Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-22
CHAPTER |.
No. ga Albemarle Square.

mo, sir; took 'em up the beer at
first, and they shook their heads and
asked for wine; and when took 'em
the sherry they shook their heads
again, and the one who speaks English
said they want keyaunty.
well, all | have got to say" ex-
claimed the portly cook, sis, that II !
had knowD what was going to take
place, / wouldn't have stopped an
hour after the old man died. It's
wicked! And something awful will
happen as sure as my names Thomp-
son."
Don't say that, Mrs. Thompson,
said the mild-looking butler. Its
very dreadful though"
Dreadful isn't the word Are we
ancient Egyptians? l declare, ever
since them Hightalians have been in
the house, going about like three dark
conspirators in play, I've had the
creeps. | say, 1t didn't ought to be
allowed"
What am to say to them, sir?"
said the footman, strongly built man,
with shifty eyes and quickly twitching
lips.
well, look here, Charles" said the
butler, slowly wlping his mouth with
his hand, I'VE have no Chianti wine.
You must take them a bottle of Cham
bertn."
"My!" calculated cook.
"Chambertin, sir?"
cts Mr.. Critics orders. They've
come here straight from Paris on pur-
pose, and they are to have every
thing they want"
The butler left the gloomy room,
and Mrs. Thompson, stout lady, who
moved only when she was obliged,
turned to the thin, elderly house
maid.
IT'S contr'y to nature, and it'll bring
curse"
We'll" said the woman, at can't
make the house more dull than 1t has
BEEN"
Il don't know" said the cook.
II never see a house before where
there was no need to shut the shut
ters and pull down the blinds because
some ones dead"
well, 1t is a gloomy place, Ann,
but we've done all these years most as
we liked. One meal a day and the
rest at his club, and never any COM
pany. There amt many places like
that"
NO." sighed Ann. Il suppose we
shall all have to go"
ooh, I don't know, my dear. Mr.
Ramo says he thinks masters left all
his money to his great-nephew, Mr..
Capel, and may be he'll have the house
painted up, and the rooms cleaned, and
keep lots of company. An he may
manner"
"D'E-n-g-h-i-e-n," said the house
maid, spelling 1t slowly. Il don't
know what you call 1t. She's very
handsome, but so orty. | like Miss
Lawrence. Only to think, master
never seeing a soul, and living all
these years In this great shut-up house
and then, as soon as the breath's out
OF his body, all these relatives turn
Ing up"
Where the carcass Is, there the
eagles are gathered together" said
cook. solemnly.
"oh, don't talk like that, cook"
You're not obliged to listen, my
dear said cook, rubbing her knees
gently.
II declare, It's been grievous to me, y
continued the house-maid, "all those
beautiful rooms. full of splendid fur
niture, and one not allowed to do
more than keep 'em just clean. Not
blind drawn up or a window opened.
It's always been as II there was a
funeral In the house. Think master
was crossed in love?"
mo- Not he. Mr.. Ramo said that
master was twice over married to
great Indian princesses abroad.
s'pose they left him all their money.
Oh here Is Mr. Ramo."
The door had opened, and a tall
thin old Hindoo, with piercing dark
eyes and wrinkled brown face, came
softly In. He was dressed in long
dark-red sllken cassock. that seemed
as II woven in one piece. and fitted his
spare form rather closely from neck
to heel; white cloth glrdle was
tied round his waist, and for sole or
nament there were couple OF plain
gold rings In his ears
As he entered he raised his thin
largely veined brown hands to his
closely cropped head, half making the
native salaam, and then said in good
English,
"Mr. Preenham not here?"
He'll be back directly. Mr.. Ramo.
said the cook. There, there, do sii
down, you look worn out"
The Hindoo shook his head and
walked to the window, which looked
out into an inner area.
AZ that moment the butler entered
and the Hindoo turned to him quickly
and laid his hand upon his arm.
There, there, don't fret about 1t
Mr.. Ramo.' said the butler. ITS whai
we must all come to-some day"