Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1913-03-15

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 off from
the highway prosperous-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 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 it 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 fluttered 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, APP
nrO9nhn6 hn .,fe;
wags of the tail, and after smiling
mildly. lay down on the cool grass.
IL 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 Kingsbury looked at him
for a 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 risins 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 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 came
back with white apron on in place
OF the colored Bingham she had worr
before; but it is doubtful II Aleck no
ticed this tribute to his sex. Salll,
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 sale
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 nursin,
him. Can't leave him alone a minute
or he'd be up and getting out the win
dow. rrall know"
Aleck listened alphabetically. Il
l may ask. of the young man who 4
so ill?"
"Lor'. I don't know" said Sallie
THE new mistress, her names Red
mond; some kin Of Parson Thayers
and she's got this house and a lot O
money. The lawyer was here yester
day and got the will all fixed She's
singer, too-one of those opery sing
ers down below, she is
Sallie made this announcement a
II she was relating a bewildering blow
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 thar
decorum dictated. hastily proffere,
his next question.
Can | see the lady, Miss Redmond
Or is 1t Mrs. Redmond?"
Sallie gave a scornful, injured sniff
Miss Redmond. sir. though She
old enough to be Mrs. wouldn't s,
much mind her coming in here an,
using the parsons china that Away
washed with my own hands IL she wa
Mrs. But what can she. an unmar
ried woman and an opery singer, know
about Parson Thayers ways and keep
ing this house in order. when w
been with him going on seventeen
years and he took me outer the Hom
when was no more than a child?"
Alexis heart would have beef
stone had he resisted this all but pas
| sionate plea