Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-09-07

ready mentioned. 1t went by the
name of the library, and its walls were
heavily lined with books; but the fam
lily never sat there, nor was I ever for
tunate enough to see it with its doors
Enclosed except on the occasion of the
grand reception Miss Callista gave in
my honor. I have n fancy for big
rooms and more than once urged my
hostess to tell me why this one stood
neglected. But the lady was not COM
municative on this topic, and 1t was
hold I learned that its precincts had
been forever clouded by the uneXpect-
ed death within them of one of her
fathers friends, n noted army officer.
"Why this should have occasioned
permanent disuse of the spot could
not understand, and as every one who
conversed on this topic invariably gave
the impression of saying less than the
subject demanded, my curiosity soon
became too much for me, and attack
ed Miss Callista once again in regard
to it. She gave me quick SMILE for
she was always amiable, but shook
her head and introduced another topic.
But one night when the wind was
bowling in the chimneys and the sense
of loneliness was even greater than
usual in the great house, we drew to-
gether on the rug in front of my bed
room fire, and as the embers burned
down to ashes before us Miss Callista
became more communicative.
"Her heart was heavy, she told me;
had been heavy for years. Perhaps
some ray of comfort would reach her
II she took friend into her confidence
God knew that she needed one, espe-
cially on nights like this, when the
wind woke echoes all over the house
and 1t was hard to tell which most to
fear, the sounds which came from no
one knew where, or the silence which
settled after.
"She trembled as she said this and
instlnctively drew nearer to my side
SO that our heads almost touched over
the Pickering flame from whose heat
and light we sought courage She
seemed to feel grateful for this con-
tact, and the next minute, flinging all
her scruples to the wind, she began a
relation of events which more or less
answered my late unwelcome queries.
1.-THE death in the library, about
which her most perplexing memory
hung, took place when she was child
and her father held that high govern
mental position which has reflected so
much credit upon the family. Her fa-
Their and the man who thus persisted
had been intimate friends. They had
fought together In the war of 1912 and
received the same distinguished marks
Of presidential approval afterward.
They were both members of an impor.
tant commission which brought them
into diplomatic relations with England
1t was while serving on this commits.
sion that the sudden break occurred
which ended all intimate relations be
tween them and created a change In
her father That was equally remarked
Mt home and abroad. What Occasioned
this break no one knew. Whether his
great ambition had received some check
through the jealousy of this SO called
friend-,a superstition which did not
seem possible, as he rose rapidly after
this-Or on account of other causes
darkly limited at by his contemporaries
but never breaking into open gossip,
he was never the same man afterward
His children, who used to rush with
effusiOn to greet him, now shrank into
corners Mt his step or slid behind half
open doors, whence they peered with
1 fearful interest at his tall figure, pac
ing in moody silence the halls of his
ancestral home or sitting with frown
ing brows over'the embcrs dying away
on the great hearthstone of his famous
library.
"Their mother, who was an invalid
did not share these terrors. The ia.
Their was ever tender of her, and the
only smile they ever saw on his face
came with his entrance into her dark
ened room.
'Such were Callista AIoore's first
memories. Those which followed were
more definite and much more startling
President Jackson, who had n higl
opinion of her fathers ability, advanced
him rapidly. Finally position was
given him which raised him into ma.
tional prominence. AS this had beer
the goal of his ambition for years, he
was much gratified by this appoint
ment, and, though his smiles came nc
more frequently, his frowns lightened
and from being positively threatening
became simply morose.
"Why this moroseness should have
sharpened into menace after IN un.
expected visit from his once dear but
long estranged companion in arms, his
daughter, even after long years OF
constant brooding upon this subject
dares not decide. If she could she
might be happier.
"The general was a kindly man, sharI
of face and of tall, thin figure, but
with an eye to draw children and make
them happy With look. But his eff.
feet on the father was different. From
the moment the two met in the great
hall below the temper Of the host be
trayed how little he welcomed this
guest He did not fail in courtesy
the Moores are always gentlemen
but 1t was hard courtesy, which cut
| NuAAS ~ uullSIeu. Ing Two ClllluCCM
shrinking from Its edge without know
ing what 1t was that hurt them. skunk
to covert and from behind the two pill
larss which marked the entrance to the
library watched the two men rs they
walked up and down the halls discuss
ing the merits of this md that detail
of the freshly furnished mansion
These two innocent but eager spies
whom fear rather than curiosity held
In hiding, even caught some Of the sen
fences which passed between the sc
called friends, and, though these neces
sarily conveyed but little meaning tt
their childish minds, the words form
ing them were never forgotten, as wit
ness these phrases confided to me by
Mistress Callista twenty five years aft
erward.
"'You have much that most men
lack, remarked the general as they
paused to admire some little specimen
nj