The daily Alaskan., 1907-03-25
Their First Visitor
LOriEtnal. ]

that the regime was very anclent-noth- ing is ancient in America-but It was certainly not the new regime Of wealth. There were families that had been in comfortable circumstances for hundred years. some who had de scended from those once prominent and all were refined. Refinement nee | eSsarily means eNclusiveness, and Wa yerly was known as an exclusive place. A wealthy soap boiler had settled there, but after years had passed without making any friends he moved on.
 But one day little house that had been vacant for a long while was opened, the paint retouched, shutters repaired, broken window panes put in and the fence set up. No one in Waver- ly was especially interested in who was to occupy II, for people occupying such houses were usually not of kind to be associated with. But when a young couple appeared, boy and a girl just married. both bearing the marks of refined percentage, some of the Waverlyans took notice. Those who would Scorn to visit millionaire soap boiler would not hesitate to take into their hearts refined people.
 But the citizens of Waverly were not in the habit of being in a hurry in their welcomes Time enough 10 call when they had learned something about the young couple. The husband went into the city almost every day, but not every day, and when he did 20 in he often came out long before the closing of business hours. The wife remained at home all day. She dRSsed plainly, hut neatly. If she had fine clothes she had no occasion to show them except al church, where she wore such costumes as were ap' propriate. But information concerning the young couple did not come rapid ly. Weeks had passed before the name. TileSton, was generally known. The couple did not appear to wish to be left alone Indeed, young Mrs. Tiles ton made several efforts to become ac- ouainted with the ladies of her church. But the ladies of the church did not see why persons travelling on the same road together tO heaven should need 10 camp together ny the way-not that they proposed 10 exclude Mrs. Tiles ton: they simply intended to find out all about her before becoming intimate with her.
 Months passed and still information concerning the young couple Fingered. There came vague report that lei terS were coming through the post Otfice to them under an assumed name This settled the matter. There was no further question as to the future social status of the so called MT. and Mrs. TileSton. They were to be let severely alone.
 One day 8 man with small satche. came out from the city and made straight for the Tileston house. He stayed half an hour. went away anu came again the next day, and the next. and the next. Neither husband nol wife was visible. and the shades ln an upstairs room were drawn.
 No one in Waverly took note of this except an old maid who lived op posite. Though living so near the Tilestons. she had not paid any atten- ton to them She had an income oi $500 a year. the remains of large fortune built up ny her great-Grand- father in the slave trade. She was De C.. and the De G.'S had once been inc social heads of society in the city. When one of the WavCrliaus had pro posed to call on the soap boiler Miss pe G. had held up her hands in holy horror and prevented the call But she was an old maid. and 6ld maids are proverbially curious. What could be going on in the little house op' posIte? There was but one way tn ind out-to go over and see.
 Miss De G. knocked at the door and received no answer. The latch was not caught. and the door was shaken ftfully by the wind. Opening it. she went inside. Neither in the living room. the dining room nor the kitchen was there a sign of living being. Curiosity overcRme her objection to intrusion. and she went upstairs.
 The TilestOns had received their first ylsitor-a visitor who had come 10 stay. On the bed lay the wife, dead. The husband sat in a chair. his arms on table and his head on his arms.
 Miss De c. saw this from the head of the stairs Her curiosity was satiS- fed. She stepped back stealthily, went out and reported what she had seen to one of the ladies of the church. The lady called on several other ladies. and the matter of taking some action was discussed. All those visited were engaged to go to a lunch party, but they decided that it was their Chris tian duty-after the uncheOn-to go and see if they could do anything for the widOwer.
 AS they were about to enter the little house carriage. the coachman and footman in rich livery. drove up to the door, and a gentleman and lady with two children alighted and hur-