Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-05
OUR NEW HOUSE.

OUR NEW HOUSE.
We spoke of it as our new house simply
because we thought of it as such, and not
from any claim TO the title, for it was just
about as old and as ricllety as house sup
posed to be habitable could well be. 1t was
only new to US. Indeed, with the excep-
ton of the house, there was nothing new
about Us. Neither my wife nor myself was,
in any sense of the word, old, and we We're
still, comparatively speaking, new to each
other.
Ii had been my habit, for the few years, I
had been in Somerset house. to take my holi-
days at Littlehampton, partly because /
liked he place, and partly-and chiefly, be-
Cause it was cheap. | used to have lodgings
in the house OF widow, Mrs Compton, in a
quiet s.ree; or the sea frontage. | had this
year, on my summer holiday met there my
fate in the person of Mrs. Comptons
daughter Nary, 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
H'Ty had the consent of her mother. was
told that her father who was a merchant
captain, hal gone to SEA shortly after her
birth, but had never been heard Of since,
and had consequently been long ago reck-
oned as with the majority" l never met
any of my new relatives; indeed there was
not the family opportunity afforded by mar
riage under conventional social conditions.
We were married in the early morning at
the church at Littiehampton, and, without
any formal wedding breakfast. came straight
away in the train As | had To attend to
my duties at Somerset house. the preliIni-
naries Were all arranged by Mrs. Compton
at Lit.lehampton, and Mary gave the re-
quired notice of resiiency. We Were all III
a hurry to be off, as we feared missing the
train; indeed, whilst Mary was signing the
registry was settling the fees and tipping
the yerger.
When we began to look about for q house,
we settled on one which was vacant in
small street near Sloane square. There was
absolutely nothing TO recommend the place
except the smallness of the rent-but this
was everything TO US The landlord, Mr..
GRADER, was the very hardest man | ever
came across. He did not even go through
the form OF civilty in his dealing.
There is tine house, he said, land you can
outside. and you must paint the inside. Or.
if You like it as it is, You can have it SO,
only you must paint and paper il before You
give it up TO me again-be it one year or
fnere.n
was pretty much of q handy man, ard
felt equal to doing the work myself; so, hav-
ing looked over the place carefully, we de-
.1nine,i to take it. 1t was, however, in
81 IA terribly neglected condition that
COLD not help asking my iron-clad lessor a.
to who had been the former tenant, and
wha: kind of a person he had been to have
1eea content with such dwelling.
His answer was vague. who he was I
ont know. | never knew more than his
iaine. tie weF regular o1dity Had this
l1ase and another of mine near here, and
g=zi 70 live in them both, and all by himself.
FUNK hc was afraid Of being murdered
rJJl-d Never knew which he in.
Dead lately Had 10 bury him-woEse luck
Expens-s swallowed up value OF all he'd
got.
We signed an agreement to take out a
Lease, and when, in a few days, had put in
order two rooms and kitchen, my wife and
moved in worked hard every morning
before went o. my Office and every evening
after | got home, 80 ! got the place IN a
couple of weeks in = state Of comparative
order We had, in fact, arrived 80 far on
our way 10 perfection that we had seriously
begun 90 consider dispensing with the serv
ICES Of our charwonan and getting a regular
servant
One evening my landlord callel on me. II
was about O'Clock, and, as our temporary
7. L II
myself was somewhat astonisi,ed at
recognizing my visitor, and not little
alarmed for he was 50 brutality simple in
healing with me that rather dreaded any
kind Of interview To nv ast0nishulent he
,asau 70 speak in what he evidently meant
or n hearty manner.
Well, now are you getting on with you,
onching upIT
Pretty weli,- answered, -but touching
- Is rather a queer name for IL. Why. the
8. - was like an old ash heap. The YER
walls seemed pulled about
-Inaeesi." he said quickly.
went on. 1T Is getting int scrrethiny
Ike order. however. There Is only one more
;oosn to do, and then we shall b. al! right
DO yo1 know be said, that have bss.n
il Is hardly fair that you should
nave TO do ell this yourself
mus. say that was as;onishei a. well
Is pleased. and found myself forming r'so-
latioa no, to condemn ever again any on FOX
i.anlneSs until had come TO knov SOM
thing about his real nature felt some
y hat guilty as answered You are very
kind. Mr.. GRADER. I shall let YOU know
vhai it all costs rle, and then you can repay
me part a. you think fair.
-Oh, | don't mean that at all Tbs WAS
said very quickly
Then what do You mean asked
That | sh0sii do some OF j: in my own
way, az nv own cost
| did no: feel a, all inclined % have either
Mr. Grader or st-an-e worknen in the
house Moreover. my pride refeiIs,i a; TIE
thought that should s,s s.su by real work
men doing lsborers' work. supr,sse there Is
sorr1.thin, Of the spirit cf s1otle-y in all q
u 50 told him I could not think q sssch
a thing that all was going on very vel,
All more to thu same ELECT lie --rz,ss.
more i-ri;atei than the osraS-on warranted
Tnds,sd i. struck me AZ odd that q man
should be annoyed at his generous irnrssi-s
being th~artsi He trisd. with n str1Sgis
for CANNES. TO parsas3e mr. Ia. ! did not
Ike the controversy. and stood 70 ray re-
fuss.l OF ASSISTANCE. Re went away in pos
Tive fury Of Suppressed rag
The reI. evening b. caIssd N 20 sss ne.
Mary had, after he bad gone. ssked M not
10 allos kill u ASST. a s,se dii not Ike
hirn 30 When be caDc, refS~-t again
wi:b ~hai urtAai-y / oOslt Mary ksJs
ne 20 Be Fran. and Be oozld nos help
nothing Il; he said: OF co1-~.. II yuar
wife o.sirce<--and stopssst He Soss The
words very rssi~iy. and MARY ss,a.s oE:.
She dos obisc.. M Gras3@-. We AZ
al right, thank you. and do not n--a h-ip
FROM any Gre
For rsply Hr. G-ai3er %; IN ks hzs.
kao-kSi il d xn "a hH bad frInsr md
= icse.zslv. AMI sc-lkssi cot. hanging ths 5oor
l.esssnd him
Ther~ Is ui>e s-,r.nser of rAila=tsru7-
~ said Mary. zssi 80 bsrsh izz<n=i
The next Say vhij> wns N ny os.s~.
Nr GnsiS-r caleb 20 80 e. BE ~s< "a
very E,s.h&e MOOD ADJ cusr,n-zrs. b.
apcso,xin-x for VIA: b cais~t h. rsrxiy
eri:- ! an afr.a yoa r.sss hsss tsoasa
ne r9i<.- he ast
As - aeA-ee ssPrua.-A 70 Eeztsrisv