Little Falls transcript., 1886-01-15
THE GENTLE STRANGER.

Springfield Republican. >.s q 4o5,s s,,s
us it not a lovely old house? Yes,
Love it for it's age; Iloveall old things
-old towns, old names, old china and
silver" Miss Dorothy Milton smiled
consciously. She was so young her
self, she had SO much OF the sweet de-
light OF youth, shecould bear standing
close in the gray shadow of age. <..,.
"And old people,--you like people
who are old, ] Inotice?' inquired, her
companion, Guy Carleton, a little alb
sent in his tone .....s-3 a..s~
"Ah, yes--oId people, too always.
ike the old, especially if they are ven-
cradle" ...>,~. .
Silence q moment; sunshine drip
ping from branch and bough and leaf
above them; water running, rippling
somewhere near; grass growing under
theirfeet. The two young people turn
and look up at the old house that
casts it's shadow over them as they
talk. It is q noble building; the great
stone chimney is built on the outside
it has an immensely high gable roof,
q beautiful mullioned window looks
out on the Hudson, a broad silver
ribbon OF water unrolling it's length
forever close by. Under this window
high terrace Is built with parapet,
and steps leading down to the flower
garden where among the lilacs q The
tbs blows sun-splashed water from q
big stone spout. ~ II. -
"Yes;--your home is lovely, Miss
Dolly;--it is q beautiful old house.
but since you want the ancient all
about you, what shall you do with
your country? it is such new land
ours" said Guy, who came up from
the South and had the blood of the
old fighting French commodores in his
veins from the distaft side.
'It is fault that will mend with
every century," laughed Dolly. [si
Centuries! Oh, if you are going to
talk about centuries"--said Guy i'm
patiently; when have only two days
more for this
'"rwo days.' gasped Dolly.
Il must report to the commodore
in Washington by Wednesday morn
ing said Guy, moodily. II shall
most likely besent to the East-to the
China seas.
Captain Guy stood staring blackly
at the old house where sweet Dolly
would dwell when he was gone Dolly
could only gasp--and Just then @ great
clock in the hall began to strike the
hour loudly. ~
"Five," cried Dorothy, starting up.
cob, / had no 'idsa it was so Latte
why didn't you tell me? Aunt Helen
will be so vexed; she does not like me
to neglect her guests"
She stood up, pulling light scarf and
soft lace ruff1es and primrose ribbons
straight and trim about her. .:.l
Have you nothing to say to me?"
asked Guy, but she was gone as he
said 1t, and he followed slowly in her
track ~ = .,.
In the parlor they met Aunt Helen,
also Tate, hurrying ina large, fnir
woman, with an air Of great distinc.
tion. ~,sr,>z, .. ,....
II beg pardon" she said, glancing
about her, II did not think it was SO
late.n&@I forgot the. time, and was
searching some old papers," ,. ,....
II believe Aunt Helen spends half
her days looking over those musty old
. records in the attic" laughed Dolly.
Il don t know what she expects to
tind-unless q history of rents"
Perhaps q new .will,"'' whispers a
voice On Che other side, as the party
gathers about the table. ''You know
the Millions have never been satisfied;
there was q James Milton who disap-
pearetl.'' ~a~s ,s,E. a,.l -
Hush!' whispered q neighbor,
cautioning, "You don't want them to
hear syou!" "a Il 4z.,r ... .~s,s
Capt. Guy was looking at Dorothy.
S"It would be interesting if you could
find some old romance; you should
discover a ghost,-a haunted room"
Miss Miltoncaught the words; s'Ah,
you did not know that We have
story already?" ~ s't~ q: -. 2te&5s Z
Guy laughed: a"Do tell it," za
I Its rather commonplace" sighed
Miss Milton, "but Birket, the house
keeper, believes it implicitly. It's
about the old window over the ter
race,--yo know it's broken, and it
cant be nended. A ghostly hama
I breaks it again and aayoice sighs,
Come, Dorothy! come -come! = iyzs,
Dorothy ct the table was looking
rather white. Presently she LETT the
group. Ascending a flight OF six steps,
broad and shallow, beyond the great
/ hall. she found herself on the landing
I by the mullioned window. s IT was 4