The Meeker herald., 1897-01-16
The Old Hall.

There had been a christening that
afternoon and now 1t was toward
evening. The parents of the child at
among them the grandmother Of the
child's father. The others were all
near relatives, young and old, but the
grandmother was a generation older
than the Oldest. The babe had been
christened Barbara after her. But
she had also received finer name, for
Barbara alone sounded altogether too
old-fashioned for the pretty little
thing. Nevertheless, she was to be
called by this name. So both parents
decreed, in spite OF all the objections
which their friends brought against 1t.
But the old grandmother never sus-
pected that the utility of her long
cherished name had been brought into
question.
The clergyman. after discharging his
office to the family circle, had gone his
way short tine before, and now all
the dearly loved and oft-repeated
stories Were brought forth and retold,
though not by Auy means for the last
time. First of al, the delightful and
merry stories OF childhood were told.
When no one else knew them, the
grandmother corld repeat them. Her
own childish days lay so many years
III the past that any one who could
have told them, save she herself, must
indeed have far exceeded the age of
allotted to man. Amid such CONVERSE
ton the twilight had come on. The
hall fronted the west. and a red light
streamed through the window upon
the plaster roses of the stucco work
which adorned the wall. Then 1t, too,
faded. From the distance a dull, mo-
nntonous murmrr made itself audible
IN she stiffness. Some of the guests
Ii, .-ncd.
THAT is the sea-" said the young
wife.
Yes" said the grandmother, II have
heard 1t often. 1t has been so these
many years"
Then no one spoke again. In the
stone court outside before the window
stood tall linden, and one could hear
the sparlow5 settling in their nests
among the branches. The host had
taken the hand of his wife, who sat by
his side, and his eyes We're directed to-
ward The intricate antique stucco cell
Ing.
What are You thinking Off" asked
the grandmother.
THE ceiling is cracked" he said.
"Thc cornice is settling, too. The hall
Is getting old. We must rebuild it."
The hall is not so very DID," an
swcred she. Il remember when it was
built"
Built? What was here formerlyr'
"Formerly?" repeated the grand
mother. Then she was silent for
short time, and sat there like lifeless
statue. Her glance was turned toward
the past, her thoughts were with the
shadows of things whose substance
| was no more.
Then she said: .It is eighty years
| ago. Your srandfat,or L ssed
often to talk about 1t. The hall door
| did not lead at that time into a wing
of the house, but out of the house into
n small flower garden. 1t is no longer
the same door. however. The old one
had glass panes, and one could look
| through them down into the garden US
one cane in at the front door. The
garden lay three steps down. The
steps were provided on both sides with
| gay Chinese balusters. Between the
beds, with their low borders Of box,
ran a broad walk strewn with white
shells, leading to linden arbor, in
front of which from two cherry trees
hung a swing. On both sides Of the
arbor were apricot trees carefully hung
against the high garden walls. Here
In summer at the noon hour your gredt-
grandfather could be seen regularly
walking up and down trimming French
cowslips and Dutch tulips In their beds
or tying them with hemp to little white
sticks. He was an exact and careful
man, and his black eyebrows with his
white powdered hair gave him very
distinguished appearance.
"Well, 1t was an August afternoon
when your grandfather came down the
little garden steps. But at that time
he was far from being your grand
father. can see him now with my
old eyes, as with light tread he went
up to your great-grandfather. Then
he took a letter out of neat embroid-
cred pocketbook and handed 1t with a
graceful bow. He was a young man
with gentle, kindly eyes, and the black
bag wig set or well his glowing cheeks
and pearl-gray cloth coat. When your
great-grandfather had read the letter,
he nodded and shook the young man
by the hand. He must have been well
disposed toward him, for he seldom
ala that. Then he was called into the
house, and your grandfather walked
down the garden.
"In the swing In front Of the arbor,
sat an eight-year-old girl. She had a
picture book in her lap, in which she
was reading industrlously. The bright
golden curls hung down over the hot
little face on which the scorching sun
was shining.
"'What is your name asked the
young man.
"She sfook the hair back and said
Barbara
"Take care, Barbara, your curls will
melt in the sum-
1.-THE little one passed her hand over
the hot hair. The young man smiled,
and 1t was a very gentle smile. There
II no need,' he said. Come, let ~ have
. swing
'.She jumped out. Wait must first
put up my book Then she laid 1t in