Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-08-23
HALLEck DUBEArx's INHERITANCE.
A Ghost story Of the Connecticut Valley.
Mass Republican.

The second autumn month Of a year
not long past, found Miss B. Anna Man
ming and her sister, MISS Lillian b. Man
ming, settled in their new home. But
their new home was the Oldest of those
tyambrel. rooted houses that vouch for
the antiquity of the New England village
of Glenfeld. II has fascinated these birds
of passage, "the Manning sisters" las
they were collectively called when they
were summer boarders in the old town
during the previous season. Resolving
TO be no longer either summer or winter
boafders; they had bought the old house.
80 this October evening found them rest
ing at laet beneath their Summer tree"
in what Miss Lillian b. chose to call, after
past New England fashion, "the living
room" The flickering light of the open
fire, glancing over the polished andirons
aud broad stone hearth, showing room
with deep window seats and finally panel
ed wainscotinR. IL showed also the sen
sibIe face Of Miss @. Anna Manning; a
woman of about 30, who wore her brown
hair combed smoothly and shiningly
back and her brown dress with smooth
and shining linin, at neck and weist. She
was leaning back in an easy chair regard
ing meditatiyely figure on the rug at
her feet This did not belong 20 the
Indian rug, but to Miss Lillian b. and was
extended in the attitude of Correggio5
"Reading MaRdalen."
Miss Lillian was something of an artist
herself, she had studied in Europe. Yet it
must be confessed that she attained her
greatest artistic success in draping and
posing her own pretty figure. This eve
ming she wore gown of soft, yellowish
silk with bit of rose color and rich old
lace at her dainty neck and wrists, and
the freight might we'll revel in touching
her golden hair. She had been told by u
lover of hers, a rather poor and clever
New York artist named Haleck Dubeaux,
that this hair of hers had been made to
ensnaro the wandering sunbeams. Miss
Lillian had saucily asked if he meant TO
refer to himself as a sunbeam; for Halleck
Dubeaux had long since admitted himself
ensnared.
Tonight she was questioning herself
seriously. She had known Halleck Du-
beauz always" Could their friendship
become more perfectY In the past sum-
mer's sketching days, Halleck had again
asked such question, which twice before
she had put OFF answering. II begged
her TO answer it before he should leave
for his winter in Paris She at last found
it worth thought, and was looking pensive
and very lovable, when Mise Q. Anna sud
denly exclaimed, as though she had re.
ceived reAelation all at once
''Get right up from the floor Lilianl
You will take deathiy cold. We must
remember that country floors with conn
try cellars under them are not city floors
with Easements below"
Miss Lillian assumed sitting posture
straightway, remarking in an astouished
tome
Goodness, Nan! Won't You please
mention it, the next time you are about to
speak in that wayg The mental shock
caused by your late remark has dislocate9
my cerebellum"
"But you must remember that country
floors are not city hoors,' reiterated her
sister seriously.
"My beloved Nam" replied the young
lady addressed, rising and gestioulatiHg
dramatically, do | not know the superior
ity Of country floors over those of any
CITY, be they on Back Bay or by the way
of NaplesY Have We not sought fer years
n floor-with a ROOF over IL, of course-in
a position that should combine the Pic
turesQue aud the Economically This we
have found in the country; and it has a
secret staircase, And you krn~ Nanny
Manning" she continued, seating herself
on her sisters knee that we don't find
fault with anything here. We only do
that about what never vas here; par
exemple-that ancestors that didn't have
the good taste to settle in sixteon-some-
thing-or other, aud build this house for
us, is descendants. 1t wasn't thoughtful
..rk Il yta baf ha
have been SO inconsiderste--'
"As," interposed the elder sister, geutly
cit sometimes troubles me that his De
scerdaut inherited his peryersity."
Miss Lillian made mouth AND ex-
claimed; 'If yon are cruel Ill go and be-
con a ghost! Now, we may be glad to
adopt this plan, for il would seem more
like an ancestral mansion, if we cosld
get family ghost. Nou could play the
last leGt on the tree for the Seneht Of
friends all day, and | would rattle about
the little attic chamber for their amuse-
ment az night
bad chIlj!-fhat reminds me, your
speaking 81 the attic,I brought dcWn
those quet- looking shoes We fouuG there.
The are al tive top of the cellar stairs.
II you wan them for your studio Marie
can brush
Miss C. Anna got no further in her re-
mark, for her sister interrupted with
"Bru-h them, my dearl 1 should as soon
IA nix OF advising that lovely old man /
met to-day tu dive his white hair and
beard. rdianf ten you about him did 4.
He is Mn Hilder, the aufiqpary, OF whom /
we heard last summer. | am going 20 see
him to morrow. He knows about this /
house and everything cid, Perhaps he /
can bring ghost 10 light for us-1r TO /
dark, ifit- gho-tship prefers | shah
try to find out something about those
shoes A gentleman wore them-oue
sees that by the shape aud size. l wish \
their pointed toes would point & a legend 1
about the house.
"A any rate the clock Is pointing to |
ned timen remarked Miss e. Anna.1
Gomez
The two covered the embers, Miss /
Lillian first lighting candle which stood |
Ia IN old-fashioned candle stick on the |
III ,ItkA -