New-York tribune., 1906-08-26
6be Halls of Her Hncesfors.
A PRIZE STORY.

The DID, gray horse toiled slowly up Plymouth
Ffi. II was hot day and the carriage behind him
wa. heavy. On the drivers seat Mr.. Austin let
the reins hang loosely from his left hand as he
turned TO regard his passengers. There were three
OF Them tall woman, with gray hair, and two
little girls, one a merry. brOwnsknned child; the
other pale and golden haired, with wistful eyes OF
varying hue. They had come to German Valley by
the 10 O'Clock train and had spent an hour trying
20 find some one who could direct them ito the
house where Mt MacLauren used TO live" After
many failures they had met Mr.. Austin, who not
only remembered where the place was up
Plymouth HILL but volunteered TO take them there
in his wagon" Now that they fairly started
on the steep road, past the old houses and fields
golden with autumn. he turned and spoke.
''You said you came out 70 see the house. ne re-
marked '',rhinkin' of buyin' it?'
Just n pea59FPs saPst trip S5.' Eia wanted the
pSe where @ sn was So n9sa 9sn ana no sns hs
The golden haired child looked Up wnen o5 ne5
psms M Ys Wss cssR mentioned and rosy smile OEls'es0
'Its the halls OF my ancestors she said. rever-
''fhen MadLauren was your father?" asked
ives. SIR replied the child. and her eyes dark
pr. Austin bis elbows Ris knees was ponder
s ss dssG wsg gan so o he ssT eh
TITS very long time since was here Isabelle"
BSt remembsr It'll little O It was Big nousekiS
O brown, with trees around It s in & great b;M biz
and gOldenrod used to sraw there. Oh just wait
until you and Miss Tyrrel see l! .
"Elma," said Miss Tyrrei kindly. I Wouldn't
expect too much You may be disappointed ,
There's house with sOldenrOd behind II now,
broke in Isabelle els that IL, Elma?'
The three others looked up. AT hrst they could
nothing except patch OF waving gOldenrOd
and the shingles of roof, but soon the carriage
to their view-a small. unpainted frame house,
nearly black from exposure to weather and shaded
by few gaunt naples that grew crOOkedly close
together. Some OF the windows were broken and
dirt In the tiny dooryaFd an unhempt child chased
a brood of little chickens until they ran around
the corner and up rise into little plot OF golden
rod.
and there was a seconds silence. Presently Elulas
voice said quite firmly; - =
fngly, els it Mr.. Austin:
a 1ecessitV OF pretending he had been asleep. for
he raised his head and rubbed his eyes with aston
ishing vigoF before answering. Then, when ne saw
the house he gave very lOns-, loud laugh
q ScOd niece vet 20 the halls of your ancestors.
Pretty near the top of this nhl. III tell you when
We T,bS e smile came back to Elmas face and they
SrfIgas mast milestOneS until the road began TO
80 NOR level and the snake fences on each side
turned into iron ratings Presently q shrek OF Joy
hIIrst from the two children "Oh there II is!''
.,oII0W rippIilg in the September wind. and just
below il a farge brownstoue house with towers and
archSd dooTways and long. French windows COM
s11~ down 10 the ground. 1t stood In wide park
ot OF. trees and inciosed BY an iron fence. The
Soidan wall behind it made gitterins background.
frow which the whole stood out like an enchanted
palace in a fairy tale. Elma had come back 20 nnd