Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-21
The Mystery at No. 2.

let. l had lived there in my solitary old
.naidenhood, with the gray sUlrging sea
In front, and No. 2 empty and desolate
beside me. Side by side the two houses
stood, with the little gardens divided by
an iron railing. Ny garden looked trim
and tidy, but that of No. 2 was desolate
and bare. | often looked at the house,
with all its window shutters closed, and
wondered if | should ever have a next
door nelghbor. Month after month went
by however, and ''This house to be let"
still remained pasted on the windows. I
was almost glad it was so, because. if the
house had been let, and the tenants had
turned out to be unpleasant people, nv
position would have been a most uncom-
Portable one. 1t was therefore with a
feeling of great anxiety that one day /
saw TO my surprise, that the bills had
disappeared from the windows, which
were thrown wide open to let in the air.
The next day they came. / was sitting
ut my window, working and looking out
ut the gray misty waves, when 1 saw a
cab laden with luggage drive up and
stop at the gate of No. 2, and I peeped
anxiously between the lace curtains to
see who and what would emerge from
the cab. The driver jumped down and
opened the door, and the first to alight
was a small young girl of about twenty,
who looked very weak and fragile She
lifted out tiny boy with sailor-hat
surmounting profusion of yellow curls.
was glad to see a child-one so young
would be only "a pleasure my visions
OF noisy boys quite passed out of my
mind. Finally out stepped very tall
elderly lady, whose eyes were hidden by
pair of blue spectacles, and whose fig
CHI, 1a1 IN
leaned heavily on a stick, and walked
awkwardly.
AS the trio passed through the gate
caught glimpse of the younger lady's
face. 1t wore wistful, nervous express
sion; and the girl clasped tightly with
one hand the arm of the tall old lady,
while the little boy chung to her skirts
Was she-that tiny, fragile-looling crea-
ture-Mrs. Darlington, and was she the
mother Of the little bov?
left them alone for week to get set
tied, and then l called. It was only DO
lite and neighborly to do so, as our two
houses were side by side. The little boy
was playing in the garden. In days long
past children used to be fond of me, and
/ wondered if l had forgotten my old
arts as | looked at the little fellow stand
ing regarding me with pair of solemn
= q
rosy apple.
} "Catch!" cried; and the apple rolled
close to his feet.
With a smile dimpling his cheeks, he
picked it up after few moments of shy
hesitation.
Mrs. Darlington was at home, the m aid
informed me; ana I was ushered into a
small drawing-room which was a fac
simile of my Own-in size and shane at
least; but, while mine was filled with
knick-knacks, photographs and other
treasures, the drawiug-roOm of No. 9 was
as bare as clearinghouse rooms generally
are.
Mrs. Darlington started up with an ex-
clamatiOn of surprise as was announced.
Her face turned crimson and then white:
and again | noticed the peculiar hunted
look in her eyes as she glanced over my
shoulder towards the door,
Il fear | have startled you, Mrs. Car
rington?' | said, as we shook hands; and
again she flushed painfully.
"Oh, no-that is, did not expect we
should have any visitors; and, when the
door opened, thought it was Baby COM
ing in, and | was surprised to see a
stranger!'
She spoke very quickly, with a nervous
tremor in her voice; and began to won
der If this strengthening little person
was quite right in her head.
"Your little boy is Baby presumed"
! said, embarling fearle5sly upon the
subject dear to every mothers heart.
HE is fine little fellow! How old is
he?'
'"Three," she answered, without fur
cher remark, turning her eyes towards
Che window, whence we could see the
child playing on the grass.
GLOW do you like your house," I VEN
tured to ask her. Il have been so long
in No. 1 that 1 take quite an interest in
No. 2; and you don't know what relief
it was to my mind to see that your lam
lily was So small.
''The place seems quiet, :" she said, with
smile. I suppose there are not many
people here now, so late in the YEAR,"
She looked at me little anXiously as
she asked the question, and thought she
seemed glad when 1 told her how very
empty the place was. After little more
desultory talk-for conversation there
could be none while Mrs. Darlington ap-
peared to be so preoccupied-I rose to
take my leave, saying
81 hope that your mother isquite well,
and that / shall have the pleasure of see
ing her on some future occasion"
Her face suddenly turned pale.
"My mother" she said, wOnderingly;
I'd then, blushing violently, added,
Thank you, she is quite well-at least,
ne is a great invalid, and never sees any
one; and-and we came here to be very
quiet, and for my little Reggie's health. y
Taking this remark as a hint not to
call again, could not hell thinking that
there was something V ! mysterious
about the new tenants of No. 2.
| did not meet Mrs. Darlington again
for some time; [ was out walking when
she returned my call; and so far as COM
panionship was concerned, No. might
as well have been shut up.
Little Reggie's merry childish laugh
would come from the next garden some
times; and once, when his bali rolled into
my domain, 1 coaxed the little fellow in;
and by degrees he took to trOtting III
every morning, to create not unpleaS-
ant disturbance in my prim house, and
grew very fond of the child. and he of me-
Considering that Mrs. Matthews was
such an invalid, it was rather surprising
that she usually chose the latter part OF
the short afternoons in which to take her
walks On the fine sunny mornings she
was never visible; but, directly the dusk
came on, used to see her emerging from
the house with Mrs. Darlington, and to-
gether they would go off along the beach
as far as | could see, till they looked like
two dots In the dim distance. The elder
" woman did not walk like an invalid
either, but with quick firm step.
The idea occurred to me once that very
likely she was mad. On one occasion
came upon them both about two miles
away from home, and I hurried past
fa1opipo NOT to 500 tbaTo for Mrs Car