Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-12-20
A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR

There are some questions that we ask
ourselves through life to which we
never get an answer. One Of mine Isl:
Who was sheP
began to ask it more than five
years ago, Just after we were married.
Mr.. Madden and /, we made up our
minds to own little country home
somewhere, to which we could go in
the summer, when we both hated the
city with hate for which we have no
words, but scarcely more than we de-
tested crowded hotels and boarding
houses summer resorts. We were
looking for one very eagerly, but rs it
seemed. IN vain. We had had only a
thousand pounds to spend on ourwhim,
and between wretched little homes in
the poor villages and villas in the
midst Of elegant parks, which were as
far above our reach as estates in the
moon would have been, we seemed to
find nothing; and we had almost given
up the effort in despair, when early
one morning so early that we had
not vet breakfasted Our girl came
upstairs and informed me that q lady
had called, and | think she said some
thing about a house in the country.
"Such solemn kind of a looking lady
she is, and she sort of took me aback,
walking right past me, as if the house
belonged to her, into the parlor."
at is probably about a country
home. People out OF town keep such
early hours" | said. Tell the lady
will be down in a muute;' and made
haste with my hair, which was just
putting up, and slipped on a wrapper,
hoping against hope that we should be
suited at last. When | got downstairs
found Martha standing against the
wall with her apron over her face
"What is the matter, MarthaPn |
asked.
well, l dunno, num-" the girl ans
wered in a whisper Pm all sort Of
shivery and skeery. 1t was her walk
ing past me that way started it, ex-
pect
laughed Martha was full of mo
lions" and stepped into the parlor, in
which a dim religious light prevailed
for the SHADES and curtains remained
rs they had been left the evening be-
fore when the gas was lighted.
Perhaps it was cold that morning,
for at this instant it seemed to me as
if a cold wind blew over my face, and
/ shuddered violently.
A lady was standing in the middle
Of the room, fair woman with ash
blonde hair, quaintly-penciled eye
brows. a small mouth turned down at
the corners, aud a little pointed chin.
She was dressed in deep mourning.
but her veil was drawn to the right
side of her hat; and over the right
shoulder aud under herright ear ! saw
on her slender white throat a dark and
very peculiar mole.
"Mrs. Maddon," she SAID, speaking
as approached her, lyon are looking
for q country house. You will find the
house You want at Wildwood. Mr..
Joshua Mumford has it to sell at your
price exactly. Goodbye"
Withodt another word she glded
past me. ! hurried after her, but she
had already left tie house. / did not
hide my face as Martha had done, bat
| was leaning against the wall as she
had leaned, when Mr. Madden came
downstairs.
Anything the matter?n he asked
"Oh mol" / answered. II ieel
strangely that is all Such odd con-
ductt'
Then told him about my visitor.
"Odd in her manner, ! suppose,
said he Wanted to catch train,
probably
"But She looked such a wel-bred
woman, ! answered. II can not un-
derstand it in a person Of her appear
aucen
VIII Il be worth while TO 90 TO
Wellwood2n be asked.
I'VE must 20, | answered. am
convinced We have found our house
at last
We took an early train next day,
and foundaWellwood and Dir. Joshua