Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1917-10-26

took the girl by her hnger-tips and
pranced up the uneven brick walk,
stepping like popinjay. but in a
mighty serious mood. knew that, the
figure in black who stood In the door.
way and watched our approach was
my aunt.
And Il was well had been cautioned
against showing any recognition of
her peculiarities, else otherwise
would have been rejected al a lodger.
For my Aunt Abigail was q striking
ngure in herself. and she was made
more so by her dress and mannerisms.
She was a very tower of a woman. be-
ing fully as tall as I, and Of mascu.
line cast OF countenance; and this cast
was the more pronounced because Of a
mans full-buttoned, black wig she
wore, though it's incongruous aspect
was somewhat softened by the widows
cap crookedly set on it.
She was severely clad in absolutely
plain black silk. giving her the ap-
pearance OF a domino unmarked, and
its sombre effect was only relieved q
trifle by a magnificent lace collar II
was of exquisite design and quality,
but entirely out OF place on her; 1t
might better have graced a pump.
Dressed in a uniform, my aunt would
have made the figure OF soldier. she
having no womanly outlines. and her
voice was as strident as grenadier's.
As for the rest she wore mittens,
thick spectacles rested on her bony
nose, and under her arm she carried a
long, ear-trumpet as gentleman
might carry a cane. For my aunt was
very deaf.
Had l not been in sore straits
could have laughed at the figure she
made as she greeted me on our arrival
at the door. "Well, sir. who be your
she demanded abruptly, whipping the
trumpet from under her arm and point
ing It's bell end at me as il she were
aiming tin blunderbuss. Good
God!" / thought. How could my
gentle mother have been related to
this Gorgon?"
was properly introduced, and on
Ms being made known that ! wished TO
board and lodge with her, and would
pay my way a week in advance, the old
lady was nightly pleased, and ex.
pressed herself:
Il told you, Agnes, that the Lord
would provide for his sparrows!" she
exclaimed. with a puritanical drawing
down OF the corners of her hard mouth.
1.-THE widows cruise shall never
never be empty" she rolled her eyes
in pious ferver and quickly added:
GLORY to Gideon! Now we shall have
meat for support"
That / did not laugh outright at
this bathos was because my own foot.
ing was so unfirm; instead. beloved
into the trumpet some commonplace,
adding that had met her son. Lysan-
der, and so got through the ordeal and
was ushered up to what proved to be
my old room-a room redolent OF the
memories of old days, OF the innocence
OF boyhood, and the grace of a moth
ers love.
Though / was temporarily safe.
was aware that / must again court
danger II I would find Champe-and
Champe must be discovered. for as
yet nothing had been accomplished to.
ward the great end OF taking Arnold.
The oak leaf had gone unrecogniZed.
Selfridge Ito whom had disappeared)
would doubtless search for me, and
unnnnttniad r ~
at the Kings Arms. which might
cause more than mere remark. These
appeared like great matters.
However, determined to postpone
even thinking until saw the girl
again. l would be in the cherry orch
ard as instructed, and until then
would let everything go for the time.
having a breathing spell; and throw
ing my self on my own old bed. went TO
sleep, though Il was broad light.
But hardly had the sun set on that
day, which had been so foul and fair
to me, than / was in the cherry orch.
ard, an offshot of the original planted
by one Richard Sackett, over one hun
dred years before, and which gave the
hill its name.
The leaves were thinning. From the
orchard l could see the heights of
Brookland across the river, the cursed
prison-ship, Jersey, swinging at an
Choir almost opposite me, and to the
north the freshly turned earth Of the
British inner lines, which ran clear
across the island from river to river.
In the orchard wandered, smoking,
on that golden evening in September
with its crescent moon growing to.
ward fitness, and had not finished my
first pipe when saw the girl, as gold.
en- as the hour itself, come through
the green door in the mellow brick
wall, and with her hat swinging care
lessly by its ribbon, advance toward
me and with an air Of expecting noth.
Tag and looking for no one. knew
then that she was an actress.
1T is Gods mercy and not mine
that brings you here. sir" she said.
stopping In front OF me with a gesture
OF infinite surprise at seeing me. do
not quit your pipe; gallantry is hardly
necessary now. your aunt being nearly