Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-02-08
The House on theMarSh,
THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERS.
BIZ pLoRENcR WARDEN.
CHAPTER I.

thus headed eagerly from the Times.
was eighteen, and my youth had been
the great obstacle to my getting an en-
gagement; now here was some delight
full advertiser who considered it an adj
vantage. l wrote to the address given,
and within week l was travelling
down to Geldham, Norfolk, engaged to
teach lone little girl, aged SIX" at a
salary OF thirty-iive pounds year. The
correspondence had been carried on by
my future pupils father. who said he
would meet me at the station at Bea-
eonsburgh, the market-town nearest to
Geldham.
1t was about five o'clock on an after
noon in early August that sat at the
window of the railway carriage as the
train steamed into Beaconsburgh sta
tIon. Hooked out on to the platform.
AT one end there We're two young men
engaged in securing large mastiff.
got out and spoke to the station aster.
There is Mi. Rayner himself,
ma am," said he. pointing toward the
Two young men with the dog.
One of them was now looking about,
rs If in search of somebody; and I
walked timidly toward him. He raised
''Miss Christie9" he said, growing
very red.
Eyes," said 1, bowling and blushing
| too.
"Will you come and show me which
is your luggage?"
was surprised to find Mr.. Ravner so
much younger and less self-possessed
than had expected. I followed him
and pointed out my boxes.
The dog-cart is waiting outside"
said he, ''let me carry your bag
followed him through the station,
He helped me into TIE 0og-cart and
then stood by the head Of the brown
mare. was trying to get over my be-
wilderment OF course 1 might have
known the father of my six-year-old
pupil would not be the middlc-aged,
gray-haired man 1 had pictured; but
Tor him to appear not more than foun
and twenty was surprise. He left the
mare and stood by me. We fell into
conversation, in which he expressed the
wish that would not find my duties in
the school-room irksome, remarkino
that he had always hated school.
"1hope your daughter does not share
her fathers dislike of school," 1 broke
out. anXiously.
he started and looked up at me, col
oring vivldly, and then said:
"Did you take me for Mr.. Rayner?
My name is Reade. Mrs. Rayner sent
her brougham for you; but wagon
ran into it and took one of the wheels
OIL; so l put my cart at your disposal
hope you don't mind driving in thing
like this?"
''Oh, nor I said.
THAT was Mr.. Rayner on the plat
form with me- he went on. "His dog
rushed out just rs the train came up,
and he asked me to see to your luggage
while he held him. don't know why
he is so long
AS he spoke Mr.. Rayner himself
came out of the station. 1 saw that he
was few years older than my COM
ranion, and bore the Impress of town
breeding as clearly as Mr. Reade did
tnat OF the country. lie was slight,
well made, with delicate features and a
dark golden beard and mustache. He
came up and shook hands with me,
apologizins for his delay. and express
ing the hope that his >prightiy Young
friend had entertained me we'll
"Miss Christie took me for YOU, Mr..
Rayner," said Mr.. Readc, shyly red
dening again.
And has now to suffer the awful
disappointment of finding that Mr..
Rayner is an old fogy, after all. Now,
Laurence, my boy, if you want us to
get home before the mist rises, we had
better start"
Mr.. Rayner sprung up behind; Mr..
Reade got up in front by my side and
took the rcins; and off we started. We
had to drive right THROUGH Beacons-
burgh; down long hill - d with the
dreary old houses of the elite of pro-
vincial town; over u small bridge. and
then along two miles of straight will.
low-bordered road over a marsh. The
scenery was not particularly pretty;
but had never lived in the country
and everything was new and interest
ing to me.
'.How beautifully green everything
is | rem arked, presently.
Yes, rather too green,' Mr.. Reade
rejoined, ruefully. 1--WE have had a
wet summer, and now we are going to
have a wet autumn, believe, and this
place will he nothing but swamp"
'Don't set Miss Christie against the
place. Laurence" said Mr.. Rayner,
rather sharply.
We passed through low-lying vii
1age-some of the houses of which
were flooded in winter, Mr.. Reade told
me-up nil, down hill, and up an
other sloping road, at the side of which
stretched the marsh again.
There is the Alders, Miss Christie"
said he, pointing to pretty red house,
half covered with ivy and surrounded
by trees, which stood on the borders of
the marsh.
Here, Laurence, I'll get down and
take the short cut said Mr.. Rayner.
After Mr.. Rayner had alighted, Mr..
Reade and l drove on.
What a lovely placer cried, en-
Enthusiastically.
My companion remained silent.
''And oh, what a beautiful pond! I
do believe it has water-lilies! and how
delightfully."- cool the house looks, with
ivy all over it to keep out the hot sum-
Yes, and to keep in the cold moist
ure, Miss Christie. That ivy ought to
be torn down to make the place fit to
live in. 1t ia no better than a. nest,