Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-05-22
Copyright, 1895, by the Author.
CHAPTER ~.

CHAPTER ~.
The house in which Mrs. Hall and
her daughter lived was one of those
pretty little cottages that abounded in
Harlem few years ago, but are very
rare today, gigantic 'f1at" buildings
having replaced them. Its dooryard was
80 small that a person standing on the
sidewalk could reach over it and tap
with cane upon the front windows.
Yet it contained in the summer time a
bed of pansies, with a border of violets,
sweet scented shrub laden with fra
grant brown blossoms, a hollyhock plant
and gravel walk. That walk, it must
be admitted, was only about as big as q
pocket handkerchief, but it was Of real
white gravel and stretched from the
doorstep to the gate Morning glory
vines in season clambered luxuriously
up to the roof, draping the door and
windows with foliage and bloom. The
thick oak plank used as doorstep was
scrubbed and polished like the holy
stoned deck Of man-of-war, and the
modest brass hocker between the upper
panels Of the spotlessly white door
shone like gold
John Latham's gentle tap with that
nocker sounded all through the diminu-
tive dwelling and was promptly respond
ed to by a maid Of all work 80 small
that she seemed to have been specially
selected to fit the house. In the hall
there was barely room enough for the
little maid and John to stand while the
door was being closed. Then she tapped
upon the parlo- door for him and disap-
peared in the short, narrow passage be-
yond it 80 suddenly and mysteriously
that for a.moment he was startled, until
he reflected that she had probably whisk-
ed around an angle Of the wall and dart
ed down stairway or shot through
tube to The kitchen. The idea that the
place was trick dolls house took such
possession Of his fancy that he more than
half expected to find himself starting the
music box by pushing open the parlor
door in response to the summons Come
IMP
The ladies were waiting to receive
him, Addie working upon her menu
drawings, and her mother knitting near
her. Mrs. Hall greeted him figidly, but
with the self possessed ease and cour-
teous bearing Of a. Lady, tempering her
coldness 80 nicely that only lack of &C.
quaintance and not hostile feeling was
conveyed. Adde'S arch smile as she
gave him her hand was SO suffused with
the light of affection that his heart
thrilled with happiness Some delicate
engineering was necessary to enable him
to take off his overcoat, to deposit it and
his hat out Of the way, and finally to
seat himself without upsetting or break
ing anything, for the room was literally
"not big enough to swing cat in"
Now that he had good look at Mrs
Hall in the light, and when she was
free from excitement, he made up his
mind that she was by no means the can
tankerous and disagreeable person she
had appeared on the occasion Of their
previous interview. She was thin un-
doubtedly, and meagerness in a woman
Is not prepossessing attribute in the
eyes of most men, but man need not,
really concern himself deeply about the
leanness Of his mother-in-law. The hard
ness and repellency that he had fancled
in her face he no longer saw there, but
instead lines of sorrow and the impress
of some fixed and ever present thought
whether a memory or a purpose he
could nos yet tell-for which he invol-
UNFAIRLY !elt deeply sympathetic re-
spect.
II assented 70 your coming here this
evening, MIR. Latham" she said, speak
ing in firm but low and musical voice,
"because I deemed it best we should
clearly understand each other. I had
some doubts as to whether my daughter
should be present at our conversation,
but upon mature reflection concluded
that as she is unfortunately an interest
ed party it was perhaps best, or at least
would be most satisfactory to her, If she
were 10 near all. Therefore you see her
here with me. But you understand your
visit is to me-your business with me. "
"At the same time I am happy that
it affords me incidentally the pleasure
Of seeing her."
The formality Of The old lady's address
had a little surprised him, but he an
swered it promptly and frankly. He
was not the kind Of young man who,
having gained even temporary lodg-
ment in an enemy's country, would
neglect to make practical use CT his op-
portunity. Whatever Mrs. Halls pur-
q = nA 60