Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-02-21

rcnOIy mound came SLOWLY
- corner of the house, ap-
reached the visitor with tentative
Wags of the tail, and after shifting
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
iy 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 suspicion it.
self. Sallie Kingsbury 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 | go
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"
Sallle'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 worn
before; but it is doubtful if Aleck no.
ticed this tribute to his sex. Sallie
looked withereG and pinched, but more
by nature and disposition than by age
She stood with arms akimbo near the
comfortable, regarding Aleck with in
quisitlveness not unmixed with liking
You can set down, sir" she said
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 minute,
or he'd be up and getting out the win
dow. f'rall know"
Aleck listened esympathetically. "A
sad case! And what is the name if
| may ask, of the young man who is
so ill?"
"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 a lot of
money. The lawyer was here yester-
day and got the will all fixed. She's a
singer, too-one of those opery sing
ers down below, she is
Sallie made this announcement as
if 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 re-
cipient of more condolences than
decorum dictated, hastily proffered
his next question.
Can see the lady, Miss Redmond?
Or is it Mrs Redmond?"
Sallie gave a scornful, injured sniff
Miss Redmond, sir, though she's
old enough to be Mrs. i wouldn't so
much mind her coming in here and
using the parsons china that I always
washed with my own hands If she was
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 I've
been with him going on seventeen
years and he took me outer the Home
when / was no more than a child?"
Alexis heart would have been
stone had he resisted this all but pas
sionate plea.
You have been fafthfulness itself,
am sure. But do you think Miss Red
mond would see me, at least for few
minutes?"
Sallie recovered her dignity, which
had been near a collapse in tears. and
assumed her official tone. Il don't
know as YOU can. and don't know as
YOU can. She's sick, too; fell over
board somehow or other. offer one OF
those pesky boats. and get neuralagy
Ind T don't know what all. But I'll
90 and see how she's feeling"
.Stsy. wait a minute" said Aleck,
seized with a new thought 'I'll write
. message to Miss Redmond and then
she'll know just what want. II you,N
ba % good as to take it to her.?
..Whv, certainly. of course | VIII.
sa:d Sallie Kingsbury. Only you
naadn't take al. that trouble. can
teu her what you want myself
coll;e was one of those persons VINO
,ba non "a the weapon of last
resort, not to be used until necessity
compels. But Aleck continued writing
on blank leaf of his note oook- me
message was this:
Can you give me any information
concerning my cousin, James f1alnoae-
ton. who was thought to De ABOARD the
Jeanne D'Arc?"
He tore the Leaf out, extracted