Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-04-26

The furniture was displaced and much

Of it covered up.
"How do you like the look of the
placer" asked my father with faint
smile.
The disconsolate expression OF my
face which prompted this query was
n sufficient answer to 1t. do not re.
member having ever before having
been so profoundly miserable as when
we wandered together from room to
room and along the gloomy corridors
surveying the confusion which every
where prevailed.
Come, don't be so melancholy about
It," urged my father; "in seven or eight
weeks at most the Hall will be thor.
oughly restored and cleaned, and the
architect your uncle has engaged as
sures me that the renovation shall be
effected In the most conservative mall
ner possible, the antiquity Of the place
being in no way damaged"
l observed that hoped 1t might be
| so.
There is no doubt Of it." continued
my father. Have you seen the
church? No! 1t is at present without
roof, and the pulpit has been moved
| from the north to the south side.
Where the altar was the new organ
is to be- On Sunday Mr.. Fuller Is
to preach In Johnson's barn near the
watermill."
| Haven't these changes been made
very quickly?"
Indeed, they have; but you are not
acquainted with half Of them yet. Yes
terday a celebrated arborculturist from
| Kew was here and went over the es-
tate, marking trees which he considers
| too old either for use or ornament;
they are to come down and more than
two thousand new trees are to be
planted. l am told that your uncle
had to pay fee Of f25 for his ser
| vices"
"Shall we dine now?" I asked, abb
ruptly changing the subject, though l
never felt less inclined to eat in my
life What had seen and heard made
me feel sick at heart and would have
welcomed almost anything to divert
my mind, perplexed as it was and
wearied with strong and varying emo
! tons.
"Of course; you have had n long
Journey" said my father, looking at
| his watch. at is not yet seven O'Clock,
but will order something to be served
| at once"
A small room which overlooked the
| garden had not as yet been interfered
| with. and there we sat down to a
hastily i.nproyscd dinner, Old John
waited at table rs usual. but made
| one or two awkward blunders, and
semeed SO strange in his manners
| that l took the first opportunity that
presented itself Of remarking upon
it,
You see. he Is over sixty" urged
| his employer, land we must not expect
much from him now. The alterations
| going on here. and the presence of SO
many strangers, has SO disorganized
him that he has been almost beside
himself for the last few days; on Fri
of him. When the workmen are gone
we must find the old man cottage
and small pension. He has lived
here since lie was boy. and has been
good and faithful servant"
THAT will be rather lonely for him,
won't 1t? Fancy old John Adams, bach
elor and eX-butler. who never had
thought that went beyond his side
board or the kitchen, living by himself
in cottage"
1T will be as lonely for him as 1t
has been for me the week that my
boy was In London" agreed my good
natured father, and then reverted to
the case of my unfortunate Aunt An
ME. l listened to his opinions and con-
lectures with but feeble interest, max
ing pretence of so much int:"ast as de.
cency required, while debated with
myself how l might best 80 down into
the crypt unobserved by my father or
the servants.
Very rarely was anybody out of bed
at IOldenhurst Hall at SO late an
hour as eleven in the evening; and
therefore determined. If l could only
screw my courage up to the necessary
pitch. to make q secret visit to the
crypt at midnight. With this purpose
in view l withdrew to my room as
soon as possible, and having unpacked
my bag wrote to Miss Marsh; but l
was so unsettled and unnerved that
made three rough drafts of a short
letter before l could express myself
to my satisfaction. That task accom-
plished. l went into the garden, and
thence wandered to the stables to fetch
lantern which hung behind one of
the doors there-a ponderous structure
Of glass and metal, encasing an oil
lamp. the whole depending on huge
ring; such lantern as the watchmen
Of London carried in the time OF the
Georges. Having assured myself that
1t was provided with oil and wick,
l conveyed 1t to my room, and then
returned to my father, who at once
resumed the discussion Of which 1
was SO heartily weary. AS with most
matters which are much discussed. no
decision was reached; and when ut
ten o'clock we separated for the night,
retired to my room in strange con-
1ition of unrest, prey to diversified
emotions, Hope and Fear struggling
For the mastery.
To be continued.
Forgotten Craft.
1t was probably known to near.
ly every Roman citizen how the NOR