Middletown transcript., 1891-08-06
A CHANGE CHECKNATE.
From Chambers Journal

l HREE years ago was a girl 0
/ sixteen, unemaneipated from
the school.reom. My father wa
and is-a banker at Siston. Th,
town lies in valley. and by greaI
many people is thought unhealthy
Having kinsman whom he car
thoroughly trust as acting manager
papa these many years since has
abandoned the red house, in Sistou
Broadway, and resided at the Manor
Walnsey. This is, however, twelve
miles from bis place OF business :
eight by rail added to four by road
The Manor has one other drawback =
it stands inHasysry isolated situation.
Our nearest neighbors are our name
sakes, the Escotts Of Walnsey Gross
and Valentia Lodge, the country sea,
Of Captain Milne Escott, lies westward
across the wilderness, we call the
Heath, good three miles. 8 s7e
The month when my. story opens
was February Fill-dike. and it was
justifying its name. OF storms we
seemed to have q eeaseless succession.
Heavy rains and high winds had been
for several weeks the prevailing
meteorological conditions. Alice-my
younger sister-and I were prisoners
within doors and We should have
found time drag more heavily than it
did but for the presence Of Val. An
only brother is always girls hero,
and Val was ours. In age he came
between US, and his proper place at
this period of the year was Rugby.
But he had met with an accident at
Christmas, and was only just conva-
lescent. Hence, his holidays had
already lasted in excess a full fort
night Of the working term. As per-
haps Val may read this, | will be can
did, and add that there were seasons
when, owing to bis teasing, we hearth
ly wished him back 10 the Midlands.
The Tuesday on which papa announc-
ed his urgent summons to Ferris
Court was, however, not one Of those
occasions. Boreas was doing his best
to bring the house about our ears.
We could not possibly go out in the
tempest. We were not ultra enthusi-
astic readers ;and fancy work was
ever Alice's bette moir; therefore, we
must have settled into tame subjec-
ton to ennui but for Val. Il was Ibis
business, as he put it, to make things
lively and he did.
lad ventured to demur to papa's
going. Surely it was my place to
care for him as mamma would have
done had she lived. his health
had troubled me of late, thoughtless,
as too frequently was. -
at is a dreadfully rough day,
papa" l said. Cannot Sir Hugo
Ferris waltz 1t is such a distance,
too, to Ferris Court, and all across
country. You can't reach the place
readily by rail"
: No; I wish that l could, papa
answered. But the journey is quite
imperative. Sir Hugo is one of our
best patrons. He telsgraphs that his
departure for Algiers is fixed def
nitely for Thursday ian alteration of
week in his arrangements; and |
have urgent matters to discuss with
him. He insists-foolishly, but l
cannot help it-on negotiating with
the principal he will have none of
Mr.. Bellows" + suppose my face
was yisibly lengthening, for before l
could reply papa added Don't
look so glum about it, Maggie. You
will be quite safe here in charge Of
Mrs. Climber, our new housekeeper.
I am convinced that, after many
changes and mishaps, we have secur-
ed a treasure. say this because it is
uncertain if shall return tonight"
Not to return tonight r / echoed
helplessly.
"No," he said. "I have decided
to take the horses the whole way, and
as the roads are in bad state Spence
will put the cattle up in the next vii
lage and then drive me back the next
morning. I shall be sure Of comfort
able quarters at Ferris Court"
Is it quite-safe r. ] asked.
For me, do you mean ?"
Moo for us. This house is so
lonely and it is known that there are
mammals jewels-and the pictures
and the plate"
Papa scofed at my fears.
"We are too far from the track Of
the light-6ngered prowler to receive
his attentions" he answered.
But it was an error.
Ever since that dayI have had q
lurking belief in presentiments. /
know very well that the confession
will cause some superior persons, for
tiled in the lines of sane common
sense, to smile with pity at my girl
ish weakness. | am somewhat dis
posed to smile with them and yet it
is not more certain that plot existed
to rob the Manor than that hour by
hour after papa had gone grew
more and more vaguely but genuine
ly uneasy. | said nothing to either
Val or Alice, nor Mrs. Climber.
What was there to sayf
Somehow had not taken to the
fresh arrival so warmly as the others.
| did not dispute that her recommen-
dations were first,class; that her de-
meanor to each of US was precisely
what it should be-neither over defer.
ential nor too familiar that she was
q akillpd houoon,iefroaa ond a v,oror.or