The state herald., 1913-05-30
x.s fresh and clean. with tang of

Wa 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 OF from
the highway a prosperous-lo looking
vegetable garden. Farther along a
nower garden glowed in the fantastic
coioring which gardens acquire when
planted for the love of flowers rather
tnan 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
tail 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.
aDie and secure, In Its homely sim
piicity; something to depend on in the
otnerwise mutable scenes Of life
Aieck felt an instantaneous liking for
H. and was glad that his errand, sad
a. 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
runied white curtains fiuttered to the
Dreeze, 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
wass of the tail. and after smiling
mildly, lay down on the cool grass.
It wasn't house to be hurried, that
was plain. After a walt of five or
ten minutes Aleck was about to knock
again when n face appeared at one
OF the side-lights of the door. Present
~ the door itself opened a few inches.
ana 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 sus picion 1t.
self sallie Kingsbury looked at him
for a full second.
Come in"
Aleck followed her into the wide,
aim 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 I 20
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 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 gingham she had worn
before; but 1t is doubtful II Aleck no
ticed this tribute to his sex. sallie
looked withered and pinched. but more
by nature and disposition than by age
s. stood with arms akimbo near tn,
center-table, regarding Aleck with In
quisitiveness not unmixed with liking
You can set down. SIR" she sait
politely. but 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 n minute
or he'd be up and getting out the win
dow. f'rall know"
Aleck listened sympathetically. "A
sad easel And what is the name. 1,
may ask. of the young man who Il
SO III"
"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 O
singer. too-one OF those opery sing
ers down below. she is.''
Sallie made this announcement nj
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 70
cipient OF more condolences than
decorum dictated. hastily profYered
his next question.
Can see the lady. Miss Redmond
or Ii II Mrs. Redmond!"
Sailie gave n scornful. injured snIiY
Miss Redmond. sir. though she's
old enough to be Mrs. wouldn't SC
much mind her coming In here and
using the parsons china that always
washed with my own hands II she was
Mrs. But what can she. nn unmar.
ried woman and an opery singer, know
about Parson Thaycr's ways and keep.
ing this house In order. when I've
been with him going on seventeen
years and he took me outer tho Home
when was no more than a child?"
Alexis heart would have bocn
stone had ho resisted this all but pms.
sionate plea.