The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-02
Times-ReraId.

Times Herald.
This Is the seaWeed- rooTn,'' announced
the housekeeper, putting a key into the
lock; its been shut up for a long time
and will be bit musty.'
With this she threw open the stout oak
en- door, and we entered square apart
ment darkened by closed shutters and
heavy with strong, pungent door. AS
our guide raised a window and opened
the blinds there was a rustling all about
us as of the flight of pigeons. This was
caused by the t1uttering OF quantities OF
dry seaweed which were festooned upon
the walls and over the doors and win
doWs
That's nothing but common seaweed, =
said the good woman, noticing our inter
ested chances. Its used only as an or
nament and to give character to the
room. All the choice varieties are in
these glass cases, and pressed in this
pile of scrapbooks, with notes and eX-
plantations under EN-. -
did Prof. Linwood collect these speci-
mems himself"" 1 asked
81 suppose so. He used to go on long
voyages to the tropics and come home
laden with new varieties, and then he
spend months classifying and arranging
them. He was a diver in his younger
days, and after that made contracts for
lifting sunllen vessels or exploring old
hunks that had money or merchandise on
board. He'd put on his diving suit and
go down with his men, I've heard tell,
and many's the strange adventure he's
had in ships at the bottom of the OCEAN
so he told me one day when he felt chat
ty. That's how he first took to collecting
seaweeds; he ransacked the bottom CT
the sea TO get specimens. But after his
marriage he never seemed to care for
1t any more, but perhaps all this don't in
terest you its the seaweed you want.
You can examine it a S much as you like"
We did so. and fingered long, held by
the charm of this strange. room, that was
redolent with the mysteries of the great
deep. We sat on a couch, talking in low
tones and listening to the rustling sea-
weeds over our heads, our feet resting
on some Of the same material, which
had been fashioned into a rude mat
that covered the floor and also the divan
on which We were seated. The whole
apartment was full of it in all forms
and phases. A wreath Of it surmounted
the only portrait in the room-that of
young girl, with frank, pleasing eyes
and a sweet mouth.
The hOusekeeper, who had excused her
self for a few moments, row returned
with tea and biscuits. AS she poured the
fragrant beverage into little fiat cups,
we sventured to inquire who the original
Of The picture was.
Mrs. Linwood, the professors wife"
replied the woman, giving quick, ap-
preheDsive look over her shoulder.
Then" replied my companion, 'it's
no wonder the professor took no more
voyages after his MARRIAGE
= said he collected no more seaweed,
sir" responded the housekeeper. He
made one voyage directly after his mar
rage, and took his bride with nim The
vessel was wrecked in a terrific storm and
only a few. Of the passengers were saved.
Mrs. Linwood was among the lost
THAT was an odd coincidence--that
she should be lost and he saved" 1
said, half questioningly.
We'll, sir, that leads up to the most
peculiar story you ever heard. AS long
as the professor lived, I never dared to
breathe it, but now he's gone I might
relate a strange circumstance in con-
neCtion with this room"
We encouraged her SO much that the
good woman began Immediately.
1T WAS not until the professor was
nearly sixty that he thought OF taking
a wife. Then he was very foolish, if 1
may be allowed to say it, for he fell
In love with a little girl only eighteen,
and he being rich her parents favored
tached to a second cousin Of hers,
young fellow IN an importing house,
poor, but with good prospects. And, as
luck would have it, this cousin was on
the same steamer that took the professor
and his bride to China, he going there
on business for his firm.
1T must have ben hard for the two
poor young things to be doomed to such
a long voyage, under such circum-
esfo r.o;CI H. 49,
Of an intensely jealous disposition and
forbade his wife to speak to her cousin.
But, as I said, the vessel ran aground
in a storm and sank almost Immediately.
Mrs. Linwood was drowned, and her hus-
band came back a changed man, broken
in mind and body. He had even lost his
interest in his particular fad, and I have
seen him shudder at the sight of a p, zee
of seaweed. He locked up his room, and