Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-26

would have heard this avowal with some
| surprise. for no mans life had ever beer
tanner than mine. / am by nature timid
and fall but little short of being afraid
of the dark. Prayers for deliverance
| from battle, murder and sudden death
| cannot be too strongly expressed for me
My answer had, however. pleased Miss
Octavia. and she clapped her hands with
i pleasure.
| Cecilia she cried something told
me that afternoon at the Asolando that
my belief in the potential seven was not
lll-placd. and now you see. that in intro
ducing myslf to Mr.. Ames at the seventh
table from the door, in the seventh shop
from 9th avnue, 1 was led to q meeting
with gntleman 1 had been predestined
to know.
I AS We talked further a servant ap-
peared and laid fresh logs across the still
smoldering fire. This I thought would
suggest to Miss HOLSTER the professional
character Of my visit; but the fire kindled
readily. the smoke rose freely in the nue
and Miss HOLSTER paid no attention to it
other than to ask the man whether the
fuel he had taken from a carved box at
the right of the hearth was apple wood
from the upper orchard. or cherry from
tree which. it appeared. she had felIed
herself. 1t was apple wood the man in
formed her. and she continued talking
The merits Of chain armor. think 1t was.
that held us for half an hour. Cecilia and
H.
ignorance. seemed a remarkable fund of
knowledge on this reconcile subject.
I'VE dine at Z. Mr.. Ames. and you may
amuse yourself as you like until that
hour. Cecilia. you may order dinner in
the gunroom tonight
Certainly, Aunt Octavia.''
Once more I glanced at tine girl. hoping
that some gltmmer in her eyes would set
me right and establish a common under
standing and sympathy between US: but
she was moving out Of the room at her
aupts side. The. man who had tended
the fire met me in the hall and, conduct
ing me to my room. suggested various
offices that he was ready to perform for
my comfort. The house faced south, and
my windows. midway of the east wing
AFFORDED a fine view Of the hills. The
room was large enough for a chamber of
state and its furniture was massive A
four-poster invited to luxurious repose:
half dozen etchings by famous artists
Parrish and Van Elten among them
hung upon the walls; and on a table be-
side the bed stood a handsome decanter
and glasses. reinforced by the quart of
Scotch which Miss HOLSTER had recon-
mended for my refreshment.
My bag had been opened and my things
put out. SO that, there being more than
an hour to pass before I need dress for
dinner. ! went below and explored the
garden. and wandered off along a wind
ing path that stole with charming fur
t1VeneSS toward venerable orchard or
gnarled apple trees. From the height
thus gained 1 looked down upon the
house. and caught a glimpse beyond it OF
one of the chain Of lakes. on which the
westering sun glinted goIdenly. Thus
seeing the house from a new angle I was
impressed as I had not been at first by
its SiZe-it was a huge establishment, and
thought with envy OF Pepperton. to
whom such ample commissions were not
rare. PeppertOn. I recalled a little bit
terly, had arrived: whereas I. who had
enjoyed exactly his own training for the
architects profession. had failed at 1t and
been obliged to turn my hand to the doc
tortng Of chimneys. But I am not q
morbid person, and it is my way to pluck
such joy as 1 may from the fleeing mo-
ment; and as / reflected upon the odd
Of my being there my spirits
rose. Miss HOLSTER was beyond question
q singular person. but her whfms were
amusing. / felt that she was less cryptic
than her niece. and the thought OF Cecilia |
drove, me back upon Jewett's story OF
interest in that quarter. / re-
solved to write to Virgins when I got |
back. to town the next day and abuse him /
for running Oft without so much |
as goodbye. That. most emphaticaily, |
was not like dear old Virgins,
l had been sitting on a stone wall !
the shadows lengthen. 1 rose |
now and followed the wall toward q high /
way along which wagons and an occa-
sional motor car had passed during my
'everies. The sloping pasture was rough \
Ind frequently sent me along at a trot.
The wall that marked the boundary at