Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-03-14
was fresh and clean, with tang of
the distant salt marshes.

was fresh and clean, with a tang Of
the distant salt marshes.
A long row of hemlocks and Norway
spruce bordered the road, and, with
the aid OF stone wall, shut off from
the highway prosperous-looking
vegetable garden. Farther along a
flower garden glowed in the fantastic
coloring which gardens acquire when
planted for the love of flowers rather
than for definite artistic effects.
Farther still, two lilac bushes stood
sentinel on either side of a gate
way; and behind. a deep green lawn
| lay under the light, dappled shade of
| tall trees. 1t was lawn that spoke of
many years of care; and in the mid
die OF Its velvet green, under the
branches of two sheltering elms, stood
the old red house. 1t looked comfort
able and secure, in its homely sim
plicity; something to depend on in the
otherwise mutable scenes of life.
Aleck felt an instantaneous liking for
1t, and was glad that his errand. sad
as 1t might possibly be, had yet led
him thither.
Long French windows in the lower
part of the house opened upon the
piazza, and from the second story
ruffied white curtains fiuttered to the
breeze. AS the shield-shaped knocker
changed DULY to Alexis stroke, a
large, melancholy hound came slowly
round the corner of the house, ap-
preached the visitor with tentative
wags OF the tail. and after smiling
mildly, lay down on the cool grass
1t wasn't house to be hurried, that
was plain. After a wait OF five or
ten minutes Aleck was about to knock
again, when face appeared at one
or the side-lights of the door. Present
ly the door itself opened few inches
and elderly spinsterhood. wrapped in
severe inquiry, looked out at him.
can l see the lady, or either of the
gentlemen. who recently arrived here
from the yacht, the Jeanne D'Arc?"
Alecks voice and manner were
friendly enough to disarm suspicion It
self. Sallie Kingsbury looked at hin
for full second.
Come in"
Aleck followed her into the wide
dim hall, and waited while she pulled
down the shade of the sidelight which
she had lifted for observation. Their
she opened a door on the right ano
said:
Set down in the parlor while I &c
and take my salt risin's away from
the stove. | amt had time to cal
, my soul my own since the folks came
) what with callers at all times of the
day"
Sallie's voice was not as inhospit
able as her words. She was mildly
. hurt and grieved. rather than offended
, She disappeared and presently cam,
back with white apron on in plac,
of the colored gingham she had worI
! before; but 1t is doubtful IL Aleck no
ticed this tribute to his sex Salli,
looked withered and pinched. but NOR,
, by nature and disposition than by age
She stood with arms akimbo near th
comfortable, regarding Aleck with In
quisitiveness not unmixed with liking
You can set down. SIR" she sal
. politely. but | don't know as yol
: can see any of the folks. The man
!, he's upstairs sick. clean out of hi
head; the young man, he's nursin
him. Can't leave him alone a minute
or he'd be up and getting out the wir
.. dow. f'rall know"
Aleck listened sympathetically. 81
sad case! And what is the name, |
/ may ask. of the young man who I
SO ill?"
'Lor'. l don't know" said Sallie
1.-THE new mistress. her names Rec
mond; some kin of Parson Thayer's
, and she's got this house and a lot @
money. The lawyer was here yesteI
, day and got the will all fixed She's
: singer. too-one of those opery sins
ers down below, she is"
Sallie made this announcement a
If she was relating a bewildering bio,
of Providence for which she hersel
, was not responsible. Aleck. who be
gan to fear that he might be the re
> cipient Of more condolences thai
decorum dictated. hastily proffere
his next question.
; Can see the lady. Miss Redmond
Or is it Mrs. Redmond?"
Sallie gave a scornful, injured sniff
Miss Redmond. sir. though she
: old enough to be Mrs. wouldn't 8,
much mind her coming in here an,
using the parsons china that alway
washed with my own hands il she wa
, a Mrs. But what can she. an unmar
: ried woman and an opery singer, know
about Parson Thayer's ways and keep
ing this house in order. when Nv,
. been with him going on seventeen
. years and he took me outer the Hom
! when was no more than a child?"
7. Alexis heart would have beef
stone had he resisted this all but pas
sionate plea.
You have been faithfulness itseli
am sure. But do you think Miss Red
i r,ond would see me at least for n fau