Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-04-22
CHAPTER VII.

S%N $3.50 $3.50 |
Clinker landed at the city where the
Soules and Aileen had made their home,
He visited various real estate dealers and
was solicitous about location and drain
age Of dwelling houses, but constantly
found fault with all of them.
"Isn't there an old family mansion
somewhere about here2"
"The Soule house is for sale, but 50
large that few care for it; III show it
to you. Tt is q little out of town for a bus
mess man, Shall you go into business
heref"
perhaps"
Arrived at the Soule property, Tom ask
ed endless questions, and the obliging
agent related all the particulars of the
Soula trouble, and gave a glowing de-
scription Of the marriage of Aileen and
Gerald.
"Lord, Lord! it was a pitiful affair
that sweet young .girl!- The belle Of the
place-cveryFody loved Allen Bentley.
I must tGil you that Mr., Soule wishes the
furniture to go with the house. You see
it is all very handsome and was expen-
sive.N
"Does Mr.. Soule no longer wish to live
here himself? Why does he wish to sell
so beautiful a home?"
"Well, you see, he was terribly disap-
pointed that Aileen chose his cousin, and
the events afterwards here soured him on
the place. He has been travelling about
ever since then; and is inclined to make
his home in the South, where his mothers
people are, when he is on shore, but he al
most lives upon his yacht"
After going through the old mansion, in
which there were many art treasures, Tom
and the agent went out to look at the
stables and grounds.
"What is that small house over there
at the backF'
"Oh, that has been the difficulty Of
making a sale. Mr.. Soule insists upon his
old black nurse Delilah being allowed to
live there the remainder of her life, which
can't be long, as she is already very old;
but she is surprisingly active except for
periodical spells Of acute rheumatism,
which confne her to her bed and chair for
a few weeks at a time.
"People who have wished to buy the
place have heretofore objected to having
her live in the grounds, though she trou-
bles no one and is perfectly honest. The
place is wonderfully cheap; only seven
thousand, with house, furniture, and five
acres of ground"
cit is indeed a fine place for the price;
1 will consider about it; meanwhile | shall
remain here a week or two. Any ghosts?''
The agent looked surprised; Clinker's
tone was perfectly serious.
"Ghosts7 No. Do you want ghosts
thrown inf"
"No; but when a place like this goes
so cheaply, there are sometimes ghosts in
the bargain"
tfI never beard of any" said the
agent. a little nettled at Clinker' s tone.
Tom spent a dull week; he went fire.
quently with his hammock and books and
lounqed, read and smoked in the shade OF
the great trees upon the rear lawn of the
Soule mansion, melancholy, and deserted
Once a day he saw the old negress 60
to the house and open the windows for an
hour to air the rooms, and once she went
and swept and busted it thoroughly.
He had had some conversation will
her. lie learned from her that there was
to be a monster camp-meeting of the Col
ored Baptist church in the neighborhood
"Will you 60 to the meeting, AuntieF
eyes, sub, I goes to de meetin' sho
eff r don't git de rheumatic fust.
The camp-mseting began in du'
course, and was a rousing one. Sinners
wept and walled; the redeemed rejoice'
in dismal groans ano ecstatic shouts tina
made the forest ring.
Many white people went to the meet
ing; it became a very fashionable anus
ment TO drive out in the warm Angus
evenings and listen to the preaching
Clinker had made the acquaintance OF tn
agents family and through them becam
a great favorite among tine young people
He had his handsome team OF ehestnuts
which he drove tandem in a most styhs
cart. To drive with him to the camp
meeting was to be distinguished; as h
never took the same girl twice, his ia
,ors had the advantage Of impartiality.
He cultivated the friendship OF the co
ored revivalist, who was q very well edr
Gated man, and his sermons were NOR
logical as well as more eloquent tina
most Of his class. In conversation he sul
Qestcd to the preacher that he take for n
text the passage from the burial servic'
ssThou hast set misdeeds befo'