Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-09-04
cHAPTER xvu.

young Leland determined TO wait q little
before presenting himself personally 10
Nathan Metcalf. He sent him Mr., Sweet
lands letter, however, accompanied by o
neat note of his own, stating that he was
Unexpectedly recalled to New York, but
that he should soon return, and would do
himself the honor of paying his respects
ct the earliest opportunity. 81
He then hastened to the city, after Civ
ing out that he should take up his resi-
dence at the farm, as soon az the house
could be made habitable; and on reaching
New York, sent up an architect and o
whole army of workmene 10 make the
necessary alterations and repairs.
At length their work was completed and
Leland was informed that his country
house was ready for his occupation.
He decided to take possession imme-
diate'y, and on the very day that Cora
Elliston had the talk with Oscar Slyme,
started for Roxbury. h7
He reached the village In safety, and
found Seth Gridley, the man who had
charge of the farm, in waiting at the sta
ton, with q very decent country turnout.
Leland at once took his seat in the car
riage. Seth followed, and the horses
heads were turned toward the center.
Passing through the village they struck
long and solemn avenue. shaded by
elms, interlacing their thick branches,
and leading directly to the Sediey farm.
Presently they reached the house. The
front door was open. Leland entered,
and received o hearty welcome from Mrs.
Seth Gridley, the housekeeper.
Seth then showed him to his own cham
Der, and when he declared himself ready,
Z sn k,1 A. s.xs~. F.
Mrs. Gridley had passed half the pre-
vious night in slaughtsring various dwell
ers in the poultry yard, and the results
of the massacre now successively ap-
peared swimming in butter. The young
man managed to get through the meal at
last, however, and even found himself in
good spirits after it.
He sought for Seth, found him in the
great kitchen assisting his wife, and
strove to CLEAN from him some informa-
tion Of the Metcalfs. But the farmer,
like every genuine Yankee, held it as a
tenet of faith that he who gave plain
answer to any question was dishonored
man.
With all possible respect he let the
young gentleman understand plainly that
he was not to be deceived by his affected
ignorance into any belief that Warren
Leland did not know q great deal better
than he who and what Nathan Metcalf
was, where he lived, and what he did;
that Warren Leland was his employer, and
as such was entitled to his respect; but
that he was New Yorker, and-as Nathan
Metcalf said-all New-Y orkers were friv-
olous testers.
Leland, who had taken an oath never to
get angry, kept it now, drew from cigar
. fresh supply Of patience, picked up his
hat and left the room.
For q few moments he leaned over the
balustrade of the veranda and looked
around.
The night, clear and beautiful, envel-
oped in its shadowy veil the wide-
stretching fields, and solemn stiffness,
strange to New Workers. ears, reigned
around him, broken only at intervals by
the distant bay of q hound, rising sud-
denly, and anon dying into peace again.
His eyes becoming used to the darkness,
Leland descended the veranda steps and
passed into the broad avenue, which was
darker and more solemn than q cathe-
dral aisle at midnight, and thence into
another road into which it led him BY
chance.
Strictly, speaking, Leland had never,
until now, been out Of, the city, for wher-
ever he had previously gone, he had car
ried it's hustle, worldly and artificial life,
play. and the races with him; and the
watering places and the seaside had never
shown him true country life.
It gave him sensation for the first
time, but the sensation was not an agree.
able one.
AS he advanced up this silent road,
without residences, without lights, il
seemed to him he was wandering among
the desolate sites of some lunar region
This part of New England recalled to him
| the worst cultivated parts of Germany
It wore rustic and savage character, with
| it's dense shrubbery tuftsd grass, dari
valleys and rough roads. a .ss2
Wandering on to an eminence, his eyer
vept but q fresh horizon Of apple treel
id wheat fields, and he was about to trrI
Oack when q strange sound suddenly
arrested his steps. 1t was concert o.
voice and instruments, which in this los
solitude seemed to him only dream. OF
q miracle.
The music was good excellent
He recognized q Prelude Of Bach, arrang
ed by Gunod. He could not have beer
more astonished if he had suddenly seer
the Grand Opera House set down in from
Of him. ~ g
Filled with curiosity and led by th,
melody he heard. he descended cautiously
the little hill, like q kings son in search
Of the enchanted princess. The palac,
he found in the middle Of the path, il
| the shape Of, the back wall of dwelling
which fronted ON another road. One O
the upper windows on this side, however