The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-17
CHAPTER III.
The Great House Of New Minis.

ChAf len IL
The Great House of New Milrs.
That night they took me not back 10
my mothers house, which was Inc
Lodge Yeti at the end Of the avenue
which leads to the south from the man
sion house. nay grandfather not wishing
for reasons of his own, to be parted
from me. But when we came right to
the door CT the great house CT New
Milns. Sir James said TO John y-ell. the
minister Sir. / would ask you to go
down to the lodge and say to this lad 5
mother that he is to bide here this
night. so that she may not expect him.
Also bid Caleb Clinkaberry, her manssr--
want, make all fast and keep his musket
loaded. Tell him this apart He VIII
know the reason why.
Clearly the minister did not like his
mission. Young as ! was l could see
that, for the place was lonely and the
road dark. But he feared my grand
father, as | think now, because he was
the patron of several good parishes, and
he as yet both unbeneficed and expect
ant.
Then Sir James let himself in with a
key which he took from a belt at MS
waist, and Umphray Spurway and 1
preceded him into the hall. a wide place
where there was armor and old swords
coInpOsedly in a corner. a lamp stood
ready lighted, and the place smelt
habitable and homelike. 1t was good
to be once more within walls, though
even now 1 could not get the thought Of
the witch child out of my head.
My grandfater,s old serving man,
Robin Green came to take his master $
overcoat, letting Umphray Spurway
and myself shift for ourselves.
Her Iadyship has gone to bed he
said, ''she wearied waiting for you"
Did she ken that | was at the change
house?" asked Sir James, little anx-
iously.
Il telled her leddyship that We were
ga'en wi the minister to a meetin'.
condescended not on particular, either
O. time or place, necessity not being laid
upon me-
Sir James was visibly relieved.
Il will not forget this, Robin he
said, making his wonted grimace of
pain as the servitor eased his coat over
his rheumatic shoulder.
There is a fire in your ain bed room,
nevertheless said Robin: her Teddy
ship babe me say that She wished not
to be disturbed"
AT this Sir James clapped his hands
Come ben, Umphray; come your
ways benz he said, heartily. Robin.
put a fire in the parlor-nOt her lady
ships parlor, but the other"
There is a guild fire in the east room,
siri" answered the old man gravely, as
if saying his prayers. Il lichtit it as
soon as her leddyship gaed up to her
bed. Also 1 took ben the guardevine,
and'-
Robin" said my grandfather, with
equal gravity, your wages are raised
a DOund in the half year.
Il thank ye kindly, sir, said the man,
nodding with simple gravity
TAX that BARN with We. Robin"
added Sir James, his eye suddenly fall
ing on me; 'or, stay, let him have some
supper in the parlor first, and then lay
him in the blue room that is next to
mine"
AT these words, glad to be rid of my
grandfather for little, 1 went gladly
with Robin to his pantry. 1t had the
word "stillroom" printed legibly on the
door, and smelt of cheese. Here Robin
would not let me bide long, saying that
it was cold and unfired; but, putting
tumbler of milk and a liberal wedge of
pastry upon a tray, he took my hand
and led me back into the lighted parlor,
which, like most of the rooms in the
old house of New AilnS, had old arras
about the walls. The curtains were
drawn close. The fire Robin Green had
lighted was sparkling and speaking
over the great iron dogs. BilIets of
birch were piled UP beside it, and Sir
James sat tossing first one and then an
other upon the heap absent mindedly,
talking all the while to the English
cloth merchant.
AS soon as Robin saw this he set
down the tray on the table, and going
over to his master, he took the billet of
wood out of his hand and led him back
to the table. Sir, James looked at the
birch faggot, then at the hand on his
arm. TIE old servitor was firm and re-
spectful. So, without intermitting his
discourse for a moment, my grand
father permitted himself to be led back
to the table and installed opposite the
great oeken guardevine, which, with its
square bottles and shining
ladies' and RUNNERS, looked most COM
and appetizing-
Then Robin Green went back to the
hearth and, STOPPING over the fire, he
removed the entire armful of
faggots which Sir James had tossed on,
blowing out each if it had caught, and
laying it at the side. so that presently
the whole room was full OF the acrid
bite of wood smoke, and the tears be-
gan TO roll down my cheeks into the
milk l was drinking.
But Sir James continued his story
without stopping to notice Robin Green,
and as he talked the tears ran down his
cheeks also, but whether from the pity
Of the tale he was telling or because of
the wood-reek l know not.
My grandfather had compounded a
steaming glassful for his guest and
then for himself but so absorbed was
he in his narrative that he quite forgot
at the end of the operation to add
the spirit 10 Umphary Spurway's glass
an omission which the Englishman
repaired without comment.
his hand for the decanter and
pouring in the rich yellow liquid with
a liberal hand, all the time looking Sir
James in the eye and nodding at the
proper places in the story, as if that
we're his soul concern.
My grandfather. after having hidden
me haste and dispatch my supper. be-
cause il was late and my mother would
wish me in bed. presently forgot all
about me and proceeded with his argu-
nent. Still talking, he arose from his 4
seat, and. going to one of the shelves
which went about the deep window
seat, he took from that which was