Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-06-02
OUR NEW HOUSE.

We spoke OF it IS our new house SIM
ply because We thought of it as such,
and not from any claim to the title, for
twas just about as old and as rickety
IS q house supposed TO be hahitable
could well be. II was only new to us.
Indeed, with the exception OF the house,
there was nothing new about US.
Neither my wife nor myself were, in
any sense of the word, old, and we were
still, comparatively speaking, new to
each other.
II had been my habit, for the few
years had been in Somerset house, TO
take my holidays at LIttIehampton,
partly because | like the place, and
partly-and chiefly, because it was
cheap. l used to have lodgings in the
house of 4 widow, Mrs. Crompton, in
a quiet street off the sea frontage. /
had this year, on my summer holiday,
met there my fate in the person OF
Ms. CrOmpton's daughter Mary, just
home from school. l returned to Lon
don engaged. There was no reason
why We should wait, for l had few
friends and no near relatives living,
and Mary had the consent of her
mother. | was told that her father,
who was a merchant captain, had
gone 10 sea shortly after her birth, but
had never been heard OF since, and had
consequently been long ago reckoned as
'with the majority" never met any
of nay new relatives; indeed, there was
not the family opportunity afforded by
marriage under conventional social
conditions. We were married In the
early morning at tie church at Little
hampton. and, without any formal
wedding breakfast, came straight away
in the train. AS had 10 attend TO my
duties at the Somerset house, the pre-
hm.naues were all arranged by Mrs.
Crompton at Littlebampton, and Mary
gave the re uired notice of residency.
We were all in hurry TO be off, as we
feared missing the train; indeed, whilst
Mary was signing the registry | was
settling the lees and tipping the verger.
When We began to look about for a
house, We settled on one which was va
cant IN a small street near Sloane
square. There was absolutely nothing
to recommend the place except the
smallness of the rent-but this Va.
everything to Us. Tic landlord, Mr
GRADER, was the very hardest man
ever came across, He did not even 60
through the form of cIvility in his
dealings
"There is the house." he said, land
pT4 FOL ~
have painted the outside, and you
must paint the inside. Or, il you Ike
II as ii is, you can have it 80; only you
must paint and paper it before you give
It up to me again-ba it one year or
more.n
was pretty much of handy man,
and felt equal to doing the work my
self; 50, having looked over the place
carefully, We determined to take it.
II was, however, IN such a terribly ne
elected condition that could not help
asking my iron-clad lessor as to who
had been the former tenant, and what
kind Of person he had been TO have
been content with such a dwelling.
His answer WIS vague. WHO he
was | don't know Inever knew more
Than his nane. He was a regular
oddity. Had this house and another of
mine near here, and used to live in
them beth, all by himself. Think he
was afraid of being murdered or robbed.
Never knew which he was In. Dead
lately. Had to bury him-woTse luck.
Expenses swallowed up value of all
he'd got.n
We signed an agreement to take out
lease, and when, in few days, l had
put IN order two rooms and kitchen.
my wife and | moved IN. l worked
hard every morning before l went to
my office and every evening after l got
nome, so got the place in couple of
weeks IN a state of comparative order.
ne had IN fact, arrived so far on our
way to perfection that we had seriously
oegun 10 consider dispensing with the
services Of our char-wOman and getting
Irregular servant.
one evening MY landlord called on
me. 1t was about o'clock, and, as
9ur temporary servant had gone home,
I0pened the door myself. l was some
Rhat astonished at recognizing my Wis
ItOr, and not little alarmed, for he
was 50 brutally simple in dealing with
me That rather dreaded any kind of
interview. To my astonishment he
pegan to speak In what he evidently
meant for hearty manner.
Wei, how are You getting on with
your touching up?''
Pretty WELL" | answered, "but
tolehing up is rather a queer name
iof II. Why, the place was like an old
.sh heap. The every walls seemed pulled
rlndeed!'' he said quickly.
>. went on. ut is getting into some
suing like order, however. There Is
vniy one more room to do, and then we
snall be all right.''
10 You know" lie said, "that i
nave ceen thinking it is hardly fair that
YOU should have to do all this your
must say that l was astonished as
sA eA as pleased. and found myself
su.mlng resolution not to condemn
s. ef again any one for hardness until
saai ~ come to know something about his
la nature. felt somewhat guilty as
eSswered: "You are very kind Mr..
uuer. shall let you know what it