The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-03-06

DfttifHt. i WINS ItIhtoitd ~
call at Hopeheld Manor at O'Clock
the following afternoon. being Thurs
day. trap would meet me at Kato
nah. and It was suggested that ! come
prepared 10 spend the night. so that
the condition OF the fues might be dis
cussed and any necessary changes
planned during the evening. The note
signed Octavia HOLSTER. was written
in u flowing hand on a wholly impec-
cable note sheet stamped Hopeheld
Manor. katonah.
Before taking the train sought Wig
gins by telephone at his Office and at
the Hare and Tortoise where he lodg-
ed, but without learning anything as
TO his whereabouts. His ONCE did not
answer. but Virgins office had never
been responsive to the telephone, so
this was not significant The more |
considered his conduct during the re.
cital of my visit to the Asolando the
more ] wondered, and IN spite of my
wish to ignore utterly Jewett's revela-
tons as to Virgins summer abroad.
was forced to the conclusion that jew
EFT had not He'd. | had known Wig
gins long. and this was the first time
that | had ever been conscious OF any
Withholding OF confidence on his part,
and on my own | bad not merely con
fided all my hopes and aims to him.
but l had leaned upon him often In
my perplexities. There WAS indeed, a
kind OF boylsh compact between us
that we should support each other
through all difficulties. His reserve
hid. | knew. dIfident and sensitive
nature. and II was wholly possible that
II his AFFAIR with Cecilia Hollister had
not prospered he had fed to his ranch
there 10 wrestle In seclusion with his
disappointment My mind was busy
with such speculatlons as ! sped to-
ward Katonah. where | found the trap
from Hopef4ld Manor awaiting me.
Its rather poor going over the
hills: about Ave miles sir" said the
driver as we set on.
This was the first week In October.
There was just zest enough In the air
TO make a top coat comfortable. The
team OF blacks spoke well for Miss
HOLSTERS stable. and the liveried
driver kept them moving steadily. but
eased the pace as we rose on the fire.
Quent slopes to the shoulders OF the
pleasant Westchester hills. Early |
frosts had already wrought their mira |
che In the foliage. and the battle ban
nerr Of winters vanguard flashed |
along the horizons. | rejoiced that my
business, vexations enough In many |
ways. yet Afforded me 80 charming an
outing as this.
Presently we climbed hill that
shouldered its way well above Its fell
lows and came out upon broad ridge.
where we entered at once noble
gateway set In an old stone wall and
struck OF nmartly along tine bit OF
macn dam. The house. the driver In
formed me. was quarter OF mile
FROM the gate. The way led through
Wild woodland. In which elms and
naples predominated. and before this
had grown monotonous we came alb
ruptly upon an Italian garden, beyond
which rose the house. / knew IL at
once for one OF Pepperton's sound per-
rormances. Pepperton is easily our
best man In domestic Tudor. and the
whole setting OF Hopetield Manor-the
sunken garden. the superb view. the
billowing fields and woodlands beyond
ALI testified to a taste which no lgno-
rnnt owner had thwarted. The house
was Tudor, but In no servile sense. 1t
was also Pepperton. ! lifted nay 9nHal
with Immediate professional inte
to the chimneypo on the roof. l
tarred to me on the instant that |
never before been called to ret
any Of Pepperton's work Pep Il
as much as | about tue construct -
nad an immense respect for Pep, and
as my specializing in chimneys had
been subject of frequent chatting be-
tween u.s. | anticipated with a chuckle
the pleasure | should have later in
telling him that at last one of his tiues
had required my services.
My good opinion of Miss HOLSTER
did not diminish as | stepped within
the broad ball. Houses have their
own manner of speech. and Hopefeld
Manor spoke to all the senses in ac-
cents of taste and refinement. A serv-
ant took my bag and ushered me into
a charming library. fire smodered
laziiy in the great fireplace; there was
In the room the faintest scent of burnt
wood. but the smoke rose in the fue
In perfectly mannerly fashion, and
on thrusting in my hand / felt a
good draft of air. | instinctively
knelt on the hearth and peered up, but
saw nothing unworkmanlike-Pepp
ton was not fellow to leave obvious
mistakes behind him. But possibly