Evening star., 1914-04-12

lowed. leads to Marlboro and the road.
he was told, over which the British moved
in their march from Benedict to Wash
ington. On the southerly edge Of the
town back from this road and on the
slope of a hill. near the crest, stands a
great brick house, venerable in looks.
though recently painted a bright yellow.
From the road to the house is broad,
deep garden with three terraces, wide,
gently slipping lawns Lying between the
terraces. From the. road to the house
-uns a, new cement footway, with cement
steps leading up the grassy terraces
Four tall pine trees of distinguished age
stand in a row paralleling the front of
the house.
The Rambler climbed and crossed the
sortico that fronts the house and pound
ed the massive iron knocker against the
double doors. a kind-faced woman an
swered the summons. The Rambler told
her that he had strayed from his way
to visit house that seemed so old. He
was welcome There always seems a
friendlier and more cordial air about
these old aristocratic houses than about
new aristocratic houses. They seem to
be surer of their position They do not
seem so suspicious of stranger as
new house with butler and a silver card
tray. Some of these old houses may
not be prosperous according to the stand
o
bers may be warped and creaky and the
box in the garden may not have known
the gardeners shears for generations,
but their old manner fingers with them
As their doors open they seem to make
a courtly bow and say: Welcome.
traveller, and take a seat in the ingle-
nook and warm yourself by the blazing
logs until I bring you some cake and
wine"
X n
Well. as the door of this old house
opened. the Rambler saw wide hall
with as much floor space in it as there
is in a modern fiat, which led through
the house from front to back On one
side of this hall staircase pointed the
way to the upper stories. On the right
and left heavy oak doors opened into big,
high-ceiled rooms.
The kindly-faced woman led the way
into the room at the right. 1t was an
apartment as large as the drawing room
in many of the palaces of modern mil
ionaires. The lady called 1t the draw
ing room.
place and mantel over seven feet high
and ten feet wide. 1t was a capacious
fireplace. in which big logs were wont
TO burn. The fnantel was ornate and
hand-carved. In that great room the
citizens of Bladensburg gave recep-
ton to Lafayette while en- route from
Baltimore to Washington. and Arling-
ton. and Alexandria and Mount Yer
non and Fredericksburg on the occa-
sion of his final visit to the republic
he helped to found. That was in 1926.
The Rambler asked the age of the
house. and the lady then directed his
attention to a gray, time-worn piece
Of rough board which hung on the
wall of the central hall 1T hat" she
said. was up near the top OF the south
chimney and when we bought the
place about ten years ago and when
found it and brought ii down here. The
figures on it are of lead. One of the
lead figures is missing. but the wood
is Scared where it lay so long" And
the Rambler read the date on that
old board. the date of the building OF
the house-1749.
soon after that part of the interview
where the lady pointed to the piece OF
ancient board she. told the Rambler
that her husband was possessed Of con-
siderable information concerning the
history of the place. He was out In