Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-06-06

was fresh and clean. with q tang Of
the distant salt marshes.
A long roS OF hemlocks and Norway
spruce bordered the road. and. with
the aid Of a stone wall. shut on from
the highway a 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 a lawn that spoke Of
many years Of care; and In the mid
die OF Its velvet green, under the
branches OF two shelterlng elRa stood
the old red house. It looked GFk4oF<
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
ruffled 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.
II wasn't a house to be hurried, that
was plain. After q wait of Ave or
ten minutes Aleck was about to knock
again. when a face appeared at one
OF the s:de-lights Of the door. Present.
~ the door itself opened a 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 II
self Sallie Kingsbury looked at him
for a full second.
Come In"
Aieck followed her into the wide
dim hall. and waited while she pulled
down the shade Of the sidelight which
she had lifted for observation. Theu
she opened a door on the right anc
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 W. 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 a white apron on In plac,
of the colored bingham she had worl
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
Q~uisitiyeness not unmixed with. likine
You a set down, sir" she sal,
politely. but I don't know as 70,
can see any Of the folks. The mar
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, f'rall I know"
Aleck listened alphabetically. Il
sad case! And what 10 the name. 4
may ask. of the young man who Il
80 III"
"Lor'. I 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 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
ere down below. she b."
Sallie made this announcement al
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
decoTum dictated, hastily proffere,
his next question.
Can | see the lady, Miss Redmond
Or Is 1t Mrs. Redmond"
Sallie gave a scornful, injured snifl
Miss Redmond, sir. though She
old enough to be a Mrs. wouldn't Q,
much mind her coming in here an,
using the parsons china that / Away,
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 ",
been with him going on seventeen
years and he took me outer the HON,
when l was no more than a child?"
Alexis heart would have beef
stone had he resisted this all but pas
sionate plea.
You have been faithfulness Itself
I am sure. But do you think Miss Red
mond would see me. at least for q few
minutes?"
Sallie recovered her dignity, whicl