The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-15
[Continued.l
CHAPTER V.

the cape jasmine bush that grew just
outside the parlor window at Belhaven
end Marianne Belknap spilled the salt
at breakfast on the morning of the day
her brotaer Reginald was expected
home, Miss Varina Monckton looked
tragic.
Something frightful must follow IN
the wake of two such incontestible signs
of bad luck. Her heart grew still heav-
Ter when, CHANGING to catch glimpse
of Master Max Belknap's tan colored
socks, she discovered that one OF them
was wrong side out.
Miss Varina Monckton was governess
and companion to Miss Marianne Bel
KNAPP. Master Maxwell Belknap, the
twin brother of the latter, had also up
to this his sixteenth year been under
that reduced gentlewoman tutelage.
That Miss Monckton's educational
methods left anything to be desired was
an idea that had never presented itself
for consideration. The dual claim OF
distant cousinship to the defunot Mrs.
Beiknap and hopeless irnpecuniosity had
established her at Belhaven. Once es-
tabiished the pyramids themselves were
not more immovahle.
Mrs. Anthony NJ Belknap had died
first. Old Tonyhad lived long enough
after her to execute that mischievous
will which put it in the power Of his
Oldest son to impoverish the twins.
When that big game on the Red
Wing was played-a game that is still
referred to in reminiscent stories of the
"good old times on the Mississippi
river''-the Belknap twins were just is
years old--a trying age for a girl, a
bumptious one for boy.
All that Miss Monckton could do to
saturate her pupils with a wholesome
awe of signs and omens she had consci-
entiously done. All that could be left
undone in the way of broadening the
moral horizon for her pupils had been
rigidly excluded. Belhaven, as were all
the large plantations Of the county
was, pertorce of it's lcrdly dimensions,
isolated from its neighbors. Isolation
is the favorite ally of superstition.
The Bascom place adjoined Belhaven
that is to say that only five miles of
frequently impossible road interviewed.
When old Tony had seen the inevita-
BILE staring him in the face, he had CIV
en- his son Reginald this parting injunc-
ton:
eff ever you find yourself in tight
place, boy, go to Merriman Basoom.
He is gentleman and good friend Of
mine.
But, with the colonel leading a gay
bachelor life on one place and Miss
Monckton jealousy guarding her maid
emily reputation for reserved dignity on
the other, intercourse between the two
places had been but slight. Further
more, none. of the Belknaps had so
far found himself Sin tight place.
Marianne was the only one who had q
real grievance, and that was not one
the colonel could remedy.
Maxwell's sex was his sisters griev.
ance.
"If you had only been twin sister
or I had been twin brother. Maxey,
SO many things would have been easier
to settle"
"What, for instancep"
They were sitting around the library
table, which was Uttered with books
and papers, Marianne refectively punch
ing holes in her French exercise wsth a
hairpin, Max laboriously smearing out
the miscalculations he called sums
which he meandered all over his slate.
"Why, we could go off to young
ladies' seminary together, like the Potts
girls, or to boys high school. am
getting mortal tired of Monksey. be-
Iieye she has taught us all she knows
already"
''More, tool" Max assented briskly.
Sand I tell you what. Marianne, if
Reggie was to hear that rot about the
owl and the salt I just know he'd send
her kiting."
Marianne glanced nervously over her
shoulder toward the door through which
Miss Monckton must return.
t'Oh, no, don't think Reggie would
dare do that, but one doesn't like to be
made responsible for family troubles
just because the saltcellar tips over. 1
declare, have been having goose flesh
shivers down my back all day."
The door had opened behind her to
admit Miss Monckton and the darning
basket she had gone to fetch.
"My dear child - she looked at
Marianne apprehensively-''pray don't
say you have been having goose flesh
shiverings all day"
"What must say-'geese flesh shiv-
ers?' -
ooh, the expression is good enough
But the omen-you have surely heard
what it means?"
''No IN, haven't, or if I ever have
I've forgotten"
Miss Monckton seated herself near
the lamp and sighed dismally.
sit means that somebody is walking
over your grave.
"Well, what of that, so long as she
isn't in it, Max snapped, stirred to
wrath by the sudden paling of Mari
anne's cheeks.
1.-THE truth is, - said Marianne, push
ing her exercise book aside with an IT.