The daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1904-1905, 1904-03-21


was a series of low houses that had
grown with the demand They were
connected, but each seemed to have its
separate entrance, with a spacious por-
ticO, vine clad and cool. But the best
of it was that not a human creature
was in sight. The house had many
windows flung open to the sweet June
air and beyond a doubt was well ten
anted, yet no one was visible. | fan
cied the people to be wandering in
the grove beyond the house or in the
trees that bordered the lake, each man
or woman solitary, absorbed in gentle
reflection
AS 1 drove up to that entrance which
seemed to appertain to the managing
part of the establishment = for the
kitchen was back of that section of the
house, and it looked to be the Oldest
very quiet boy came out and regard
ed me without interest or curiosity.
set him down as a model child.
my friend" said L, will you tell
Mrs. Witherspoon that 1 would like to
see herr
He turned without a word and went
into the house. Presently a young wo-
man came out to say that Mrs. Wither-
spoon was in the garden, and she made
a gesture which indicated that that
was far away. She spoke with a hush
ed voice appropriate to the place, and 1
could have thanked her for it.
IF it's anything about living here"
said she after a restful pause, Il can
give you information. I'm Mrs. With
erspoon's niece
l dismounted from the carriage and
took seat in the porch. Immediately
the quiet boy appeared from nowhere
in particular and led my horse under
the shade of an apple tree that stood
beside the fence which marked off the
orchard from the field. 1 observed that
the path leading down to the lake was
beyond the fence. The orchard show
ed no sign that any one passed through
There was a faint path leading to the
lodge, but it seemed not to go beyond.
That's a very nice boy" said 1.
"Who is hep
'Jim Lamoine," replied the young
woman.
1 half rose from my seat.
"Lamoine?" l echoed.
t'Yes,'' said she. Hes an orphan
He and his sister are almost all that's
left of the family
His sister?'
"Anna," said my companion in that
calm, emotionless voice which suited
so well with the rural calm of the
scene.
ct isn't possible" said, that he is
Anna Lamoine's brother
'Why not?' asked the girl gently.
81 beg your pardon" said l. 1T hap
pens that I have met Miss Lamoine.
James doesn't resemble her.
Il always thought they looked very
much alike" she replied.
mo more than l look like that apple
tree" l protested. L met Miss La
moline in New York recently"
Visiting the Cushings?" murmured
Miss Witherspoon.
"Yes," said l. "She was there
They're friends of mine. BY the way,
where is Miss LamOine now?"
81 don't Know" was the reply.
"Of course her brother knows?'
81 don't think so. You can ask him.
Somehow she spoke as if there were
some mystery in Anna Lamoine's
and her way of saying
that l might ask Jim made it wholly
that l should do so. Either
he didn't know or he wouldn't tell.
There was pause, and then I said:
That's a fine little house under the
apple tree. | wonder what your aunt
would charge me for it,
ITS rented" said the girl There's
a Miss Jones living there
Miss Jones:" / asked. Where did
she come from? What does she look
ike"
II don't know whore she comes FROM
was the reply. she looks we'll enough /
for all that I've seen of her
you don't mean to tell me that she /
lives out there all alone?"
There's an old lady in this side" re-
Piled Miss Witherspoon. THE house
is in two parts; used to be only one,
but Mr.. Witherspoon built the half
nearest to us last year.
what a pityv' l exclaimed.
ooh, it's just as private" she said.
There's a partition of logs and no
door, You might fire a cannon in one
nalf and not wake a person in the 9th
sr. 1 don't believe Miss Jones and
meals out separate"
She sat back in her seat and demure-
Y folded her hands, which were in
,ased in mems gloves, much soiled 1
Judged that she had been performing
some task appertaining to the kitchen
'ange.
81 want the whole of that little
house." said l.
Don't know how you're going to get
t." she replied. But you can speak
o Mrs. Witherspoon. Here she comes"
A large, motherly looking woman,
with a DIaaSant faca ond a ,r,.oo : ot,,,,