Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-27
A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR.

There are some questions that we ask
ourselves through life to which we
never get an answer. One of mine is:
Who was she?
| 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 as it
seemed. in vain. We had had only a
thousand pounds to spend on our whim,
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 mOrnfng-so early that we had
not yet breakfasted-ou girl" came
upstairs and informed me that a 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 parior."
cit is probably about country
home. People out of town keep such
early hours said. Tell the lady |
will be down in minute;" and l made
haste with my hair, which | was just
putting up, and slipped on 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, Martha?" |
asked.
well. | dunno. num- the girl ans
wered in a whisper. "Tm all sort of
shivery and skeery. 1t was her walk
ing past me that way started it, | eX-
peet.
Ilaughed-Martha was full of "no-
tious"-and stepped into the parlor, in
which dim religious light prevailed,
for the shades and curtains remained
as they had been left the evening be-
fore when the gas was lighted.
Perhaps is was cold that morning,
for at this instant it seemed to me as
if 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, and 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 and under herright ear saw
on her slender white throat 4 dark and
very peculiar mole.
'.Mrs Maddon,n she SAID, speaking
as | approached her, ''you are looking
for country house. You will find the
house you want ut Wildwood. Mr..
Joshua Mumford has 1t to sell at your
price exactly. Goodbye"
Without another word she Gided
past me- / hurried after her, but she
had already left the house. [ did not
hide my face as Martha had done, but
[ was leaning against the wall as she
had leaned. when Mr.. Madden came
downstairs.
Anything the matter?" he asked.
'sOh nov' | answered. Il feel
strangely-that is all. Such odd con-
ductr'
Then told him about my visitor.
s'Odd in her manner, / suppose"
said he. WANTED to catch train,
probably"
but she looked such a welI-bred
woman" l answered. Il can not I'M
derstand it in person of her appear
ance."
..Will it be worth while to 90 to
Wellwood?n he asked.
1--WE must co. l answered. am
convinced we have found our house
at last"
We took an early train next day,
and found Wildwood and Mr.. Joshua
Mumford, a well-to-do lawyer, who, to
our inquiries, replied that he had a
place to sell.
If you like lonely spot" he add
ed. '.Most people object so to it that
I'd given up the idea of purchaser.
The majority of buyers want to be
near village. I'd be glad to sell it, )"
he added. sit belongs to little or
phan, to be sold for his education. The
best thing we can do for the child. He
has not relative in the world that we
know OF, nor another penny, but we
could do well for hin1 with the money.
I've tried to find a purchaser, in vain,
for more than six months. How you