The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-05-14

'ohahb PAShOu LLlb w C0IfOuSly. ~
was Lucille" He noted that here
and there passages were marked with
penciled hnes-some light and femf
ninely delicate, some heavier, as
though two had been reading II to
gether. noting their individual prefer
ences.
He laid 1t back musingly, and open
ing door, entered the large room 1t
disclosed. This had been the dining
room. At one end stood a crystal
knobbed mahogany sideboard, holding
glass candlesticks in the shape Of
Ionic columns-above It a quaint por
trait Of a lady in hoops and love.
curls-and at the other end was
huge fireplace with rust-red f1redogs
and tarnished brass fender. All these.
with the round centipede table and
the Chippendale chairs set In order
against the walls, were dimmed and
grayed with thick powdering Of dust.
The next room that he entered was
big and wide, place Of dark colors,
nobly smutched of time. 1t had been
at once library and living-room. A
great leather settee was drawn near
the desk and beside this stood a read.
ing-stand with small china dog and
a squat bronze lamp upon it. In con.
trast to the orderly dining-room there
was about this chamber a sense Of
untouched disorder-a desk-drawer
jerked half-open, a yellowed news
paper torn across and flung into cor.
ner, books tossed on desk and lounge,
and in the fireplace a little heap OF
whitened ashes in which charred frag-
ments told of letters and papers
burned in haste.
Suddenly he lifted his eyes. Above
the desk hung a life-size portrait Of q
man, In the high soft stock and vel
vet collar of half century before
The right eye, strangely. had been cut
from the canvas. He stood straight
and tall, one hand holding an eager
hound in leash, his face proud and
florid, his single, cold, steelblue eye
staring down through its dusty curtain
with a certain malicious arrogance,
and his lips set in sardonic curve
that seemed about to sneer. 1t was
for an instant as if the pictured figure
confronted the young man who stood
there, mutely challenging his entrance
into that tomb-like and secret-keeping
quiet; and he gazed back as fixedly.
repelled by the craft Of the face, yet
subtly attracted. Il wonder who you
were," he said. You were cruel
Perhaps you were wicked. But you
were strong, too"
He returned to the outer hall to find
that the negro had carried in his
trunk, and he bade him place it, with
the portmanteau, In the room he had
Just left. Dusk was falling.
Uncle Jefferson" said Valiant abb
ruptly, "have you family?'
mo, sub. Jes' me en- nah OIL
CONAN"
Can she cook?"
Cook" The genial litter again
captured his dusky escort. When
abe got de fxens, All reck'n she de
keaten'es cook in his heah county"
How would you both like to live
here with me for while? She could
cook and you could take care of me-"
Uncle Jefrerson's eyes seemed to
turn inward with mingled surprise and
introspection. He shifted from one
foot to the other, swallowed difficulty
several times, and said, "Ah ain neb-
bah seed yo' befo', suh."
We'll, I haven't seen you either.
have II"
Oats de trufe, sub, deed ct is!
Hyuh, hyuh! Whut All means ter
say is dat de OIL CONAN kahn COOK
no fancy didoes like what dey eats up
Norf. She kin jes' cook de Ferginey
STYLE"
THAT sounds good to me-" quoth
Valiant. I'll risk it. Now as to
wages"
"Ah ain specticulous as ter de
wages" said Uncle Jefferson "Ah
knows er gemman when All sees one"
Then it's bargain" responded Va
liant with alacr1ty. Can you como at
once?'
"Yas, sub, me en- Daph gwinSter
come ovah fus' thing in de mawntn'.
Whut yo'-all gwineter do TO yo' sup
pahT'
"ITl get along" Valiant assured him
cheerfully. Here is five dollars. YoO
can buy some food and things to
cook with, and bring them with you
Do you think there's stove in the
kitchen2"
"Ah reck'n," replied Uncle Jefferson
EN- ef dar atm Daph kin cook el
Christmas dinnah wild TO stones en- e1
tin skillet. Vas, subj"
CTO BE CoNTINUED)
Wasted Day,