The Elbert County tribune., 1913-04-25

was fresh and clean. with tang OF
the distant salt marshes.
A long row of hem1ocks and Norway
spruce bordered the road. and. with
the aid Of stone wall. shut on from
the highway prosperous-looking
vegetable garden. Farther along
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 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 sheltering elms. stood
the old red house. 1t looked comfort
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
it, and was glad that his errand. sad
as 1t might possibly be. had yet led
him thither.
Long French windows in the lower
phit VA lhc uOube OpeHeu upOu thc
piazza. and from the second story
ruffled white curtains futtered 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.
1t wasn't house to be hurried. that
was plain. After a wait of five or
ten minutes Aleck was about to knock
again. when a face appeared at one
of the side-lights of the door. Present
iy the door itself opened 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 we're
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"
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 it is doubtful if Aleck no.
ticed this tribute to his sex. Sallie
looked withered and pinched, but more
by nature and disposition than by age.
She stood with arms akimbo near the
center-table, regarding Aleck with in
quisitiveness not unmixed with liking.
You can set down, SIR" she said
politely, but l 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 a minute.
or he'd be up and getting out the win
dow, frall know"
Aleck listened sympathetically. "A
sad case! And what is the name. II
] 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 lot of
money. The lawyer was here yester-
day and got the will all fixed. She's n
singer, too-one of those opery sing
ers down below, she is"
SalHe 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 1t Mrs. Redmond?"
Sallie gave scornful, injured sniff.
Miss Redmond, sir. though she's
old enough to be Mrs. l wouldn't SO
much mind her coming in here and
using the parsons china that | always
washed with my own hands If she was
a Mrs. But what can she, an unmar-
ried woman and an opery singer. know
about Parson Thayers 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 faithfulness itself,
am sure. But do you think Miss Red.
mond would see me. at least for a few