The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-02-03
CHAPTER |.

About the middle of the seventeenth
century in the outskirts of the small
but fortified town of Terneuse, stu
ated on the right bank of the Scheldt
and nearly opposite to the island OF
Walcheren, there was to be seen IN
advance of few other even more
humble tenements, a small but neal
cottage, built according to the prevail
ing taste of the time. The outside front
had, some years back, been painted OF
deep orange, the windows and shut
tiers of vivid green. To about three
| feet above the surface OF the earth, II
was faced alternately with blue and
white tiles. small garden, of about
two rods of our measure of land, sur
rounded the edifice; and this little plot
was flanked by low hedge of privet,
and encircled by moat full of water,
too wide to be leaped with ease. Over
that part of the moat which was in
front of the cottage door was a small
and narrow bridge. with ornamented
iron hand-rails, for the security of the
passenger. But the colors, originally
so bright, With which the cottage had
been decorated, had now faded; symp-
toms of rapid decay were evident in the
window-sills, the door-jambs and other
wooden parts of the tenement, and
many of the white and blue tiles had
fallen down. and had not been re-
placed. That much care had once been
bestowed upon this little tenement was
as evident as that latterly it had been
equally neglected.
The inside of the cottage, both on
the basement and the floor above, was
divided into two larger rooms in front,
and two smaller behind; the rooms in
front could only be called large in COM
parison with the other two, as they
were little more than twelve feet
square, with but one window to each.
The upper floor was as usual, appro-
priated to the bedrooms; on the lower,
the two smaller rooms were now used
only as a wash-house and a lumber
room; while one of the larger was fit
ted up as kitchen, and furnished with
dressers, on which the metal utensils
for cookery shone clean and polished
as silver. The room itself was scrupu-
lousy neat; but the furniture, as well
as the utensils, were scanty. The
boards of the floor were Of a pure
white, and so clean that you might
have laid anything down without fear
- ,o;l;no, II A ctrooo daoI 70 h1a tWO
wooden-seated chairs, and small easy
couch, which had been removed from
one of the bedrooms upstairs, were all
the movables which this room con-
tanned. The other front room had been
fitted up as a parlor; but what might
be the style of it's furniture was now
unknown, for no eye had beheld the
contents of that room for nearly sew
enteen years, during which it had been
Theoretically sealed, even to the in
mates of the cottage.
The kitchen, which we have de-
scribed, was occupied by two persons.
One was a woman, apparently about
forty years of age, but worn down by
DdlH anu SullCllllE. DlC uuN CNluChbiy
once possessed much beauty; there
were still the regular outlines, the
noble forehead, and the large, dark
eyes; but there was tenuity in her
features, a wasted appearance, such
as to render the flesh transparent; her
brow, when she unused, would sink into
deep wrinkles, premature though they
were; and the occasional flashing Of
her eyes strongly impressed you with
the idea of insanity. There appeared
to be some deep-seated, irremovable,
hopeless cause of anguish, never for
one moment permitted to be absent |
from her memory; chronic oppres-
sion, fixed and craven there, only to
be removed by death. She was dressed |
in the widows Golf of the time; but |
although clean and neat, her garments
were faded from long wear. She was |
seated upon the small couch which we |
have mentioned, evidently brought |
down as relief to her, in her declin-
ing state.
On the deal table in the center of |
the room sat the other person, stout
fair haired, ford youth of nineteen
or twenty years old. His features were
handsome and bold, and his frame |
powerful to excess; his eye denoted
courage and determination, and as he
swung his legs, and whistled
an air in an emphatic manner, it was
not to form the idea that
he was daring, adventurous and reck-
less character
do not go to sea, Philip; oh, prom
lse me that, my dear child" said the
female, clasping her hands.
"And why rot go to sea, mother?"
replied Philip; whats the use of my
staying here to starve; for, by Heaven!
It's little better. l must do something
for myself and for you. And what
else can l do? My uncle Vanbrennen
has offered to take me with him, and
will give me good wages. Then shall
live happily on board, and my earn
ngs will be sufficient for your support
at home"
"Philip-Philip, hear me. l shall die
Il you leave me. Whom have 1 in the
world but you? Oh, my child, as you
love me, and / know you do love me,