, 1889-01-24
THE OLD DOOR STONE.

IOuf uam6 IL StafOlTu, L mink nave
heard you say; was the late Ralph Star
this mornings Herald that he died intes-
tate. so il you are his kinsman maybe
you'll come In for something" said Paul
Wallace to his guest, Frank Munroe,
glancing up from the paper which had oc.
cupied more attention than his breakfast
had. ttl
"Yes, he was some scot Of far-away
cousin; and have been informed that
am his heir.at.law."
Ibid he leave much property? ?"
mo, or be would no doubt have m ade q
will. He had nothing but the old Star
bird home in New Hampshire-and the
entailed door stone!"
what may that be ?" asked Paul.
And his pretty sister added:
1T sounds quite romantic! Is there not
q history connected with it2"
"Yes, there is; and we Starbirds have
often talked it over. My mother was a
Starbird, descendant of one Captain
Starbird, who caune 10 this country very
soon after the Pilgrims had settled here.
He had been sea'captain, and, so the
story goes, was more than suspected OF
having sailed under q black flag. How
ever, no matter what his registering youth
may have been he was most exemplary
tract of land. and after he had erected q
house. very fine for those days and that
vicinity, he married fair daughter of the
land, maiden of good family, and settled
down to quiet country life. The hou sc
was set almost fat on the ground, and in
front OF the main entrance he placed a
broad, fiat granite slab, to serve as door
stone"
"lhe entailed door.stone?" asked Paul.
Yes; and when he died it was found
that he bequeathed this house and the
home farm to his oldest son. after the
English custom. bidding him pass it down
whomsoever the land may be given or sold.
| do forbid the giving away, bequeathinR
or selling the old doOr.stone. planted by
my own good right arm, to any but the
next of kin. And further do com mand
that said next Of kin shall not remove,
disturb, dig under. cover over, or in any
sort meddle with the old door stone. unless
he to whom it shall have been sold, be-
queathed or given shall have been born on
my estate, and within fifty feet of my
door.stoue. And l give my DIVING curse to
him who shall 10 auRht attempt TO frus-
trate my will You see he had q mind Of
his own.
HAS his will been re9ardedl"
"StranRe to say, II has; though the
house to which it belonged was long ago
torn down to give place to new one
which, being burned, had to give place to
yet another, the present. edifice. This,
which is now mine, Is no great thing OF
itself, but it is situated in most lovely
spot--and why cannot you, Mrs. Wallace, "
said Munroe, addressing his hostess,
'spend the summer therep You said yon
wanted to find some rural sequestered spot
-. .--LA
out during part of July and August; can
you not 20 there? The roof 10 quite tight
and there 10 little--only Q little-furnit-
ure."
"Oh, Mr.. Munroe, you're too kind we
cannot think OF thus tIesspassinR on you .
replied Mrs. Wallace, though with regret.
mo trespass. ! assure you; for We ris-
ing young physicians rise 90 very alowly
that we must keep to our city posts during
the sickly summer season. Unless you 70
there the old house will be tenantIess.
Paul. there is capital fishing In some of
those limpid streams" said Munroe Sc
children. land Tom, you've no idea what
lots of berries there will be for you and
Annie to pick-raspberries, huckleberries.
black kberries In abundance! And such nice,
sweet, plump berries as they are!
''Oh, mamma, do let's go!" cried An.
ME, clapping her little hands. -,
MAY we take Ponto and Carlo and
Tabby and aunt Maudea" Tom asked, all
in one breath.
$50 you put me in with the dogs and
the cat, and at the end OF the list, DO
yonp" laughed Maude.
Take all your pets, of course; but as
for your aunt, fear it will be too quiet
for her there. No parties, no dancing, no
beaux!" said Frank. looking wistfully at
fair Mande.
IF my brother accepts your kind invi-
tation fear you will have 10 let me 90
under your roof, tool answered she
my roof will be most happy to shelter
you. Come, let me offer you one more in
ducemept---are you at all curious to know