New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-24
A HAPPY HERITAGE.

randed the highroad. From IT the ehance
nassers-hy were easily reoognizapie' anu ~
craninp ones neck tri1e glimpse Oh Vio-
boro' was the immediate reward. Inc We"
through the small panes of glass was unue'"-
ably an excellent one. as observation-disclosures Hill
sol. q cat of much discrimination had oiscoN-
.red The broad sill was his favorite resohs-
Mace and in difference TO his taste the po's Vi
hardy geraniums were crowded tosethei a.
either end leaving the centre for his undspu,eo
sway.
pack of his realm stood an old-fashioned hgh
hacked rocker the symbol Of an empire mish'iei
than his own. 1t had been Mrs. ClemehcS
Strong's throne for years, whence she ruieu Nei
little kingdom and took note of the worio anu
rs vavs When she abdicated, II naturaii!
nassed 10 the next in succession-her daughter
Mehitabel-as did the house and land'
Judged dispassionately. the property was oi
s,,cht ,mportance The small, gray house
showed unrnistakable signs Of decrepituue' ."s
garden was n tiny, churlish spot, ioa'h 10 sNe
forth any treasures. no matter what ioVihe o"'e
went TO the rearing and the stony heid peyohu
was almost improbable Still. TO the woman
who had called the place home Tor more tnah
five and forty years. it was a possession "H.o"
che would not have exchanged for the wealth
OF the Indies.
Nor was this the only inheritance which had
<ouo, IN her share Side by side with the
material. tangible things that had descended 10
her were certain intangible customs. IRON
hound formulate as nvolable as the laws OF
ancient Persia Mehitabel would have thought
as soon of applying a firebrand to her low
,oof as of departing by so much as ]ot or
ti,tlc from one Of the least Of these rules She
rose hy them. ate by them. worked by them
slept by them
II was we'll for her that In the first adjusting
OF her bruised life to its solitary way, she had
these safeguards 10 rely upon. There was al
element Of the paternal shiftessness OF char-
acter in her makeup. but she mad oeeh ooih-
mated so long by her mothers vigorous per-
sonality that 1t had had no opportunity 10 as
sert itself Some natures need the whlphaho Oh
authority to keep them up to their pest en-
deavors; slack rein fosters an ambling gait
which tarries along the path OF duty ana sell
dom arrives at any worth. Habit. however Is
a mighty fetter and Mehtabel found 1t easier
10 go on In the worn tracks than TO SET ABOUT
making new ones Besides she felt with a con-
viction which admitted no argument mat the
old ways were best after all.
II was springtime when Mrs. Strong died
The hills about Oldboro were purple with the
vet fully in leaf the nearby orchards showed
the soft green of the little leaves and the
sheaths Of coming blossoms, and the fields,
where new grass had been sown, were bright,
emerald patches Mehtabel noticed the sea-
sons freshness with that keenness Of detail
which forces the minutest trife upon the mind
at such moments as she glanced out through
the window downward before drawing the paper
shade and shutting out the world. which goes
on and on, no matter how 1t is darkened for
many of us.
Since that sad morning more than six months
had slipped by and the promise Of spring had
given place to the sober reality of the dying
year The road, which had been gay with pass
ing fox all through the warm weather, became
less frequented at the approach of winter. aid
on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving it
stretched utterly forlorn and deserted as far as
eye could see. might Of hard frost had turned
the wheel ruts into little pillows Of frozen mud.
uneveled as yet. though the day was far spent
they seemed to accentuate the isolation OF the
small house on the hillslope.
From time to time. in her progress to and from
the oven for she was baking, Mehitabel would
pause at the window and peer downward over
Nebuchadnezzar's back. There was always
certain amount Of pleasure TO be derived from
those glances No one could tell just when some
one might appear; that was chance possible at
any moment and conjecture. before II ripened
into certainty, full Of delightful anticipa-
lions But the moments so far had been devoid
of the least cause for curiosity. Suddenly she
drew back quivering with excitement; her keen
eyes had caught sight Of bunchy little hgure
waddling complacently along in the middle Of
the road.
"Sakes alive" Mehitabel calculated, 'its Mary
e. mn /
that brown shawl"
She glanced helplessly at her work, quick
flush mounting 20 her thin cheeks then she
tossed her head dehantly as II in challenge OF an
unseen foe.
The woman meanwhile, had turned from the
road and had taken the worn little path across
the field that led directly to the house itself
Mehitabel watching her approaching visitor,
wondered vaguely what had called her out upon
one of the busiest days in the New-England CAL
endar.
Il spose she's all through her preparations,
she said a trife snappishly to her companion,
who purred in gentle comm!seration, she always
was forehanded bout everything. even to comm
into the world. It's ben the same ever sence,
but that's no reason why she need be botherin'
other folks when they're up 10 their eyes In
work know she's jes come 10 see what we're
dom"
The next moment as a knock sounded, she
went over to the door and flung II open hospi-
taby
"Oh. it's you. Miss Spear" she said with we'll
foigned establishment: come right In an set
down | can't shake hands cause I'm all over
-four. Take the cheer by the chimbly, dc. It's
kinder nippy out, amt it?'
We'll middlin frosty. I'd an hour to spare 80
! thought I'd run over an see how you was
gettin' along. Why. Mchitabel Strong, what
ever are you up tor
II don't Tiers much call for surprise,
Miss Spear I'm only maxim mince pie-I guess
all Oldboros got its mince pies agin to-morrer.
I'm a little late myself fer clean forgot Thanks
givin' was so near. Hain't you made yoursT'
.Sakes, yes they all finished las week.
~. Oh III sn abort. a nv one