
| three o'clock, and the waggins here. told him
didn't b'lieve you calc'lated to 20 much before
| three"
We drove up the quiet street, by the post
office and village store combined, with It's group
OF 1dlers, who had listened with such unanimous
and fattering interest when we had given our
names on the occasion of our first inquiry for
letters. Over the bridge, and up the short hill
from the crest Of which was that broad view of
the blue water, the remembrance of which now
as write gives me a feeling Of inconsistencies.
There was something charmingly novel to us
both In thus starting out to drive, we knew not
where, and with no more definite object in view
than to see If anybody lived In any these silent
houses. Still the same down-drawn curtains,
the same grass-grOwn path to the front door the
same look of utter seclusion
mo wonder New Englanders are not Roman
Catholics" said Dot "What's the use Of con-
vents?"
"At the next house with a brass knocker 1
snail stop, knock, and walk In ii they'll let me-
VIII see If the doors are real OF imitation"
IL was some time before we came to such q
place. We were about two miles from the vii
iage now, and the houses were by no means near
together. When we did, jumped out, and with
out needing Dots ironical Inquiries as to what |
was going to do when had succeeded in effect
ing an entrance, tied the horse and opened the
gate She followed me, of course. The gate did
not move easily on its hinges, and the old-fash-
Toned flowers that had been planted each side Of
the walk twined themselves across It, and made
green matted bed out Of what was originally a
peDbled path l stepped on the large stone be-
fore the door, and raised the heavy knocker
Clang! .clang! 1t rang throughthe silent air, and
reverberated through what was perhaps an
empty house.
Dot" said I, I'm scared"
"Of course you are, said Dot, severely, "and
q IKE 10 know what you will say when they
open the door I've no doubt it's an offense
equal to petty larceny, or assault and battery at
the very least, to go to the front door when
there's side one to be had"
| turned quite pale at the thought
You've no excuse to give" went on Dot.
pitilessly, land they'll fine you, and it'll be
pretty thing to get into the Maine papers. and
be copied into the Connecticut ones, and come
tothe eyes OF your unsuspecting family"
This was gloomy outlook. but there SEEM
ed little danger of its Immediately becoming ac-
tual experience They didn't seem to mind that
knocker any more than some people do an ear
trumpet. Emboldened by the unbroken silence.
gave Dot defiant look, and let it fall again.
1t crashed louder than before. Still no sign of
life in or about the house.
Perhaps it's deaf-and-dumb asylum" sug-
gested Dot, in whisper. Why she whispered
didn't pause to ask. 1t seemed illogical and
unnecessary In the face of her own hypothesis,
but she certainly did whisper. Disturbed by
this idea, piled the knOcker four or five times
successfully, and then paused, startled at my
own rashness.
Nothing but the fact of the house being on
fire could excuse that" said Dot decisively
We waited few minutes We heard some one
coming around the house. A small girl ap-
peared, hatless and shOeless, but neat and very
pretty. l smiled in weakly way, in order to
ingratiate myself if possible, but she seemed to
De little Influenced by such forced cheerfulness.
'Ma says if twas you as knocked. YOU ken
step round to the other door, she observed at
length.
gave Dot despairing glance This was to
be the end of it, then-the other door after all!
Dot was maliciOusly amused, but we both step
ped around. A pleasant-looking woman met
us. - ..'s,s '..s.fEs'
''Wa'al. L declare fort, there was somebody
there, warn't there?" she said, with smile. Il
don't pay much attention to that front door. but
Been tryin' the knocker, amt ye? That's the
biggest knOcker there Is In these parts, guess
Won't you walk in and set DOWN.
saw by Dots expression that the burden of
the conversation was to be left entirely to me,
and felt the full consequences of my temerty
| walked in, therefore, to gain time The
kitchen which we entered was like all kitchens
familiar to country visitors. There was an old
clock in the corner, an ironing-table, small
c0oklng-stOve. the necessary cooking utensils,
and little else save that in what would have
been the chimney-cOrner but for the ugly stove
sat very old woman. She was not knitting
she was looking straight before her, and she
took no notice Of our entrance
I'VE don't hardly ever use that knocker,"
went on our hostess, who seemed really rather
pleased to see u.s. ''There don't anybody hardly
ever go to the front door anyway It's SO
much handler to come right round here"
Can we have glass Of W ater?" 1 asked,
meekly; tits so warm driving"
AS matter of fact it was not very warm
driving but neither of us thought of that. AS
she hustled off to draw the water for us at the
well, Dot said, with an air Of malevolent
triumph:
II knew you would nave TO come to it, was
sure you couldnt think Of anything else, and
drinks of water are always in Order'
Like to have you set awhile was the hos
pitable invitation extended to us. claw sakes!
no, you amt keepin' me from anythinI All
chores are done long ago. Been workin' on
this carpet more for suthin' to do"
THAT Is your mother, l suppose" said Dot
respectfully designating the old lady in the cor
ner.
mo, she's my grandmother. She's eighty
seven now. She's done power Of knitting in
her time-'most always see her with ball of
yarn-but she amt touched it now in over
week She can't hear We, nor me either-she's
deaf as an adder. You have to holler to make
her hear anythin', but hOllerin' amt done it
lately. She's been just as you see her now,
hardly mOvin', sence week ago."
"But aren't you anxious about herr" inquired
Dot.
mo. Grandmother IL come round pretty
soon. It's nOthin' but kind Of q shock she's
had. She was always easy upset, grandmother
| was, sence she was girl, and she never wanted
anybody ter take notice Of her, and she always
come round. She was kind Of shook up this
| time, guess"
"Was this shock anything like paralysis p"
| asked Dot, sympathzngiy.
"NO; twas suthin' she read out of newspa-