The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-02-24


impossible to mistake for anything else
excepta gentleman.
Pray be seated, sir,'' said, noticing
that his great age-he looked over eighty
to certainty-made him rather feeble
upon his legs.
He sat down again. and then glanced
at me timidly, as thought at loss for
suitable words with which to express his
| thoughts.
scarcely know how to explain my
intrusion" he began at last, speaking
with slight foreign accent, but other
wise perfectly clear, and employing even
well-chosen phrases. "My reasons fol-
disturbing you will no doubt seem
strange"
nodded my head in silence and waited
for him to continue.
"The fact is-that 1 lived in this house
many, many years ago"
Indeed. sir" 1put in, observing that
the old gentleman was growing more
nervous and diffident.
Yes, sir. A Mrs. Smith was the oc-
cupant at the time; butperhaps you have
no knowledge of such persona"
NO.. sir, | cannot say l have" re-
piled. my tenancy is of quite recent
date-some three years and half at
most-and Smith was not the name OF
my predecessor"
"Ah, just so; thank you. 1t is many
age; and-things alter more tt li a sifil
men. To me it seems as though it were
but yesterday"
He looked about him with saddened
gaze and l could see that some of the
recollections of his past moved him
deeply.
"In what way can l serve you, STRIP
remarked, after brief pause, DESTROYS
of bringing matters to some precise and
business-like stage.
That is exactly what it puzzles me to
explain" he answered, rousing himself
from the half reverie into which he had
fallen. "The-the question is delicate
one-one purely of sentiment-I-
Scarcely hardly venture upon breach
ing it.''
But for his grave, sad demeanor, and
the quiet courtesy of his manner, /
should have been strongly disposed to
consider my strange, foreign, noble visi-
WI luldGlC WIN llNl NY SOillC IACJuc
got astray from an asylum. Under the
existing conditions my perceptions led
me to think that the old gentleman had
some genuine and powerful motive for
doing violence to his natural timidity
and boarding Briton in his own castle.
well, sir,' | remarked, ''you will
of course understand that unless you
yourself choose to assist me little /"
"Bear with me, Sir" interrupted the
old gentleman. .meekly. when you
know all you will not fail, hope, to ex-
cuse my trespass upon your good nature
and patience. am eighty-five years of
age, and yet 1 have travelled all the way
from Brescia for the sole purpose of Wis
iting this house,
'Indeed, STRIP I once more observed,
at loss for anything more original or
fresh, "You have come long way"
Eyes, it is long journey for one so
old as am, is it not? But [ could not
make up my mind to die in peace with
out seeing the place once more"
Judging that this was all the old
gentleman required, gave him the OPP
portunity of taking good look round
the room. To my disappointment, how
ever, he seemed but little interested in
the apartment where he was sitting, and
continued fidgeting about uncomfort-
ably.
"You will pardon my presumption, "
he said, nervously, "but am little up
set at finding the house changed into a
private dwelling. 1t used not to be so
in my time, but was let out into apart
ments to all Corners"
"Really, STRIP / began, not little
astonished at this turn of the converse
ton.
''Do not misunderstood me-" he re-
sumed promptly, perceiving, no doubt,
my look of amazement. 'What mean,
sir, is that this alteration of circum-
stances makes the request l am DESTROYS
of putting extremely awkward and deli
cate. Had Mrs. Smith or any ordinary
lodging house keeper been here still, l
should not have experienced such reti-
cence"
"Pray do not distress yourself" l said,
seeing that the old gentleman was in
reality good deal put out. "You need
be under no very great ceremony with
me. am plain man of business.
THANK you," he replied, bowling with
great courtesy. Your extreme kind
ness gives me confidence. Well, then,
you must know that my object in coming
here was to visit the rooms which are
just over our heads-particularly the one
at the back, looking on to the garden.
Do express myself clearly?'
Perfectly" answered. ''One of the
rooms is occupied by myself and wife;
the other is my eldest daughters bed
room"
"Ahr'--he said-his face, which had
suddenly grown almost joyful and ami
mated for a second, falling considerably
at the latter part part of my statement
ii was sure my request would be an
awkward one, sir. /"
why STRIP asked. "Do under
stand you to mean that you wish to GO
upstairs and see those two roomsP"
Exactly" he exclaimed, eagerly.
IL was bold enough to hope that you
would grant me the favor"
Certainly, sir; nothing can be easier.
Just one word to my wife, and will
return and show you myself to the
rooms"
rose and moved toward the door.
Zone more question:" he said, in q
hesitating tone. "Have there-have
there been great changes made in the
| houseP"
Changes? In what way, sirP''