New Britain herald., 1916-09-30
BANG! ANOTHER
 MYSTERY EXPLODED
ReCluse We'll, Not Hungry, and
 Minding Own Business

Savin Rock, Sept. 30.-For all her eight-two years and the personal ec- centricities which have multiplied since she decided to end her days 1s a hermit, Mrs. Celia Hermione Wal lace has two well preserved senses one of justice and the other of humor. Between the two she evolved and inflicted terrible punishment yes terday upon the gossipiHg neighbors who are responsible for the lime lights latest swing in her direction Reversing her first plan of silence, she threw open the door of mystery house, on mystery hill' and made few explanations that left Savin Rocks cherished puzzle flat on tho front steps,
 "Why I came here and what I am doing here," said the quondam Dia- mond Queen, lis nothing that con- cerns the public, whether it is the public in New York or Chicago or right next door. I can see now that the nearest public has been having jolly time discussing me- and I guess about the meanest thing I can do in reprisal is to do little talking my self and take their mystery away from them''
 Explains Light Mystery. So, be it known, that when Mrs. Wallace went to live on the hill by the Boston Post Road fourteen years ago 1t was because she had found in and about Savin Rock the only brand of air that afforded relief from her throat trouble
 And that mysterious light in the kitchen window-the light that neigh bors said had never failed once In the hours of darkness during the whole fourteen years-the light that some day might show the way homo to an errant son?
 "Well," said the merry hermit with giggle, "Ive sort of got into the habit of sitting by the kitchen win dow and reading late. And I haven't yet thought of a better place to set the lamp than on the window sill If the neighbors ever stayed out as long as I stay up they might have missed the light"
 And that one pint of milk and one loaf of bread a day?
 That" explained Mrs. Wallace, "is about all that's good for me like 1t for the first neal of the day, bread and milk, and most always I go to restaurant for dinner" Diamonds Not on Floor. And the diamonds lying around the little house in peck measures, the mildewing carpets and moulding fur niture?
 Do you see any diamonds?" de- handed the hermit, knowing full well what the truthful answer must be. And isn't the furniture in about as good shape as you could keep it if | you were eight-two years old anu 1 would rather read and tend flowers than work around the house?" It was, undeniably-and in better shape than that.
 Well and happy Mrs. Wallace Is, if | appearances go for anything. Her | cheeks are ruddy in contrast with her white hair, and she really has some of that fondness for f1nery of which the neighbors spoke when the door of the house on the hill was locked and it's lonely occupant resolved to shut out the world. The skirt she wore was severely black and her waist was | severely white, but she had a bunch | of purple ribbon at her throat, bound with a diamond brooch, and on her | head was hat that would not go amiss in Fifth avenue at Easter.
 Of her financial condition Mrs.. 1 Wallace would have little to say.
 Reinvested Money Again.
 "When I say that's nobody's bus:-
 ness I mean it." she remarked AS
 a matter of fact, I don't know just
 what my income it, or just the amount
 of the principal. I don't hold as
 much Chicago property as I did, but
 that's because l sold and reinvested
 elsewhere. My diamonds? We'll I
 sell some occasionally, but then I buy
 some, too.
 '"There was a time when I decided
 to give everything to charity except
 what I absolutely needed I don't
 think I feel exactly that way any
 more. I've come to believe it isn't how much you give that matters as the spirit in which you give it." When the newspaperman left he carried this message from the retired Queen:
 Tell the public I'm getting a1ona very we'll thank you, and"-there was marked significance here 'minding my own husipocc,s,