The Springfield herald., 1913-04-25

cPAN oo1OcIeO Iuo IOous "ANt "sSAA
the aid of stone wall. shut on from
the highway a prosterous,looking
vegetable garden. Farther along
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
ruhled 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 wait OF Ave or
ten minutes rAleck was about to knock
again. when face appeared at one
of 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 / see the lady, or either of the
gentlemen. who recently arrived here
from the yacht, the Jeanne D'Arc?"
Alexis voice and manner were
friendly enough to disarm suspicion it.
self. Sallie Kingsbury looked at him
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. Then
she opened door on the right and
said:
"Set down in the parlor while go
and take my salt risin's away from
the stove. amt had time to call
my soul my own since the folks came,
what with callers at all times of the
day"
Sallie's voice was not as inhbspit-
able as her words. She was mildly
hurt and grieved. rather than offended.
cd nd
back with white apron on in plAce
OF the colored ginsham she had worn
before; but 1t il doubtful II Aleck no
ticed this tribute to his sex. Sallie
looked withered and pinched. but more
by nature and disposition than by age.
She stood with arms akimbo near the
comfortable, regarding Aleck with in
quisitiveness not unmixed with liking.
You can set down, SIR" she said
politely. but I don't know as you
can see any of the folks. The man,
he's upstairs sick, clean out of his
head; the young man, he's nursing
him. Can't leave him alone minute,
or he'd be up and getting out the WIN
dow. rrall I know.S
Aleck listened sympathetically. "a
sad case! And what is the name, if
I may ask. of the young man who is
SO nl?"
"Lor'. don't know" said Sallie.
THE new mistress, her names Red
mond; some kin of Parson Thayer's.
and she's got this house and lot of
money. The lawyer was here yester-
day and got the will all fixed. She's a
singer. too-one of those opery sing
ers down below. she is.''
Sallie made this announcement as
II she was relating bewildering blow
Of Providence for which she herself
was not responsible. Aleck, who be-
gan to fear that he might be the re-
cipient Of more condolences than
decorum dictated. hastily profYered
his next question.
Can see the lady. Miss Redmond? I?
Or 10 1t Mrs. Redmondf"
| Sallie gave scornful, injured sniff.
Miss Redmond. sir. though she's
old enough to be . Mrs. I wouldn't no
much mind her coming IN here and
using the parsons china that always
washed with my own hands II she was
a Mrs. But what can she. an unmar-
ried woman and an opery singer, know
about Parson Thayer's ways shd keep
ing this house In order, when I've
been with him going on seventeen
years and he took me outer the Homo
when I was no more than a child?"
| Alexis heart would have been
stone had he resisted this all but pas
sionate plea.
You have been faithfulness Itself,
am sure. But do you think Miss Red
mond would see me, at least for a few
minutes?"
| Sallie recovered her dignity. which
had been near collapse in tears, and
assumed her Official tone. II don't
know as you can. and don't know as
you can She's sick, too; fell over
board somehow or other, offer one of
those pesky boats. and get neuralagy
and I don't know what all. But I'll
go and see how she's feeling"
Stay. walt a minute" said Aleck,
seized with new thought. I'll write
a message to Miss Redmond and then
she'll know just what want. II you'll
be 80 good as to take 1t to herr"