The Press., 1893-05-18


 along the. horizon might be seen the dim curtain of smoke, the grim spray which that tide threw up.
 Gradually, however, as the years passed, the city had thrown out long brick feeler here and there, curving, ex- tending and coalescing, until at last the little cottages had been gripped round by these red tentacles and had been ab- sorbed to make room for the modern viii la. Field by field the estate of old Mr. Williams had been sold to the specula- tive builder and had borne rich crops of snug suburban dwellings arranged in curving crescents and tree lined avenues. The father had passed away before his cottage was entirely bricked round, but his two daughters, to whom the property had descended, lived to see the last yes tige of country taken from them.
 For years they had chung to the one field which faced their windows, and it was only after much argument and many heartburnings that they had. at last consented that it should share the fate of the others. A broad road was driven through their quiet domain, the quarter was renamed 'tThe Wilderness" and three square, staring, uncompromis- ing villas began to sprout up on the oth- CT side. With sore hearts the two shy little old maids watched their steady progress and speculated as to what fash ion of neighbors chance would bring into the little nook which had always been their own.
 And at last they were all thyee finished. Wooden balconies and overhanging caves had been added to them, so that, in the language of the advertisement, there were vacant three eligible Swiss built villas, with 16 rooms, no basement, cleo trio bells, hot and cold water and every modern convenience, including a com mon tennis lawn. to be let at e1O0 year or e1 800 purchase. So tempting an offer did not long remain open. Within few weeks the card had vanished from No. 1. and it was known that Admiral Hay Denver, V. C., c. B., with I-rs. Hay Denver and their only son, was about to move into it. The news brought peace to the hearts of the Williams sisters. They had lived with settled conviction that some wild, impossible colony. some shouting, singing family of madcaps, would break in upon their peace. This establishment at least was ftreproacha- ble. .>
 A reference to Men of the Time" showed them that Admiral Hay Denver was most distinguished officer who had begun his active career at Bomar- sund and had ended it at Alexandria, having managed between these two cpl sodes to see as much service as any man of his years. From the Taku forts and the Shannon brigade to dhow marrying off Zanzibar there was no variety of naval work which did not appear in his record, while the Victoria cross and the Albert medal for saving life vouched for it that in peace as in war his courage was still of the same true temper. Clear ly very eligible neighbor this, the more so as they had been confdentially assured by the estate agent that MT. Harold Den yer, the son, was a most quiet young gentleman, and that he was busy from morning to night on the Stock Exchange.
 The Hay Denvers had hardly moved in before No. 3 also struck it's plac- ard, and again the ladies found that they had no reason to l.e discontented with their neighbors Dr. Balthazar Walker was a very well known name in the medical world. Did not his qualifi- cations, his memberships and the record of his writings fill long half column in The Medical Directory from his frstslit- tie paper on the ''Gouty DiathesisS in 1859 to his exhaustive treatise upon z Af- fections of the Vaso- Motor System" in 1884? A successful medical career which promised to end in presidentship of a college and a baronetcy had been cut short by his sudden inheritance of 8 con- siderable sum from a grateful patient, which had rendered him independent for life and had enabled him to turn his at- tention to the more scientific part of his profession, which had always had a greater charm for him than it's more practical and commercial aspect. To this end he had given up his house in Weymouth street and had taken this opportunity of moving himself, his scientific instruments and his two charming daughters Che had been wid- over for some years) into the more peaceful atmosphere of Norwood. z7- .,
 There was thus but one villa unoccu- pied, and it was no wonder that the two maiden ladies watched with keen in- terest, which deepened into a dire ap- prehension, the curious incidents which heralded the coming of the new tenants. They had already learned from the agent that the family consisted of two only, Mrs. Westmacott, widow, and her nephew, Charles Westmacott. How simple and how select it had soundedl Who could have foreseen from it these fearful potents which seemed to threaten violence and discord among the dwellers in The Wilderness? Again the two old maids cried in heartfelt chorus that they wished they had not sold their field
 "Well, at least, Monica" remarked Bertha as they sat over their teacups that afternoon, however strange these people may be, it is our duty to be as po- lite to them as to the others sss-
 "Most certainly" acquiesced her sister.
 "Sinee we have called upon Mrs. Hay Denver and upon the Misses Walker, we must call upon this Mrs. Westnacott also."
 Certainly, dear. AS long as they are Af11S upOA Ou1 1dl1O lOO1 dS II LlEy WcT0 in sense our guests, and that it is our duty to welcome them"
 "Then we shall call tomorrow said Bertha, with decision. -
 "Yes, dear, we shall. But, oh. iiwish it was overi''
 At o'clock on the next day the two maiden ladies set off upon their hospita- ble errand. In their stiff cracking dresses of black silk, with jet bespangled jackets and little rows of cylindrical gray curls dropping down on either side of their black bonnets, they looked like two old fashion plates which had wandered off into the wrong decade. Half curious and half fearful, they knocked at the