The Washington herald., 1913-10-31
Daily Short Story.
AT BASSETTLAW.
MARTHA M,cULLoe H-wILLIAsIs.

cold; therefore. the log fire roaring up
the chimney-throat was as much a Joy
as a comfort. Other chimneys had been
modernized. but here in the hail Squire
Bassett would have none Of the improve
ments. There were the big stone tambs
worn by years of use to the semblance
OF black marble, which had been set in
place under the eyes OF his pioneer
grandfather. A fine old Trojan was that
same grandfather. The house was low
and wide. rambling to be sure, but so
well and truly builded it was stanch
and snug after the storms of a hundred
years
Above the black walnut wainscot there
were antlers-not so many, but notable
as were the weapons they held--a rife
that had barked at Kings Mountain, a
sword darkiy stained, sent home from
Mexico just as II had fallen from the
hand Of a dead Bassett, another rife
that had done sharpshootins at vicksburg.
procession Of shotguns. ending with
a boys weapon piteously light, pistols
In variety, and a wicked-looking kreese.
to say nothing Of deerskin, bullet
pouches. powder horns, and hunting
horns.
loved them all-indeed loved every
thing at Bassettlaw, from its hale and
ruddy whlte-headed master, to the dogs
on the rug in front OF the hearth. The
place was more home to me than my
legal residence-I had been free Of 1t
always, as / was not free of Greenways
since the new mistress came. My father
was still kind-as kind as he dared to be.
But the wife he married a year after
my mother went was Jealous. She had
schemed from the very first to set him
against me, his only child She had
children-a son and daughter. She had
tried hard to have me sent away to
West Point or Annapolis. A soldier or
sailor would be mostly out Of her way.
But I was land-lover born-therefore I
baked her plans. 1 was willing enough
her children should share my home. even
share reasonably in my fathers fortune:
but not that they should parcel up
Greenways between them-most of all.
that Llewellyn, the son, should not have
Reina Bassett. Reina had been my
sweetheart ever since she was born.
She had made a party this Halloween,
All the young folk In ten miles about had
been bidden to It. They stood in merry
clutches about the big hall. testing, laugh
ing whiles. other whiles. staring openly or
coyertly at Nine. Varian. my stepmother.
and her daughter. EIlice May.
All the others were In simple frocks,
tricked out with simpler gowns, clearly
homemade, Madame and Ellice rustled'
OF Paris in ilmy glittering robes that ferl
over thin silk. Nothing like them had
been seen ever before in the county. And
to say truth. Squire Bassett. hospitable
though he was, did not seem too pleased
to have them at Bassettlaw. He glanced
from them proudly to Reina- Her corn
colored cashmere. toucned family with
scarlet. coming half low over a fine lace
tucker, became her wonderfully. She had
merry dark eyes and peachy skin
There was some talk of dancing, but
Reina shook her head. This is a play
she said
And just then understood why
madame and Ellice had Put on their fine
in walked Rick Allonby, son
to Senator and grandson. on the moth
er's side, to somebody IN Standard
Oil. Also on the mothers side he in
herited Bassett friendship-the squire all
but hugged him and led him about as
proudly as though showing of one of his
prize yearlings. I think Reina sensed that
the same as / did-she cut an eye at
me with small. merry grimace, then
beckoned me across to her.
Get things going-hard," she COM
manded. do anything-everything I
don't care what. Only play-and play
hard And-let no very fine lady escape"
This with a soft. malicious smile and a
covert look at madame.
She was obeyed-after my habit. The
next two hours saw riot and reveI there
in the big hall. Oats. Peas, Beans, and
such thrillers as "weeviIy Wheat"
Bounce the Cymling," ''Consolation"-
even Tucker and Frog-fn-the-MiddIe"
Being slight and red-headed. and oblig-
ing, II 1 do say II, I was pretty free to
do things-the lads followed my lead
the lasses of course follow
ed them. We forced Rick into the mid
die of everything-if he gasped at first,
he stood to It gamely. And after a bit
think he enjoyed the fun. honest romp-
ing with no Thought OF anything be-
hind II.
Ellice held aloof, her mother smiling
superiority and shaking her head-until
she saw Rick on the MOOR. Then-she
would have changed her attitude-only
the reason would have been too patent
Besides-she was the sort to wait, a.
spider-woman ready to pounce upon en-
tangled prey. I had thought so all along:
now I thought IL more than ever. All
the hlmy frills and overlays were her
webs-if 1 could help il Rick should not
be tangled in them. Queer / had no
jealousy Of him as to Reina-with his
looks and money, and man-of-the-world
air, he put me quite out of court But
there was that in the eyes Of my dear,
which set me at ease-moreover, in one
Of the games she had whispered shyly:
Arthur won't kiss anybody but you"
Perhaps II was the kisses-I had got
held me so tranquil
could not know that Because
Reina had kent close TO Rick she fancied |
her setting her cap for him Therefore
she was wildly angry with Reina-all the
more when at supper time Reina paired
Rick with Ella Walton, a shy, homely |,
little thing, whom all the rest had rath- |
sr neglected, and sent Ellice to the groan- |
ing table with Jerry Bone. an ungainly |
but susceptible young widower.
The squire, OF course, took out madame |
since he said. jovially, "Old |
ioiks together, madame. she was in a |
wax over that / knew IT, could read |
he signs in her face from long study of |
/.
md drinking till nobody could eat and |
irink more, just as the clock otruck
2 Reina clapped her hands for |
silence and said hushedly: Ghost timsi
We must be ready for them. Take away
all the candlesl" Then after we had
,beyed her: by freight and ghostlight |
We will read. the future
She gave US nuts for naming-we set
hem arrow, two by two. on the hot
Iearth, where the heat struck them fairly. /
II they burned together, the pair whose
names they bore. burning in loves flame; i
would end in marriage II one or the /
,ther puffed and fiirted away II would
Be plain why the match was broken.
Them Reina lighted her witch's caldron-I