The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-06
OUR NEW HOUSE.

posed TO he habitable could well be. IL was
only new 10 US Indeed, with the excep-
ton Of the house, there was nothing new
about US Neither my wife nor myself wss,
in any sense of the word, old, and we were
still, comparatively speaking, new to each
other.
1t had been my habit, for the few years,
had been in Somerset house, to take my holi
DAYS at ldttlehampton, partly because I
liked .he place, and partlyand chiefly, be-
cause IL was cheap used to have lodgings
in the house of widow, Mrs. Compton, IN
quiet street Off the sea frontage had this
year, on my summer holiday, met there my
fate in the person Of Mrs. Compton's
daughter Mary, Just home from school |
returned TO London engaged. There was no
reason why we should wait, for | had few
friends and no near relatives living and
Mary hal the consent of her mother. was
told TINT her father who was merchant
captain, had gone TO sea shortly after her
birth. but hal never been heard of since,
and had consequently been long ago reck-
oned as with the majority" | never met
any OF my new relatives; indeed there was
not the family opportunity afforded by mar
Gtl-h uiltltI tnbNfUNit1lsI ltl t'iitAiti'ii'-
We were married in the early morning at
the church al Littlehampton, and, without
any formal wedding breakfast, came straight
away in the train. As | had 10 attend to
my duties at Somerset house, the prelinl-
naries were all arranged by Mrs. Compton
az Littlehampton, and Mary gave the re
CURED notice Of residency. We were all in
a hurry to be of, as we feared missing the
train; indeed, whilst Mary was signing the
registry was settling the fees and tipping
the verger.
When we began to look about for a house,
We settled on one which was vacant in
small street near Sloane square There was
absolutely nothing 10 recommend the place
except the smallness of the rent--but this
wss everything to us. The landlord, Mr..
Grader, was the very hardest man | ever
came across He did not even go through
the form OF civiIty in his dealing
There is the house. he said, "and you can
either take it or leave it. l have painted the
outside and you must paint the inside, Or,
il You like il as 10 is, You can have it 50;
only you must paint and paper it before you
give it up to me agaiIi--be it one year or
more"
was pretty much of handy man, and
felt equal to doing the work myself; 50, hay
ing looked over the place carefully, we de-
t.rmined 10 take it. 1t was, however, in
such terribly neglected condition that |
could not help asking my iron-clad lessor as
to who had been the former tenant, and
what kind of a person he had been to have
been content with such dwelling.
His answer was vague who he was
don't know never knew more than his
udme. He was a regular oddly. Had this
house and another of mine near here, and
t,ad 70 live in them both, and all by himself.
Think he was afraid of being murdered OF
robbed Never knew which he was in.
Dead lately Had 10 bury him-worse luck
Expenses swallowed up value of all he'd
got"
We signed an agreement to take out a
lease, and when, in few days, | had put in
order two rooms and kitchen, my wife and
moved in | worked hard every morning
before | went to my Office and every evening
after got home, so | got the place in a
couple of weeks in a state of comparative
order. We had, in fact arrived so far on
our way to perfection that we had seriously
begun TO consider dispensing with the serv-
ices Of our charwoman and getting a regular
servant
One evening my landlord called on me, 1t
wss about O'Clock, and, as our temporary
servant had gone home, | opened the door
myself ] was somewhat astonished al
recognizing my visitor, and not a little
alarmed, for he was 50 brutally simple in
dealing with me that rather dreaded any
kid Of interview To my astonishment he
began 10 speak in what he evidently mean;
for hearty manner.
Well, how are you getting on with your
touching up''
Pretty well" | answered, but touching
up is rather queer name for it Why, the
place was like an old ash heap. The very
walls seemed pulled about"
"Lndeedl' he said quickly
went on. 1T is getting into something
like order however. There is only one more
room to do, and then we shall be all right.
DO you know, he said, that have beer
thinking It is hardly fair that you should
have to do all this yourself"
must say that / was astonished as vel
as pleased, and found myself forming a r,so
luton not to condemn ever again any one foI
hardness until had come 10 know some
thing about his real nature | felt some
what guilty as answered You are verJ
Kind, Mr. Grader, | shall let you know
what it all costs me, and then you can repay
me part as you think fair"
'Oh, don't mean that at all" This wa.
said very quickly.
Then what do you mean" l asked
That should do some of it in my owl
way, at my own cost"
| did not feel at all inclined to have eithel
Mr.. GRADER or strange workmen in the
house. Moreover, my pride rebelled at thu
thought that | should be seen by real work
men doing laborers' work. suppose there i
something Of the spirit of snobbery in all o.
us. So told him could not think of sucl
thing that all was going on very well
and more 10 the same effect. He seemeC
more irritated than the occasion warranted
Indeed, it struck me as odd that a maj
should be annoyed at his generous impuls'
being thwarted. He tried, with a struggle
for calmnes, to pursuade me, but did no
like the controversy, and stood to my re
fusal of assistance. He went away in q pos
tive fury of suppressed rage.
The next evening he called in TO see me
Mary had, after he had gone asked me no
TO allow him to assist as she did not lik
him. So when he came, refused agaiI
with what urbanity l could Mary KEEP
nudging me to be firm, and he could not he'll
noticing it. He said: "Of course, if you
wife objects'-and stopped. Flo spoke tn
words very rudely, and Mary spoke out:
"She does object, Mr.. GRADER. We ar
all right, thank you, and do not need he'll
from any one"
For reply Mr. Grader put on his hat
knocked it down on his head firmly an,
viciously and walked out, banging the doc
behind him.
There Is nice specimen of a philanthroE
ut" said Mary, and we both laughed
The next day, while was in my Office
Mr.. GRADER called to see me- He was in
very amiable mood, and commenced b
apologizing for what he called "his unrul
exit" Il am afraid you must have though
me ride" he said
As the nearest approach to mendacity
could allow myself was the suppressio yer
was silent
"fou see, he went on, "your wife dislike
me, and that annoys ma; so just called t
see you alone, and try II we could arrang
this matter-we men alonen