Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1886-05-20
THOMPSON'S HOUSE.

One very hot summer, Thompson, my
old school-friend, offered to lend me mis-
house for a month. Circumstances
more plainly, my means-would not al
low me to go abroad, dislike the sea-
side, and never 60 there for pleasure, so
gladly accepted his offer, and leaving
my hot and dusty rooms and office to my
landlady's mercy, 1 went down to the
quiet old cathedral town for a month of
country air.
Thompson's house stands in the Close,
at some little distance from the dwellings
inhabited by Canons and Dean, in those
sedate precincts
1t is very old, and was evidently built
as one large house, but for many years
it has been divided. Thompson lets the
other half. His own part has the larger
half of beautiful old-fashioned garden
at the back, and on the first day after my
arrival, l did nothing, felr, but wan
der up and down the shady lawn, and
give myself up to the pleasure Of having
absolutely nothing which must be done
in that day.
But the next morning after breakfast.
I started on long expedition in search
Of interesting church architecture, in
which knew the neighborhood was rich,
and about which / am an enthusiast
natural, perhaps, as am an architect.
On my return that evening / found
Thompson's good housekeeper is
not married-rather anxious at my late
hours, and excited at the arrival Of new
tenants next door. They had been ex-
pected apparently for some days, and
Mrs. Morse was most anxious that they
should prove as quiet and inoffensive as
the last tenant, deaf and paralytic old
lady, "who never annoyed master nor
me in the least, and she was there before
I came-fourteen years ago last May,
that is. Y
All this and much more Of her fears
and anxieties lest the new neighbors
should give noisy parties and keep late
hours, ssas they did next door where I
lived last, which was why left, sir, for
their noise was dreadful Mrs. Morse
told me, as she held in her hand the
toast which she had brought in for my
tea, and which, in her abstraction, she
forget to set down.
Not until she had at last shut the door
after her good-natured gossip, and I had
found the toast decidedly cold, did I re-
member that had heard a piano the
night before, as I sat and smoked, ap-
parently played next door. l accounted
for it by imagining that some one must
have arrived there sooner than Mrs Morse
knew.
She told me the next morning that the
new neighbors we're only young lady
and her aunt, and on hearing this 7 most
successfully Gained her fears Of the night
before.
During the next week spent most of
my days in sketching an early English
church near, which I had discovered
with great pleasure; and in the evenings
smoked many a pipe while listening to
the piano next door, Generally, 1 am
unreasonably irritated when am obliged
to listen to other peoples pianos against
my will; there is something very trying
in being obliged to submit, without
remonstrance, to hear whatever they
may be moved to play, or-worse still
practice.
But this was different. It was, I
thought, woman's touch, and she
played well--chiefy old airs and sonatas
Of Corelli. ! am very fond Of old musi-
clans, and there was in this playing of
them something very gentle and sooth-
ing.
One evening, at the end of that week.
/ found, on coming in, note, which
opened, and read in great surprise:
sMiss Ethel Mayne would be very
greatly obliged if Mr. Wyndham would
not allow his piano to b used at SO late
anhour. Miss Mayne asks this for the
sake Of her aunt, an invalid, who is
greatly disturbed by it.
Tread this note over and over again.
each time with more amazement. How
could I explain, without seeming rude
and brusque, that not only had never
played during my stay here, but that the
house did not even contain pianog
Thompson is not in the least musical.
The more thought Of it the stranger it
appeared One thing was certain-the
piano which disturbed them must be the
same as that to which had listened on
SO many evenings. At last decided TO
call next morning, and explain better
than note could that was not to
blame. Ibid 50, about IL o'clock next
day, and was shown into drawing-room
wearing the he3uncomfortable look common
to ncwly-arranged rooms, before they
had time to receive any marks Of the
owners characteristics.
n few moments the door opened,
and tail girl, with dark hair ana sweet
face, came III. She bowed az / rosa and