Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-10-03

the struggling grasses ofan ancient
lawn. Around the white columns
of the portico grew walnut and
chestnut trees, and in the garden
at the rear was seen rnined sum-
merhouSe and several broken stat
uos arising amid an unpruned
growth of box. Cooking their ears
cautiously at the unusualness Of the
proceeding, the horses consented
to be- guided up precipitous path
along the edge Of the declivlty,
Barclay conscious ola feeling ofre-
lief when his adventurous young
comrade had finally attained her
wish, and stood facing the moss
grown portico.
'Nobody lives here, that's plain"
said willful Caroline. "Mr. Bar.
clay, am determined to explore"
So saying, she slipped lightly
from the saddle, gathered up her
jaunty habit, and ran around thro'
the weedy garden at the side. Bar
clay, consigning his horse to a
groom, followed in time to see her
engaged in active conversation
with deaf old dame who emerged
from moldy kitchen at the rear
"She says we may have water
from the we'll, and leave to look at
this lovely river view," cried the ex-
plorer. cit appears that the house
is owned by one maiden laly,whose
family has always lived here. If 1
may trust to my hitherto infallible
powers of intuition, the mistress is
a little out Of repair in her upper
story, and the maid is afraid of
her. Come, Mr.. Barclay, turn away
at this handle. How long is it
since I have had the satisfaction Of
drinking from the moss covered
bucket that hangs in the wellf'
There, that's deliciously cold and
pure. Do you see, this garden
must have been u stately one in it's
prime. l wonder if the ancient
dragon would be induced to let US
nave glimpse of the interior OF
the housed Pin positively wild to
try"
Nobody withstood Caroline, so
Barclay was not particularly sur
prised to see her return from sec
ond interview with the old woman,
reckoning him with a mysterious
forefnger.
"We're to see the ground floor.
1t is the hour for Miss Stiiman's
afternoon nap, when she never
comes down stairs. Hush! tread
like a burglar, and follow me-"
In the wake Of the ancient guar
dian our two young people went
from one rooIh to another, filled
with handsome furniture of the pat
tern peculiar to century ago. Old
mahogany, futed freboards, stiff
chairs, convex mirrors, black-framed
mezzotints, knobs of brass or crys.
Sal, there ruled supreme, their sway
al ..iid:sputtod by the appcndages of
modern luxury az seen everywhere
today. 1t was in the best parlor
that their guide came to a halt,
waving her withered hand with a
faint show Of pride in its faded
splendor.
"That's all there is to it, she
said, in croaklng voice. 81 guess
them things is solid"
"Either [ am dreaming or that
portrait of the lady in the red frock
with balloon sleeves resembles you,"
Caroline suddenly exclaimed, turn
ing upon Barclay all astonished
gaze. "She is enough like you to
be your-what?n She paused, puz
zled by the date.
"My great-grandmothcr, great
aunt-what YOU will" said Barclay,
laughing. ~ wish I were lucky
enough to be abe to lay claim to
her, but unfortunately if we have
any weird responsibility of this
kind in the east, have yet to be
Informed OF it. My mother, who
died in my childhood, was born
west, and my father is a westerner
root and branch"
at is astonishing" pursued
Caroline; and even the purblind +
eyes of the old woman lighted
with something like assent.
"She amt no one belongin' to
her l ever heered Of" croaked the
old creature, pointing upward with
her thumb. "The last on 'em to
die was Miss Tabitha, and she's :
Miss Louise. They was great folks
once, I've heerd tell, but that was
before 1 came here. She was pinch
in poor till the city TUX the place
to run road through, an now they
say there's a forth in the bank for
her. She don't spend none of it,
sartin sure. The two of MS don't
eat more'n'd keep mouse from
starvin', am there amt nobody
else "
81 breathe freer," Caroline said,
when, after presenting a gratnity
to their guide, the two mounted
again and rode out of the enclos
ure. CATER all, I like the sunshine
best. But l wish l had seen the
queer old lady; and that por-
trait, it was simply your double, de
ny it as you may"
II am more occupied in wonder
ing if / can get my horse by that
steam.drilI down Yonder,n Edgar