The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1911-11-23


hamper. After finishing my eSplora-
tions | brought some water from the
well and, sitting before the cracking
nrc, ate my supper
For long while | sat and dreamed
OF those who had occupied this house,
aud why II had been deserted, The
appearance was not that OF having
been left temporarily II rather gave
evidence Of having been left a number
of years before Who were these peo-
pleY
rye heard II said that there are Ger
tain scientists who from seeing bone
can tell the animal Of which II formed
part. SO did ! begin from my sur.
ronndings 10 form theories as to who
had occupied this house, There we're
no toys; therefore there were no chill
dren. There were few mems ana
few womens garments. therefore
there mus, have been n married cou-
pie. on the wall among other pictures
was one af those stiff photographs ono
sees In the country and. for that mat
ter. among city folksof a bridal eou'
ple. | inferred that II was q likeness
of those who had occupied the prem
lses. There were pictures OF old ana
young persons, evidently the fathers
and mothers Of relatives ~ the bride
and groom.
My first theory was that the house
had been occupied by young married
couple; that one had died and the
other had shut up the house just ms II
was and gone elsewhere. Secondly J
fancied that the couple who lived in II
had auarreled and both left II to go
away by different paths. Thirdly, no
ticing the photograph Of u sour look
ing old woman, ! concluded that the
family had been broken up by moth
er.in.law. Rummaging in an old desk,
| came upon check book, figures on
the stubs OF which indicated that the
bank account II represented wns large
Iy overdrawn. This led me TO fourth
theory-that the occupants had suf'
fered from financial difficulty and this
was the cause OF the house having
been deserted.
How many other theories ! might
have formed had my reveries not been
interrupted ! don't know. The inter
ruption was tap on n wlndowpane
behind me. Quickly turningi ! looked
TO see the cause. but apparently there
was no cause. was turned from my
suppositions as TO the former occu-
ppncy OF the premises to wondering
what had caused the tapping arose,
went TO the window, threw up the
sash and. putting out my head, looked
about me Seeing nothing, ! went
back to my seat before ihe fire.
In a few minutes there came an.
other tap. Turning again, saw the
cause. The fame en the hearth light
ed up the face of 4 young girl
Now, maintain that there's nothing
prettler on earth than a pretty girl,
and when a lonesome bachelor In
house by himself sees pretty girls
face AT his window, illuminated by q
freight, It's the prettiest sight he ever
saw At any rate, If vista Of heaven
had been opened TO me ! couldn't have
been more delighted.
/ whirled my chair around and sat
enraptured The window was Just
high enough from the ground and the
girl inst tall enough TO show her face
but not the rest Of her body She
could see me fairly well by the light
Of the fire.
"who are you" she asked and
what are you doing hereT'
I'm pin pcdder, and stopped
here for overnight"
rs that ailf thought you must be
robber''
Il suppose a robber would be more
attractive to you than a tin peddler.'
"Not q nice fin peddler"
There was some encouragement IN
this But was curious 10 find out
about the house | was IN.
where did you come fromT J
asked
From just over a rise Ia the ground.
our place Fl hidden by trees. ! saw
smoke against the sky and eaIne 70
the bin 10 find out what Il come from
Since II was from this chimney
thought I'd come on and see who was
IN the house"
I'm very glad 10 see you. I'm Gu
rious 10 know how the premises hap
pened to be left as they are. I've been
forming theories about q. Perhaps
you can tell me which theory Is cor
rect"
What are theyY
THAT couple pointing 70 the picture
Of bride aud groom. "had Just been
married and come 10 i've here. ls
that s0f"
NO. another couple Just married
did"
Wen. one OF that other couple
died"
$50, they're both alive
They had sf,at md separated,
"No such thing.
'Then they were separated by that
crusty looking old woman whose pc
ture hangs there. She was the mother'
in.law Of one of them.
mot ct ell. sbe IS my mother ana
perfectly lovely.
"One more guess One or the other
was extraragan', and that broke them
up"
'You're 10 guesser. None of those
gnesses Is right
We'll, tell me
my married sister lived here thzfs
ell. her husbands father died and
left him better farm. They lad %
20 night or and left everything as u
was Thss'ye been trying 10 sell this