New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-28
WARNED BY A MOUSE.

one OF the qualnteSt and most picturesque mouse
| IN this side of the county, was not hall 50 we
, , known as il deserved to be. Cut oil from Tn
hSI-road by a clump OF ancient and wcli-woode
wyclI-clnlS the few travellers who passed ny tl
| plantation gates plOddcd or drove YEARLY on u
the steep hill beyond it, reached the top, admire
the view away across the valley of the lar, an
! little dreamed of what II curious old mansion IA
hidden among the trees.
Its master ana owrcr, John Trowbridse, wa
an old-iashloncd bachelor, who prldcd hiihsei
on three good thngs-Old books, old zine, AM
old friends; and though he had few of the last
and their visits were few and far between. h
always boosted that tlcy were enough 10
him, and enough was as good as a feast |
was lonely place too, ten miles from IN
| county town, and slA from the station; Will
| the whole hamlet OF Barton consisted of about
score of cottages, all clustered around the tlu,
| church, half a mlic down the valley below. lh
Squire, thcrciort-aS he was everywhere callct
| when not busy IN his library. troubled lis hcal
| about few things lcyoId his own domain, hycc
| in royal sort OF cosy comfor; on half hi
| income, aHd cave tap most Oh his time anC
thoughts IL the care of hi" niece and ward, Mis-
! Grace RiyiHeton. declaring at times she was th'
! plague o! his life: and at others. that without
| hcr he didn know what would become of Barton
! Manor Left an orphan whca a child
! with Il fortune al E2",o0O coming OF age sic
had grown mp at last 10 bc rs wiul high spirited
! and charming young lady could be found III
! all the countryside. In short She was the old
mans pet, and managed by dAt OF coaxing fat
terry and scodins TO have her own way IN things
little or big - John ITOw bridge often confessed
HIS itNorltc name for her was, the little witch
a Wee body, bu! with q mind and spirit in il hg
enough and determined enough 10 manage the
most fuSsy and troublesome horse III the stable,
or ont Of IT,
These were tie two who sat chatting together
one WIntry cVcnin" ~ November, the day
oi her coming oi de" when. contrary TO all custom
IN such cages. ANA in defiance Of his urgent en-
treaty. she lad insisted on having no dinner
party and no birthday celebration; hut quiet
time " Just for IL two. she said and ] can have
You all 10 myself Dinner was over the wine
and walnutS were on the table. and that was
wheeled MP 10 the hlaliu- wood-rc: Graves. the
butler, had DEPARTED and AT last She could speak
freely.
My dear, dear ua,le." said ,ho. there never,
never WIS. and never VIII hc. anything half 50
beautiful - tie necklace lou gave me this morn
I'M. had II ~ my pocket all dnner-timc, and
was Longing 10 look At it IL" whole timc-but
why ,{ dld yon sEgaG so v m9cl , none ~ ,
naughty. ll-temperrd ugly little shrimp, aud
! determined that people SHOULD look at your
diamonds tomorrow, II they wouldn't lool, at
YOU. - to money, child only had them reset
they were my mothers hfty wears ago and her
mothers bore thai-a wedding present from
that old Jack Ilowbndec whose eyes are now
looking down ~ VoG from the other side Of the
room. Gentleman Jack they u~cd g. call him
when he came back from India and brought the
diamonds with him
Look she SAID. tIkinc them ont of the dainty
morocco cast see. how they shine in the hght
of the tire. ! shall hc - grand queen 10
morrow hight az the ball: and IN that lovely
dress nom Par,. oh: uncle the very happic>t
girl iu Cornwall, What can say, what can |
do; {" thank >"G--tnc dearest, coolest, wiNcs' OF
old uuclcs .'
wen. if you won't have any more wine. Miss
Grac. RNineton. say -ood-ni-l'. hc on 10 bed.
and lock- up Your noc'- lace Iu Cd safe place. and
keep the hey. IN Your own pocket You'll have
"a Thousand things 10 d. tomorrow. go now
and get Aour EcJuty sleep. th1t you may look
yoUr best ~ night Half the women will 60
crazy at the S-bt If Your necklace and gay
feathers; and cll the men about rour lovely face
- lilt mind. the first quodrillc is f,r me"
They cAa'ird ON for while. and size payiulv |
reminded him that only month before he had !
utterly refused - have ~ dsrcc AT the manor !
or any such nonsense. " Aud now. she added. |
hcr" You arc decking nd" out like queen. and |
You're "a WITCH my dear. uci'hcr more nor
e>>. luG Nou know - and ! am an ola goose.
md don't know u; So. good night"
In loss than au hour from that time the /
abiu"t. and the happy owner. Ike most ~ tho
lou>ohold. sound .ccp. ld dreaming Of all the
oys ot ~" coming morrow
Tie morrow came. HS most tn-moTr"ws do in
God season. heavy with clouds NJ first. bui slowly
rcaking ont INTO >uusnlr" AZ hist Mss Gra""
,iviugfpr after De-, Heluty-s zen. came down I
special messenger 10 h"r special friend Florence. !
I the Grange. with thc following hricf note:
Wy dear florrlc. Com" over NJ once. II oulr
Or lalf au hour. and won shall scr tuc iotcilc>i
crhlacc 10 hc found ln Cornwall au a. wear :
tonight g.. f..
l. was hut short walk from Ito Grau-c 70
bee manor house. and in less than an ho.r after
DC dispatch Of fi' note. the ff. friends yy"r' 900 !
il talk hv i.r size Of 3D. roaring WOO. q fire iG
rac"s own ,anc''na. 70 cosy. snug room. with oak
,nc'lIr- and old oak furniture which opened ont
Don Tie lawn. The tNo girls were M high
'irts the ucrkltoc WIS drly admired. looked ~
gain and again, carefully pnt away, and locked
p: and then caiu" the discussion of dresses. l1ccS
ld partners. about which l.S' point there w,r e.
,u,idcf. bic diHcr'nc" of opinion. - great almost
81 'hc dIlcmnc" in Tie p"rS nal appearance Of ~"
d.r, themselves IN Thar difference. in f1ci. las ,
,c STRENGTH 81 tie friendship Fprrle WAS 2 tall