The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1913-03-08
was fresh and clean. with tang Of

was fresh and clean. with tang OF
the distant salt marshes.
A long row OF hemlocks and Norway
spruce bordered the road. and. with
the aid OF a stone wall. shut on from
the highway prosperous-looking
vegetable garden. Farther along
flower garden glowed In the fantastic
coloring which gardens acq@ire when
planted for the love Of flowers rather
than for definite artistic effects.
Farther still, two lilac bushes stood
sentinel on either side Of gate
way; and behind. 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 It's velvet green, under the
branches of two sheltering elms. stood
the old red house. 1t looked comfort
able and secure, In It's 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
ruffled white curtains Huttered 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
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 Klngsbury 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 &c
and take my salt risin's away from
the stove. l amt had time to cal
my soul my own since the folks came
what with callers at all times of tn,
day"
Sallie's voice was not as inhospit
able as her words She was midi,
hurt and grieved. rather than offended
She disappeared and presently cam,
back with white apron on in plac,
Of the colored Bingham she had worr
before; but 1t is doubtful II 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 tn,
comfortable. regarding Aleck with In
quisitiveness not unmixed with liking
You can set down. SIR" she sal,
politely. but I don't know as 20,
can see any of the folks. The man
he's upstairs sick, clean out of hi
head; the young man. he's nursing
him. Can't leave him alone a minute
or he'd be up and getting out the win
dow, f'rall know"
Aleck listened alphabetically. 81
nd uyha IL I
l may ask. of the young man who 1
so ill?"
."Lor', don't know" said Salli,
THE new mistress, her names Rec
mond; some kin of Parson Thayer',
|; and she's got this house and lot Q
money. The lawyer was here yestel
:. day and got the will all fixed. She's
,, singer. too-one Of those opery SIM
ers down below, she u.s."
Sallie made this announcement a
II she was relating bewildering bio,
of Providence for which she herse
, was not responsible. Aleck, who b,
gan to fear that he might be the r,
: cipient of more condolences tina
decorum dictated. hastily proffere
his next question.
Can see the lady, Miss Redmond
Or Is 1t Mrs. Redmond?"
Sallie gave scornful, injured snii
Miss Redmond. sir. though she
old enough to be Mrs. wouldn't 9
; much mind her coming in here an
using the parsons china that Away
washed with my own hands II she we
: a Mrs. But what can she, an unma
!, ried woman apd an opery singer, kno
:. about Parson Thayer's ways and kee
: ing this house In order. when Nv
been with him going on seventee
: years and he took me outer the HON
;. when was no more than a child?"
: Alexis heart would have bee
: stone had he resisted this all but pa
!. sionate plea.
You have been faithfulness itsel