The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-06-20
THE COTTAGE ON THE HILL.

I'LL w lIlul UN I'LL HILL
Wild laurels, all abloom in pink
masses; hOneysuckles perfuming the
glen; sunny hillsides dotted over with
grazing cattle and meditative groups
of sheep; the blue shine of river
down among the pollard willows and
alders; it was no wonder that Mary
Alissal stopped on the crest of the hill
to drink in the soft beauty of the sum-
| mer landscape, until a voice, shrill
and sharp, summoned her from some
where behind the wall of laurels.
MARY! Mary! Where are you?n
I'm here, grandma said the soft
tones.
Don't lose your way" said old
Mrs, Missal. ''The first path to the
right and then keep straight on.
These woods are dreadful bewilder-
ing"
And in something less than min
ute, Mary Missal, who had walked up
from the solitary little station because
there was no room to ride, came upon
a pretty plateau, commanding SUI
perb view, where nestled a one-storey-
ed cottage. half hidden in creepers
and wild roses, before which, seated
on pile of trunks, was old Mrs. Mis-
sal.
"Oh. grandmam cried Mary. with
the enthusiasm of eighteen, what a
lovely spot!'
And a lovely hobble we've got in
to- said old Mrs. Missal, gloomily
shaking her head. That awkward
estate man has just sent up letter to
say that he's very sorry, but that he
wasn't altogether certain that we in
tended to take the place, so he after
wards sort of let it to an old gentle
man, who wanted change of air!"
Dear! dear!" said Mary. What
are we to do?"
Dor repeated old Mrs. Missal.
''Why, stand for your own. The
house is ours, isn't it? And the man
is carrying in the things already; and
when they are once in we'll bar and
bolt every door and window, and defy
all the old gentlemen in town"
How lonely it Isl" said Mary. when
they had settled themselves and their
belongings in the cottage. Il almost
wish the old gentleman would come"
Il don't" said Mrs. Missal tartly.
"He would be company for u.s." said
Mary.
mo company's better than poor
company"
But at that identical moment there
came double rat-tat upon the door.
Mary started up in flutter.
Don't open the door," said Mrs.
Missal in an energetic whisper.
"Is Mrs. Missai in?" demanded
deep bass voice, as Mary timidly en-
quired who was there.
Yes, she's in,n said the old lady.
But she don't want companym
please to let me inr' said the bass
voice.
Il won'tw said Mrs Missal.
''Go away, please faltered poor
Mary.
Il was sent here by the agent" said
the outsider smartly.
Il amt responsible for what the
agent may choose to do," said Mrs.
Missal,
Won't you let me in?' said the gen.
tleman.
mo. won't" said Mrs. Missal.
But it's raining" argued the stran-
ger.
Let it rain," said Mrs. Missal.
"No hospitable person would turn a
dog from their door at this time of
night" said the suppliant.
That's all nonsense" said Mrs.
Missal. Il suppose you think you
have rented this house, but"
Il don't suppose anything of the
kind" said the voice from without.
go awayT said Mary, ready to
| drift into a fit of Mysteries.
VERY we'll" said the voice. Just
as you please, ladies-just as you
please"
Grandma" faltered Mary. don't
you think we might at least ask him
what he wants?"
Only" added the bass voice, ''you
may regret it afterwards; that's all
you may regret it."
"Oh, grandma" said Mary, ''do ask
him"
Dear me-" said Mrs Missal, her
self beginning 10 be little undecided,
"here's pretty bother. Look. here,
young man." putting her cap border
! close to the window-panes, "what
does all this mean9 Can'l you speak
out, and be done with it? Amt you
really the man who thinks he rented
| this cOttage?n
Nothing of the sort" said the
stranger. who was sitting despairingly
on the doorsteps, just where the drops
from the roof ran in tiny streams
down into the collar of his coat. 81
lived in it last month, and l moved
out on Monday"
If you moved out" said old Mrs.
MisSal, ''why did't you stay out?'
but [ didn't transfer all my pos.
sessions explained the old gentle.
man. Il didn't suppose the house
| would be rented to soon. / left some.
thing in the cellar"
"Beer?n said old Mrs. Missal, who
had not yet investigated the subterran
can regions of the cottage. "Or per
haps coal?'
NO" said the old gentleman.
What then?n interrogated old
Mrs. Missal, waxing somewhat impa-
tient.
.'Skeletons!" said the stranger in a
sepulchral voice.
! ..Whatr' screamed Mrs. MiSsal