The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-12-12
The House on the Uplands.
By A. b. DeMiIle.
Observation-Disclosures
THE great Tantremar Marsh i

-" '"l''i 'ah' N''Aion OF the deDatabls
ground Between The French and Eng
hAh powers in North america. TO
nay u IS famed for its harvests ot
rch grass. for the wild fowl thai
Hook IN with the high tides of spring
ana autumn. and for the storms
which rake il from end to end. Cine
used 10 hear also by times the tale of
The House on the Uplands. though the
place has fallen TO ruins now 1t was
my fortune 10 witness the denoue-
ment Of that strange story
was riding my wheel along the
road skirting the wide marsh which
stretched away on the left until it
merged IN line of rolling hills
For some distance past had been
vaguely conscious of house that
seemed 10 dominate the highway Just
at this point. When reached the top
Of the rise my incident consciousness
became stronger, and glanced
quickly at the house. 1t was a big.
square building, painted dead white,
and standing on knoll back from the
road. Several huge elms were scat
tered about. A garden lay in front.
bright with flowers. and through this
short path led TO the door. This
much took in at glance; second
served to produce another impress
sion there was something unpleas-
ant abont the place
As | drew abreast of the garden a
figure rose from among the tall flow
r. "a Iad =:
approached the gate. where an old
man was standing. He spoke in n
siDgularly gentle voice.
Sir" said he. have you passed
anyone lately coming in this direc-
ton? A tail man, ii would have been.
on horseback"
No" answered. "the road seemed
deserted this afternoon
The old man looked at me wistful-
~, signing as If much disappointed.
Whom are you expecting" / ven
tured-a little touched. | must ad-
nit. by his aspect
Its my brother" he replied. MY
brother James. I've been looking for
him these many years, but this sum
mer | know he's coming back. and
well 20 Off 10 England together-to
England-home"-and again he shot
that wistful glance at my face.
ITO England" exclaimed. That's
far cry from Tantremar. But am
hot and thirsty. Can you give me . |
drink ~ water? Then. if you will, |
you can tell me about your brother.
am going TO the village, and perhaps |
may see him there"
The old mans face lighted up
eagerly lie opened the gate. which
sagged heavily back on creaking
hinges.
Il take this right kind Of you. sir"
be said. Come up TO my house and
accept my hospitality"
The old man turned to me when we
reached the house.
Il am afraid" said he. ''that James
horse may shy at that machine of
yours if he comes up to the house
and passes il. hope you won't mind
putting it 10 one side"
Certainly not" | replied. iii
put il here around the corner
Within the house the rooms were
large. and as we entered one Of them
from the wide hallway q smell Of
musiy age came TO my nostrils. Ny
host threw open some heavy shutters
and the sunlight poured in. revealing
an old-fashioned parlor with furni-
iurc in the fashion Of "A generation
back massive. dark and rich. All
was on far grandcr scale than that
Of the farmhouses round about. ,
| sat down. but no sooner had the I
Did man left the room than | started
up again. with the peculiar sensation ,
that some enc was watching me.
glanced hastily around. The light !
flooded every corner. and no hiding ,
place was visible. unless il should lie
ichind the heavy window curtains r
Half ashamed Of myself. went over
md pulled them aside. Then turned !,
'ack. and Instantly my attention was !
ci1cd ~ portrait which hung above !,
he mantlepicce. IL was the mourn ],
al face Of a man. with ewes that fol- !,
owed ones every movement. This !
Explained my uneasiness--I had I'M !,
caught their gaze fixed :,
Ipon me. :,
At this moment. however. my host n
cturned with the water. As drank !
e pointed TO the picture. saying: Il
THAT is my brother. before he left i
many years ago. sir. A many years =
90. But I'll tell you about him" h
Its 40 years since I came out from ri
.ngland. And I'm not an old man :,
ct. though my gray hairs make me h
,ok SO. for I've had much trouble in q,
he past. But it's near over now. and N
hen James comes wen pack up the n
Kings and go home again. h
James and ] came out together; l.
c were always together-together 81
I school. and we should have gone hi
, the university together. but that a'
" father cast me off one day. in al
I Of rage. because / would not do
,rtain thing he wished. Then James Fl
lid-I can recall his very words: n
'hcer up. old fellow. I'll stick TO YOU IN
men my father learned this, and Ia
wv that James would keep his word, r,
9 was bitter sorry for what he'd IL