The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-01-18
A STRANGE STORY.

A STRANGE STORY.
Many years ago l knew of wo-
man whose life was as improbable as
the plot of a dime romance. Her
story was whispered about until it
came to the ears of Mrs. Oliphant
who promptly made novel-one of
her best-out of it.
The village where she lived was
community of scholarly folk who had
gathered around small sectarian col
lege. There was little wealth and no
display among these kindly lazy folk.
Their dingy old houses had stood
apart for nearly century, each medi
tating among its trees and gardens of
vegetables and roses. The work of
the town was done by few slow
going negroes. When, therefore, an
old Scotchman rented one Of Colonel
Weems's houses and hung outside of
the kitchen sign stating that "Alex-
ander McGinn, Hauler and Jobber,
Would Repair Houses, Set Out Gar
dens, Dig Wells and Train Dogs at
the Lowest Rates, - and that Han
nah McGinn Would Go Out to Sew
by the Day, Dye Old Clothes and
Weave Rag Carpets on Reasonable
Terms" the village stared, laughed
and promptly gave the newcomers
work enough to fill their days and
their pockets.
1t was soon discovered that the Nc
Ginns had a mystery in their house.
The two old people lived in the kitchen
and the room above 1t. The rest of
the dwelling was occupied by young
girl, quiet, delicate little body, who,
the village decided, gave in looks,
manner and voice incontestable proof
of high breeding. She was treated
by the McGinns as a much loved
mistress would be by faithful ser-
wants. She lived wholly apart from
them. Her chamber and little draw
ing room were simply furnished but
kept in dainty order by the old wo-
man, who waited on her, and no mat
ter how tired she might be never sat
down in the girls presence.
McGinn treated her with profound
respect but he never spoke Of her,
and was angry and swore hotly when
the trades people showed their Curl
osity. His wife, on the contrary,
was anxious to talk of her, apd told
her story whenever she could find a
listener. She said that she and Nc
CHM, before emigrating to the United
States, had lived in lonely coast vii
lage in the north of Scotland. There
a young Englishman named Saltere
and his wife had appeared, twenty
years before, and had taken boarding
with them, intending to stay for a
few days stretched into weeks, and
weeks into months. Captain Saltere,
who stated that he was an officer in
the English navy on leave, came and
went.
After some months their child was
born. The mother fingered for few
weeks aud then died. Captain Sal
tere was broken down by grief. He
buried her in the little graveyard by
the kirk and erected costly monu-
ment over her but, to the wonder of
the village, had only single word
carved on it-"Ellen."
The child Jane was given into the
care of the McGinns, and large sum
reached them quarterly direct from a
London bank. The Captain came
once or twice each year to see her,
always saying that he was just at
home from a voyage. As the child
grew she was sent to private school
in Edinburgh and later to convent
in France.
When Jane, then aged sixteen, came
back from France having finished the
school course, the payments suddenly
stopped. Captain Saltere did not re-
turn that fall. He wrote to Jane once
or twice during the next year. But
he never came back, and for three
years no word had come from him.
After time the McGinns made in.
quiry, and found that there was not
now and never had been Captain in
the English navy named Reginald
Saltere. But it came to light that
Hannah McGinn's sharp eyes had
seen a crest stamped on some of the
Saltere books. They at once decided
that the Captain was the heir OF
noble house and had been under q
cloud while living. He was dead
now without doubt and his rank anc
fortune were waiting for his daughter
The McGinns then advertised, they
consulted lawyers, they poured out
their little hoard like water. -Four
years crept by in this doubt. The
poor couple tried to support Jane in
the old luxury, but they steadily
grew poorer. At last they were con.
vinced that there was no chance fol
them but in emigration.
So here they were with their mys
terry, working steadily for her, jealous
ly keeping her idle, paying her th'
homage that Chinaman does to hi
! joss. The village received them ant
their idol with enthusiasm. They
saw in Jane the high bred, wronget
heroine of the old romances long 81
dear to them, and the fidelity of he
guardian was only reproduction o
the story of Scott's ideal clausmen.
| Ooca if ic frt1e D0ctnr WeemS dit