Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1896-04-11


COWS huddled in the shelter of the
hayricls to keep from being blown
away.
Il think we're going to have
Storm said Mr.. Marryatt. I'm
quite certain | smell snow in the air.
And there are more cheerful places
during n northeast blizzard than Uncle
Origen's house.
He was almost disposed to be sorry
that he had come when he stood there,
knocking and humping with the
handle of his um brella at the shrunken
panels Of the front door.
; -sI'-etti se3n csaoi "a old snv,Sl II.
his garments fastened with tow-strings
instead of buttons, came sLuff1ing to
the door and peeped suspiciously
around it.
"Heh?" said he, with one hand
back of his poor old purple ear.
taio ~ mc utdlu ooiueUOuJ
knocking, didn't To-
Yes, it's me- came the reply
John Marryatt, from Albany, don't
you know?'
"Marr:ed?' squeaked the old man.
Ito who?'
"John-Mar- ry-att.' distinctly
repeated the visitor. Chow is my
Uncle Origen?'
The crooked old man sheltered his
candle flame with one hand and stared
as if he were gradually being trans
formed into one huge eye.
Land sakes nlise!" said he.
"Didr't YOU know? He was buried
vesterday!'
Here was a cheerful welcome for a
city visitor.
But what can do?' said Marry
att, with helpless gaze down the
darktning mountain-side. Il came
to visit him. | had not heard"
walk IN, walk in" said the old
man, holding the hnring candle high
above his heal aud flnttening himself
against the wall. It's pretty lone
some here but there's the deceased S
chamber you can sleep III, and trapped
- rabh4 In the pine wood this
morning that '1sabella's just stewing
mp.
''isabella! repeated John Marry
att.
''sohe's the old woman in charge
my sister, explained the ancient
warder OF the castle. CAN'T much tc
look at, but proper good cook. :
But, said Mr. Mnrryatt, Il dom
think ] care about sleeping in the
room where-Uncle Orlgen died
The old man stared at him with
j dull, CLASSY eyes.
''Eh?' SAID he. "Wy not: You
/ don't believe i'll sperrltooalism, do
yono'
Nonsense CRED Marryatt.
Then why ain one room as eoot
as another - asked the old man stoi
idly.
Nevertheless, | would prefer to e
on 10 the nearest hotel, Impatient,
uttered John.
"Ain't none short o seven mile,
said the old man. "Anl that's only
summer machine. They don't run i
arter the waterfalls triz up. Bu
there's freight train. with a passenge
caboosc hltched on, that stops at Cut
ting Corners at midnight
Where is Cutting Corners p
Eight mile away
'Aad how the dickens do Won sur
pose am to get eight miles fror
here. when 1t is pitch dark already :?
cried Marryatt, with not Immature
lrrltatlon-
"There's jenkins one-hoss wagon,
mildly suggested the old nan. ct
goIn' to Jenkins directly arter a DO
o stove blackln, paouud O talle
dips and quarter Of a paound {
green tea for Isabella / can tel
JcLkens 10 come rouni and cart We t
the daypo. CT ye don't grudge a do
lar.
by NJ means, said Mr.. Marrva'
Iurr.es.iv. ''Aad while vou are con
Isabella, a you call her. can give m
some supper.
!la sat down IN the old. low -celle
room. where the rag carpet SCENE
peltler brighter nor DINNER than
had twenty years age, and Gener'
Andrew Jackson still -braod:sbed b