The Portland daily press., 1888-12-08
MRS. cREY'sFlRsT BOARD.
Err.
A Thanksgiving Story.


New England Farmer.l
The doorbell rang. Mans hand flew tC
her forehead. Il can't CO." she said, my
hairs in crimpers. Belle, you'll have to.
wonder who it's at this time in the mornin. .. .
And she rushed to the half closed shutters
and peeped out.
IAN old man, with gray whiskers, cane
and green goggles; what can he want?" she
said softly. She was talking half to herself
and half to her mother, for her sister was
already In the hall and soon re-appeared al
the door.
Mamma, there is gentleman in the par
lar who wishes to see you"
Mrs. Grey arose and went into the other
room.
In a short time the girls heard the front
door close, and their mother returned.
"What did he want, mammal" asked Nan
He asks to come here to board, and will
pay twelve dollars week if he can have a
lower room. He doesn't bring any refer
ences, but trust he's all right, and don't
feel like refusing so good an offer, so told
him he might come Monday"
"Why, there's no room for him downstairs
but this one of yours. You are not going to
give this up to a stranger?"
Really, dear, l am not such an old woman
that / can't 60 upstairs, and he is very lame
and seems feeble"
So, notwithstanding the girls protesta-
tions, on Saturday Mrs. Grey's things were
removed to the upper regions" and the bed
room put in sapple-pie order for the ex-
pected boarder
Mrs. Grey and her children, Belle, the old
est. Hal, a collegian Of eighteen, and Nan,
his twin-sister, bright-eyed, mischievous
brunette, awaited rather anxiously the ad-
vent Of Monday morning, for stranger as a
member Of the fam ily circle was to them a
new departure. Until the death of Mr..
Grey, two years previously, they had lived a
luxurious life, and enjoyed every pleasure
that money could buy. But he had made an
unfortunate speculation. The homestead
was sacrificed to satisfy hungry creditors,
and the family had limited income left,
upon which to live and to finish Halls educa-
ton.
The mother left her former happy home
with a sigh; Hal, with the exclamation,
when get through college I'll werk until
we have 1t back!" Belle sadly; but Nan.
with heart-broken sobs known only to Fido,
the big Newfoundland dog who had been her
special friend for years. To him she con-
hded her sorrow as she chung to his neck
sitting In her favorite spot under the willow
overlooking beautiful lake that Nan spec
tally loved. Upon its bosom, with loved
boy companion, she had rested by the hour
In her little boat, with Fido in the stern, or
glided with swift strokes to the Thornton
estate on the opposite shore, and wandered
with her two friends among the tangled
shrubbery and grass-grown walks or the
neglected grounds, peepipg with sly curios-
ity through the cracks in the closed blinds OF
the mansion.
Deserted by its first owners, this house had
been offered for sale for years, but never
sold las the death warrant haunted" had
been breathed by passer-by after the last
occupant, who, it was whispered. had been
engaged In some dark conspiracy. had mys-
teriously disappeared.
The place had possessed for Nan charm
since childhood, for in it she had felt sort
OF proprietorship, and moving away involved
the loss Of this chosen resort Her gloomy
feelings, however, were not manifested in
the family circle. There, she seemed the
very spirit of lightheartedness. When 1.-THE
homework was distributed. she said, II
will take charge of the breadmaking."
why" objected her mother, you have
never made any,"
well, mamma laughed the girl, "I've
kneaded 1t all my life and guess that is the
worst part of it," and the bread-making was
undertaken with success. Mr.. Vagniot ar
rived on Monday morning, and at dinner was
seated at Mans side. She had taken an
aversion to him at the first glance and ac-
knowledged his presence only by the little
table courtesies which she was too ladylike
to omit.
The newcomer made one fruitless attempt
after another to enter into conversation with
his fair young neighbor, and at the close of
dinner, with old-time manners, offered her
his arm, to escort her to the parlor. She de-
clined on the plea of ''dishes to be DONE"
but to Bellies secret delight he still kept up
the attention almost every meal, 'just on
purpose to tease her." Nan declared with
tears of vexation in her eyes, and almost re-
fused to sit at the table with him. The other
members of the family liked him, and 1t be-
came his habit to spend every evening in the
sitting room, recounting with almost the fire
Of youth thrilling adventures through which
he had passed in the West, whence he came.
Hal was specially charmed, and scornfully
resented Mans caustic observation that she
believed Mr.. Vagniot had been brigand-
chief, at the best, and would sometime, prob
ably, rob and murder them all in their beds.
One evening, Mr.. Vagniot ventured for the
first time to ask Nan to play, and being in an
accommodating mood. she did so. Her audi
tor praised her voice and execution, and as
she resumed her seat. asked If he might see
the little locket that she always wore about
her neck. Nan, after moments hesitation,
handed it to him. Mr.. Vagniot pressed the
clasp, thus, as the cover flew open, display
ing the pictured face of handsome youth of
eighteen or so.
"Will you think me too inquisi tive IL ask
whom this representa-" he INQUIRED.
Mrs. Grey. who had just entered the room,
herself replied: HE was ward of my hus-
band; brother WILL we called him. He
thought his guardian too strict and left us
five years ago. lust after giving Nan this
likeness We haven't ceased to miss him
yet"
Haven't you heard from him since he
went away"
mot word" was the reply.
He was very ungrateful." murmured Mr..
Vagniot, passing back the locket.
HE was very young" said Nan, with all
the dignity of her own eighteen summers.
The next evening when Hal came home,
he was full of news, as usual
"The haunted house is sold, at last" he
exclaimed breathlessly.
"Soldw cried Nan. who has bought it?"
"The new proprietor of Lynwood manu-
factory, or rather his agent, for, as near as
can make out, the man himself isa myth.
No one here has ever seen him."
81 have some news, too, Hail." said his
mother. "Your cousins are coming to see
u.s." .-
what! Fred and 10 Greene! When will
they get here?"
I'm the train that arrives in the village at
p. M, they say, on the twenty-fourth.
THAT win be the day before Thanksgiv-
ng; then Wen have Thanksgiving dinner
all together. Won't that be iollyi"
Il should judge the young men are favor
ties, my boy" observed Mr.. Vagniot.
ST rafhar ouaeo On opouarad HI