Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1892-06-10

the Abbey Arms-little boy to be left at
Doctor Stokum's school-and you, miss"
with a nod at me), "for Skeleton
Grange2"
''Skeleton Grange!" I cried, with a
start that knocked the camphor bottle
from the hand of my Leighbor aud seri.
ously incommoded the fat gentleman in
the opposite corner.
"Lor', MISS" said the man, slow
Iuile overspreading his countenance,
sit amt the real name of the place. It's
what the folks hereabouts calls it. Short,
miss, for Skellington. 1t was built by
old Squire Skellington, in the year
1900"
"Oh!" said I, sinking back into my
seat with little nervous laugh, while
every one else regarded me with frozen
stares of disapproval, including the lady
who was sopping the split camphor
from her lap with pocket handkerchief,
and the old gentleman whose wig had
been knocked on one side by my sudden
movement.
For, you see, I was ONLY eighteen, and
was going to my first situation, as
reader aud companion to Mrs. Pinkney,
of The Grange, near Port Kent, on Lake
Champlain.
1t was necessary for some of us to earn
our own bread, as my mothers little
school had not proved a success, aud
both Elaine and Emily were younger
and more timid than I was.
The preliminary arrangements had all
been transacted through a mutual &C.
commodation bureau in New York.
had been given to understand by the lady
in charge that my position would be
very desirable, if could be sufficiently
fortunate to suit the fancy of Mrs. Pink
ney, who was an elderly lady of excel.
lent means and some eccentricity.
Well, here l was at last, en- route for
The Grange, my railway novel read TO
the last page, the contents of my lunch
basket all eaten, and crimson sunset
flooding the beautiful surface of Lake
Champlain with the loveliest of glows,
and just as was admiring the red tiled
roots of long. low house, embowered
in elms and beecbes, the stage came to
stop, and the driver bawled out:
Passengers for Skeleton Gra-a-ange!"
My insignificant little trunk was lifted
down, bell in the stone gate post was
violently rung, and stood knee deep in
tall, Towering grasses, looking forlorn.y
after the disappearing coach, as the eyes
of shipwrccked mariner might follow
the vanishing masts of some retreating
vessel which bears heart aud hope away
with it.
''ls this The Grangel Is Mrs. Pink
ney at homef am Miss Carrick, the
companion, from New York, pleased"
faltered out the words in sort OF
terror, induced by the sudden aud start
ling appearance OF little old woman, in
black silk quilted hood and cloak who
had hobbled out of the house by the aid
of knotted stick and unlocked the
gate with shining brass key.
She nodded her head to my interroga-
tories and favored me with long stare
In answer to my last statement.
Then, STOPPING to lift one end OF my
trunk, she said, briskly'
"Can 60 lift t'other end eeselfi Ee
aint no menfolk about place an amt
/ obeyed with alacrity. being young
and vigorous, and the trunk not especi-
ally heavy, and thus made my appear.
anee before tall, spare woman Of sixty,
with dress of lustreless black silk, gilt.
tering gold eyeglasses, aud fine Roman
profile, who stool on an Eastern rug
before blazing wood fire.
The walls were covered with old an.
cestTal portraits, whose steady stare
added to my confusion; every nook and
corner was crowded fall Of Chinese dIa-
goas, Chippendale cabinets, old china on
brackets, and gfotesquely embroidered
screens.
"Ah. said the tell lady, 'you are the
reader aud eompanioni"
made quaint little courtesy, un-
consciously inieeled bJ lhe pfoSinily of
the siiff Chippeneale hrailaTe aud the
family portraits,
"hiss eaHiek, madam, | said "al
-Four service
Looking back upoa the circumstances
by the dlspassionaie light of the past, ID
seems " ne thsi this was lhe Iongesi
evening ever fpeat Although the
lfsllis outside aas coveted ullh Iuse
fosesi the sallu a lie aange seFs -
shiek, aad ihs 4lmasnhsle - damp. lhsl
Sc al eloss "a lbs liEs, aul lfsak hal
lea al Ale toasted IauIliaA IL kaan oar.