Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-07-02
CHAPTER |.
The professor's Associate.

view House This was an original i
not a quantity handsome buildin9
erected so close TO the edge of the laplC
Miniski that the walls of the house
seemed 20 rise directly from The river
bed. SO, indeed, they did, in one pant
for while the front door at the eastern
end of the house was approached by 4
flight Of steps as long as an orlinar!
stairway, the western end rested Oh d
ledge that descended into the cushing
water. There was another entrance at
the top OF this ledge, but that door
opened upon the second floor Of the
dwelling, that is, one flight higher than
the main floor, and two flights, there
fore, from the ground floor of the east
erp half, which would properly be
called, perhaps, the basement.
A broad piazza ran along the eastern
end and extended on the river Or north
ern side nearly as far as the ledge
against which the house had been built.
Although intended for a hotel it was
not much larger than might be used
handly by a rather large family, fo
the first proprietor had not anticipated
great rush of summer visitors, a fore
sight more than justified by events, for
his only guest during the summer,
when he kept it open as II public lCuse,
was an invalid, who left early because
she could not endure the noise Of the
turbulent river.
Don't build house Of your own,
once said Il wise real estate agent, but
buy some other mans misfortune at
! less than 1t cost"
The FairVicW House was a disastrous
misfortune to its builder, and every
body remarked how lucky he was to
get half its cost in cash early III the
spring following his venture as IL and
lord. The purchaser was Il tail, we'll
built man of middle age and di3tin-
guishcd appearance, his heavy blond
beard suggested a romantic character
stepped out Of Il German opera. Nathan
! G. Drummond was the name he signed
to the documents that testified To his
he tried to have the place Known,
/ though the country folk for months
afterward persisted in giving ii public
character by adding the word "house.
Shortly after he installed himself in
the riverside dwelling a letter came to
the Belmont postollcc, distance 1bout
n milo, addressed to "Profcssor ~ A..
/ Drummond." 1t was claimed by the
new resident, and the postmaster
promptly referred TO him by the title
professor" in speaking OF him to the
villagers. lie never said anything to
assert or disclaim his right to the title,
and ii came to be understood lhat he
held the chair of physics in minor
college somewhere. At all events, Pro
fcssor Drtlmmond I've was, and a master
of mechanics, too, as the wornmen
found who effected various alterations
in the house under his direction,
Early in the summer he had dis
missed the workmen and, il any
further repairs or changes were made,
they were done by himself ana Henry
Starllwcather, stranger to Belmont,
who had gone to FairView to i've.
There was some uncertainty as to
whether Mr.. Starkwcather, whose uame
became known like the profcssot $ title,
through the postollicc, was to be Il per-
maurut resident. lie spoke to the vii
layers pleasantly when h. mot them,
and Was well liked but he had way OF
evadinE questions that WAS sing1larly
successful, for after conversation the
inquirer would start with surprise, sud
denly conscious that Mr. StarkwCatneI
had been talking freely ana cntcrtain-
ngly, hut that he hadn't answered a
single question
The professor, for that matter. was
III agreeable nciGhhor in that he had a
pleasant word for everybody, Lut he
stuck to his rather lonely house and rs
1t was Not until the summer was aid
Nanccd thHt amy women folks, barring
: Bctscy Hubbard, the housekccprr came
| to live With him. he received no calls
except one from Parson Whitaker, the
, Belmont preacher
Professor ljrummond IS very
learned man." said the parson TO in
quirics after his call,
Then he shook his head graycly. ant
the opinion went abroad that the pro
lessor was douhtCr.
Re that as it may, no sooner did hi
! daughter, Louise, and her cousin
Amolic Willis come to Faryiew thar
he called ON the treasurer of the on,
church in Belmont and hired pew
; lie attended service once with tn,
young ladies', as II In public acltnowl
t cdgmcnt of respect for religion, ant
{ thereafter stayed away. Louise AM
y Amelia We're regular attendants, how
ever, 50 that Eairview was rs we'll rep
I rescued at religious services rs som
II houses that could he mentioned
MIR, Starllwcather never went t
church. Local observers were on tn
Il watch to discover in him special lik
{ ing for one or the other Of the youn
ladies, for he had admitted thai lie wa
rot related to Professor nrumIaond
: hut there had been no sign Of favor 70
~ hp,, ~ than, and An,