The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-25
IFrom Harper's Weekly.]

of the neighbOrhood. | had come up
from Mexico because the weather was
growing too warm i'll that region, and /
was glad of the chance to vary my in
teresting and sometimes exciting travels
with httle rest in the midst of this
rural quiet.
1t was early summer, and | had start
ed out for an afternoon walk, when, just
upon the outskirts of the village, my at
tcntion was attracted by a little group
at a gateway which opened upon the
road. There We're two women and an
elderly man. The women appeared to be
taking leave of the man, and one of them
frequently put her handkerchief to her
eyes. l walked slowly, because / did
net wish 10 intrude upon what seemed
to be an affecting leave taking: so when
| reached the gate the women had gone,
but the man was still standing there
looking after them.
CHANGING over the low fence. | saw Il
Very pretty grove, apparently not we'll
kept. and some distance back, among
the trees. large old house The man
was looking at me with a curiosity winch
country people naturally betray when
they see stranger, and as | was glad
to have some one to talk to, | stopped.
els this one of the old family man
sions of Landowner" / asked. He was
a good-looking man, with the air of Il
head gardener.
at is not one of them. sir" he answer
ed: lit is the other houses growed up
around it.
"Who owns it?' | asked.
This is hard to say, SIR" he said,
with grim smile; though perhaps |
could tell you in the course of n couple
of weeks. The family who lived there is
dead and gone, and everything in its IS
10 be sold at auction"
| became interested, and asked some
questions. which the man was very will
ing to answer. 1t was an old couple
who had owned it. he said. The husband
had ded the previous year. and the wife
about ten days ago. The heirs were q
brother and sister living out in Colorado,
and as they had never seen the house,
and cared nothing about it, or about
anything that was in it, they had writ
ten that they wished everything to be
sold, and the money sent to them as
soon as possible.
And that is the way it stands" said
the old man.
Next week there is to be sale of the
it out here-and every nova BILE thing in
the house and grounds is to be sold to
the highest bidder; and mighty little the
things win bring, it's my opinion. Then
the house will be sold. as soon as any
body can be found who wants it,
Then there is no one living in the
house at present" | said.
Nobody but me" he answered. THAT
was the cook and her daughter. the
chambermaid. who just left here. There
is Il black man who attends to the
horses and cows. but he will go when
they are sold: and very soon | will go
too. | suppose
Have you lived here long," | asked.
Pretty near all my life." said he.
I was greatly interested in old houses.
and asked the man If / might look at
the place. "
Il have not had any orders to show
it, he said; ''but as everything is for
sale. / suppose the sooner people see
the household goods the better: there's
many a bit of old furniture. candlesticks.
and all that sort of thing. which strang-
ers might like to buy. oh yes: you can
come IN if you like"
] shall not attempt to describe the de-
and in the surrounding grounds There
was q great piazza in front; wide hall
stretched into the interior of the mansion.
with large fireplace on one side. and n
noble staircase at the further end, a
single fight of stairs running up to a
platform. and then branching off on
each side to the second floor. On the
landing stood one of the tallest clocks
have ever seen There wara ,,crtaits
on the walls. and here and there sport
ing picture, interspersed with antl<rs
and foxes heads mounted on panels.
with the date Of the hunt inscribed be-
meath. There was an air of largeness
and gravity about the furniture in the
hall which was very pleasing to me. and
when ] entered the long drawing-room
found it so filled with books and bric-a-
brac Of the olden days, with many
quaint furnishings. that, had been left
to myself. even the long summer after
noon would not have sufftced for their
examination. Up stairs was the same
air of old-fashoned comfort. The grounds
the grass rather long, and the bushes
Northumberland shaded by some grand
old trees, and beyond there We're gardens
and some green pasture fields.
| did not take the walk that l had
proposed to myself. When / left the
old house I inquired the name of the
agent who had charge Of the estate. and
then went back to the village inn. where
l sat communing with myself for the
rest Of the afternoon and all the even
ing.
| was not yet thirty, | had a good for
time. and | had travelled until ! was
fired Of moving about the world. Often
I had visions Of a home. but they had
been very vague and fancGful ones. Now
for the first time in my life. had seen
n home for which | really might care,
a house to which / might bring only my
wearing apparel. aud then st down sur
rounded nv everything ] needed, not even
excepting books
immediately after breakfast | repaired
10 the office of Mr. Marchmay. the
lawyer who had charge Of the pronertv.
| staid there a long time. Mr.. March
may took dinner with me al tho inn. and
IN the evening we sent Il telegram tC
Colorado. | made Il pronosition to buy
everything for cash. and the price greed
upon between me and Mr.. Manchmay
was considerably higher than could have
been eXcnected had the property beer
sold at auction. 1t IS NEEDLESS 10 say
that my offer was quickly accented. and
-. 4.