Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-03-08
Her New
:Year'sCaller:
He Brought Her an Ac-
ceptable Gift
By CLARISSA MACKlE

Copyright by American Press ASS
citation, 1911.

The old fashioned custom Of paying
calls on New Years day still existed
In Lanelea. The housekeepers Of that
prim and lovely village were always
plen fully supplied with loaves of
! fros led plum cake. pitchers Of sweet
cider and pots Of fragrant, steamins
coffee and. after an early and conse-
quently hastily prepared dinner, were
dressed and ready to receive callers of
both sexes, for such was the Lanelea
custom. TIE ladies Of the village took
much thought in planning their recep-
ton hours so that all might have time
to pay calls as we'll as to receive them.
These calling hours were usually an
nounced in the columns Of the Lanelea
Weekly Times.
81 wonder if Estelle Freeman will
receive calls tomorrow" remarked
Mrs. Eddy Skinner to a neighbor OH
the last day Of the old year.
81 don't know why she shouldn't
protested Mrs. Smith. "She always has
done 1t and has had real cream i'll her
coffee instead Of condensed milk-like
some folks"
They were passing the old Freeman
place, and there had been brief
glimpse of Estelle's pink shawl in the
leafless garden.
Once the handsomest house in Lane
lea, the Freeman place still bore lndl
cations of its past grandeur.
It was huge old house, much toe
large for Estelle's slender form. In
summer, when the cOolness Of It's large
rooms was welcome, it was the most
comfortable house in the village. IL
winter it's rooms were Of arctic tem'
perature. except on New Years day
when somehow Estelle managed t.
have great fires in the flreplaces in the
double parlors and dining room Ih'
rest of the winter Estelle spent IL
four rooms Of the west wing, and the
library became her sitting room.
"Do you see any signs of New Years
calls?" pursued Mrs. Eddy Skinner as
they paused beyond earshot OF tht
Freeman place.
Mrs. Smith cast backward troubled
glance at the old house. mo, don't
she admitted. "Of course Estelle al
ways airs the parlor curtains the da!
| before"
"And opens all the windows anc
draws up the shades" added Mrs
Skinner Did you see all the shade
were pulled tight. same as every day!
"Yes, but maybe she hasn't got ut II
vet. Folks can't do everything like
clockwork." Mrs. Smiths good hu
mored face wore resentful look now
sFreemans always do things by
clockwork; you know that"
That's so. but folks change some
times"
"Freemans never change their minds
or their ways, but l guess Estelle will
| have to do both now" Mrs. Eddy
| Skinner pursed her mouth mysterious
ly.
| Don't be so secretive, Hannah said
| Mrs. Smith angrily. "If you've got
anything to say about Estelle Free
man. for the lands sake say it and gel
it over with"
"Well. Estellc's going to lose the
| place tomorrow" said Mrs. Skinner
triumphantly. She was not hard
hearted woman. but merely one who
placed high value upon her ability
to be the first one to impart matters
| of gossip. whether good or bad.
"No" calculated Mrs. Smith sharply
"Yes. 1t seems she was possessed
| to keep the house after her father
died. and. contrary to Lawyer Aliens
advice. she has paid the interest on The
mortgage out of her little principal II
the bank until it's all gone. She has
not paid any interest for two years
and they're going to f0reclose. I'm SURE
I don't know what Estelle will do
"She will stay with me till she knows
what to do" said Mrs Smith quietly
And for awhile the other woman was
silenced. Presently she spoke again:
"Kuowinr about the eclosure, Of
course I was sure Esteii, 'oudn't zee
as though she could aff ! to receive
| CoTLurro~.
And so you took it pom 5 ,,rseli
| IN leave her name OF OF the pape
and TO tell Tom. Dick I'D Harry tha
they needn't call on 'telle Freeman
tomorrow because she can't afford I
entertain. Humph. guess Free
mans can hold their own with any
body in Lanelea." averred Mrs. smit
Loyalty.
"Well, declare" cried Mrs. Sklnne
angrily, and without further parie
she whisked around corner ana wen
toward her own neat. white paih'e'
plaringly furnished, unmortSase
home
Nrs Smith stared after her for Il
instant and then appeared TO 1orse
d the existence Of Mrs. Eddy sklnne
Her kindly eyes were turned haci
ward over the way they had com
where the line of neatly painted picI
ct fences was broken by a length
overgrown, uukempt privet hedge tn
surrounded the Freeman place.
Suddenly she wheeled about and r
traced her steps until she came to Il
ragged hedge. where she pushed II
bulky form through the narrow Gat
way. Instead of going around TO Il
= side door that Estelle always useu
winter. Ellen Smith marched up u
Il broad front steps and rang pc
= through the empty rooms.
Estelle opened the door, her II
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