The Irish standard., 1907-02-09

4
to establish friendly relations with the
resident of Glenarm. He was about 40.
light, with a yellow beard and pale
blue eyes. He was dressed roughly
and wore shabby soft hat.
We'll. suppose I'll have to assume
responsibility for him and his acts"
remarked. plqued by the fellows slrli.
ness.
We had reached the center of the viii
1 lage. and he left me abruptly, cross
ing the street to one Of the shops.
i, continued on to the railway station
where ] wrote and paid for my mes
sage. The station master inspected
me carefully as searched my pockets
| for change.
You want your kilograms delivered
at the house?' he asked.
Yes, please" answered. and he
turned away to his desk Of clicking in
struments without looking at me again.
1t seemed wise to establish relations
with the postofflce so ] made myself
known to the girl who stood at the de-
livery window.
You already have box" she ad.
vised me. "Theres boy carries the
mail to your house; Mr.. Bates hires
him"
Bates had himself given me this in
formation, but the girl seemed to find
pleasure in imparting it with a GER
/! tain severity. I then bought a cake of
soap at the principal drug store and
purchased a package of smoking to-
oacco, which ! did not need, at a
grocery.
News Of my arrival had evidently
reached the villagers; was conceited
enough to imagine that my presence
was probably of interest to them; but
te station master, the girl at the post
office and the clerks in the shops
! treated me with an unmistakable cold
reserve. There was certain even
ness Of the chill with which they Wis.
tied me, as though particular degree
1t frigidity had been agreed on in ad-
vance.
! I shrugged my shoulders and turned
ioward Glenarm. My grandfather had
left me a cheerful legacy of distrust
among my neishbors. the result, prob
ably, of importing foreign labor to
work on his house. The surly Morgan
had intlnlated as much; but it did not
greatly matter. | had not come to
tilenarm to cultivate the rustics, but
10 fulfill certain obligations laid down
in my grandfather's will. I was, so to
speak, on duty, and / much preferred
that the villagers should let me alone
Comforting myself with these reflec-
lions reached the wharf, where ! saw
Morgan sitting with his feet dangling
aver the water, smoking a pipe.
nodded in his direction, but he
fejgned not to see me. A moment later
he jumped into his boat and rowed ont
upon the lake
When returned to the house Bates
was at work in the kitchen. This was
large square room with heavy tim
bers showing in tho walls and low
ceiling. There was great fireplace
in an enormous chimney. fitted with
a crane and hobs, but for practical pur-
poses a small range was provided.
Bates received me placidly.
Yes: it's an unusual room. sir. Mr..
Glenarm copied it from an old kitchen
in England. He took quite pride in
it. It's pleasant place to sit in the
evening, sir.
He showed ME the way below, where
found that the cellar extended under
every part of the house, and was d-
vided into large chambers. The door
of one Of them was of heavy oak,
hound in iron, with a barred opening
at the top. A great iron hasp with a
heavy paddock and gril1ed area win
dows gave further the impression OF
4 cell, and faar that at this, as at
many other things in the curious
house, I swore-if | did not laugh
thinking of the money my grandfather
had expended in realizing his whims.
The room was used, noted with
pleasure, as depository for potatoes.
In another of these rooms l found a
curious collection of lanterns Of every
conceivable description. grouped on
shelves: and next door to this apart
ment was another store.room filled
with brass candlesticks of many odd
designs.
returned to the main floor and
sought the comforts of the library.
where smoked a pipe over a very
tedious chapter in an exceedingly dull
book on Norman Revivals and Inf1,,.
ences." Then l went out, assuring
myself that | should gel steadily ia
work in day or two.
Bates was soberly chopping wood at
q rough pile of timber at the rear of
the house. His industry had already
impressed me. lie had the quiet ways
of an ideal serving man.
We'll, Bates, you don't intend to let
me freeze to death, do you? There
must be enough wood in the pile there
10 laA all winter"
Yes. sir; am just cutting little
more Of the hickory, sir. Mr.. Glenarm
always preferred 1t to beech or maple
turned toward the unfinished tower
in the meadow. from which a windmill
pumped water to the house. The iron