The Washington herald., 1906-11-30

Of the family should have decided to be
buried in this lonely place. when they
could have rested in some green church
yard IN the Mid.ands. But, seeing that
Cove Castle alone remained TO their
descendants. it was just as well that the
former holders Of the title had enter
tained this odd idea. The present Lord
Commission at least retained, out Of the
wreck Of the property the vault wherein
-b, remains Of his fOrebears We're laid.
When Commission arrived At the castle
he was met at the door by "a gigantic fe-
male OF uncommon ugliness, who an
swered 10 the name Of Selma Moon. She
was large enough TO have earned an in
come by exhibiting herself in q caravan,
being considerably over SIX feet. and sUf-
fc:entIy ugly to shame even the witches
In Macbeth" Had Mrs. Moon lived in
tbe Middle Ages, she would assuredly
have been put to death for sorcery. as her
.Ooks seemsd hardly human. She had
the frame OF a gren3dier and the voice
OF a drill sergeant. Her face was large
and round und pailid, from long life
in the midst Of The marshes. \ few gray
hairs on her upper Zip save her a stu
more masculine look. and indeed, the least
observant would have taken her sOr 4
man in disguise. She wore a frllled cap.
which surrounded her face like the rays
of a sun1Ower. and wore 4 vivid red
gown bound at the waist by a yellow
scarf. Mrs Moon loved bright colors.
and apparently. if one could judge from
her back eyes and beaXed nose. had
something Of the gypsy In her. Not so far
as wandering WAS concerned, though. for
she rarely LEFT the castle. This was be-
cause her great size. coupled with her
love of inery. provoked comment from
adults and insults from children when
ever she ventured abroad.
This An1azonian female, from her height
Of six feet FIVE. looked down on COnnis-
ton with a submissive air. She was as
tlmid as a rabbit. the most harmless Of
her sex. and report went that the late
Mr. Moon, who had been almost a dwarf
had frequently beaten her in spite Of
her superior inches. However. the OLD
man was dead, and for many a long day
Mrs Moon had lorded It over the one
servant in the castle. But she still wore
her submissive air. and when her master
imperiously demanded a sight Of the gen.
tleman who was expecting him, led tho
way at once to an upper room.
But I wouldn't take every one." said
Mrs. Moon in thin, high voice like the
midnight wind in a chimney. He being
wishful to keep hisself quiet What have
he done. my lord?'
Nothing" said Commission, promptly.
He only came down here for a rest. Do
you think he has robbed the bank?"
There's worse things than robbing
banks" remarked Mrs. Moon, shaking her
| frilled cap portentously, "and the worse
things is what he's done. And why
shouldn't he tell me his name If he was
babe for innOcence?'
Didn't he do so when he arrived? p
asked Commission. halting on the landing
with an anxious look.
NO, my lord. bless your heart be did
not" said the giantess; "and but that he
had your letter. which was as plain as
| print"
And was print" interpolated Dick, re-
membering his caligraphy adapted to the
/ brains of Mrs. Moon.
L shouldn't have let him in. But your
/ lordship said he was to have the best
room, and the best room he has, to say
nothing of your lOrdship's clothes, he
! having arrived in tatters like a tramp.
which he isn't from the princely looks of
| him. No one knows as he is here. he hav-
| ing asked me to say nothing. But Vic
/ toria-"
What about her?" asked Commission,