Connecticut western news., 1884-06-18
"I,and sakes alive '" said he.

"" nc AsaueI
 day. aaAa
 Here was a cheerful welcome for a city visitor
 "But what can I do ?" said Marryatt, with helpless gaze down the darkening hillside. I came to visit him. I had not hoard"
 "Walk in, walk in,' said the old man, holding the faring candle high above his head, and fattening himself against the whitewashed wall. 'It's pretty lonesome here but there's the de- ceased's chamber you can sleep in, and I trapped a rabbit in the pine-wood this morning that Isabella's just stewing up, and"
 s'Isabella?' repeated John Marryatt.
 "She's the old woman in charge-my sister," explained the ancient warden of the castle. "Ain't much to look at, but a proper good cook"
 "But," said MT. Marryatt, 'T don't think care about sleeping in the room where Uncle Origen died." The old man stared at him with dull, glassy eyes.
 "Eh ?" said he. "Why not? You don't b'lieve in sperritooalism, do you ?"
 Nonsense I" cried Marryatt.
 'Then why ain't one room as good as anotber?" asked the old man, stolidly.
 Nevertheless, I would prefer to go on to the nearest hotel," impatiently uttered John.
 "Ain't none short O seven miles, p said the old man. ''And that's only a summer machine. They don't run it arter the waterfalls friz up. But there's freight train, with passenger caboose hitched on, that stops at Cutting Cor ners at midnight"
 "Where is Cutting Corners ?"
 "Eight miles away"
 "And how the dickens do you suppose am to get eight miles from here, when it is pitch dark already? ?'' cried Mar ryatt, with not unnatural irritation.
 "There's Jenkins's one-hoss wagon, ? mildly suggested the old man. "I'm goin' to Jenkins's directly, arter box O stove-blacking, paound O taller dips and quarter of paound O green tea for Isabella. I can tell Jenkins to come raound and cart ye to the station, eff ye don't grudge crown" ..
 "By all means" said Mir. Marryatt, hurriedly. ''And while you are gone, Isabella, as you call her, can give me some supper"
 He sat down in the old low ceiled room, where the rag-carpet seemed neither brighter nor dimmer than it had done twenty years ago, and warmed his chilled feet before blaze of snapping logs; while old Isabella, who might have appeared creditably at any tableau as the 'Witch of Endor," crept around an iron got which swung from pro- digious crane, and got supper, after 8 slow and inefficient manner.
 Pretty gay in town this winter ?'' said old Isabella, brandishing her spoon over him, in the manner of an incanta- tion, as she watched him eat the rabbit stew, after it was dished.
 ''I suppose so.
 "I'm a.thinkin' of goin' there my self," said Isabella, mumbIing her toothless jaws.
 '"To take situation ?" asked Marry att, inwardly thinking that he could not conscientiously give her recommends ton as cook.
 ''Bless your 'art, no p said Isabella. "I know sea captain there as ain't married; and they tell me the gals is all piokin' and choosin' for themselves, now that leap year has come round. Any. how, I'm tired O this place and don't see why my chance ain't as good as another's."
 Mir. Marryatt stared at her in mute amazement, while he secretly depIored the sad case of the unsuspecting sea- captain.
 ''Praps you wouldn't mind keepin' { heye on the fire," said the gentle Isa bella, "while jest go over and look tc see if Simon has locked the n-house Simon's dreadful forgetfui."
 And she hobbled away.
 At the same time there came @ loud and emphatic knocking at the outel door, and stout country girl, witt cheeks of that peculiar red which shines as If 1t had been vanished, very blacl eyes, and coarse black hair, walked in well wrapped up in a red-and-greel plaid shawl, and fearful felt hat whicl looked like damaged helmet.
 "I've come for MT. Marryatt," saiC she, without any ceremony of introduc ton.
 Instinctively our hero backed agains l. the wall.
 ''What p cried he
 "You're Mir. Marryatt, ain't you ? said she.
 'That's my name retreating still furthe behind the stiff wooden-backed chair where Uncle Origen used to sit an, smoke his pipe.
 "Well, I'm come for you. You ain deaf, be you? I'm-come-for-you
 "Yes; but-I---"
 "There ain't no time to lose," bawle, this daughter of solitudes, seizing hir by the arm. "This here's your bag gage ?" grasping the yalise in the othe hand.
 This was Leap Year with vengeance thought our perspiring hero.
 With one desperate struggle he free himself.
 "I won't go," said he. Nothing cal compel me to, against my will. "You won't?" said the red-cheeke damseI.