Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1920-04-22
Of Uncle Basins life in the East, of
his short illness and quite unexpected

the wall. .And must finish my
unpacking."
AS we walked to the house l ans
wered her questions about the neigh
borhood, and promised to telephone
Terrence Immediately Of her arrival.
"You will have luncheon with US
or maybe dinner would be better-or
both? / shall think you resent my
coming If you don't dine at the house
every day. Mrs. Farnsworth-my
friend and compartments very In
teresting woman. l am sure you will
like her." s 't
The information that she was pro-
tected in her youthful widowhood by
a companion was impaired neatly.
1T was really much nicer, meeting
this way" she said, giving me her
hand. 1--WE shall expect you at seven"
found them on the veranda. She
came toward me, a slender figure in
white. She seemed taller in white
as she took few steps toward me,
was aware Of a stateliness had
| missed at the shore. A queenly
young person, but as unaffectedly cor
dial and friendly as in the bright
| morning sunlight.
| "Mrs. Farnsworth, Mr.. Singleton"
Mrs. FarnswOrth was q pleasant
faced, white-haired woman with re-
markably fine, dark eyes. If the
positions had been changed-if Mrs.
Farnsworth had been my uncle's choice
OF wife, the situation would have
been much more real. instantly
liked Mrs. Farnsworth. She uttered
a few commonplaces in an uncommon
place tone without pausing in her
knitting. Mrs. Bashford had been
knitting too, and as she sat down
she took up her yarn and needles.
Her manner of knitting was charm
ing. She knew that l was watching
her hands and remarked with a grace
full turn Of the head:
"For an English boy somewhere!
I began by knitting for my brother
and cousins. but"-her head bent
lower-'that isn't for me to do any
MORE" Her eyes. turned upon me for
moment, were bright with tears.
1t had been years since the house
had known a woman's hand, and It
was astonishing how humanized it
had become in few hours. The
long dining-room, always bare, for
bidding place, had been reduced to
cosy proportions by screens, and q
small round table replaced the mas
stve, oblong affair that always looked
as though 1t had been built into the
house by the carpenters.
II found those lovely screens in the
garnet and thought we might as we'll
enjoy them, and that Lang Yao jar
you see on the sideboard oughtn't to
be hidden in the vault"
II am sure Uncle Bash would be
happy to know you care for these
things so much" said, noting that
the white roses she had chosen for the
jar-I knew the choice was hers
served to emphasize the deep red of
its exquisite glaze.
II am among the unelect," remark
ed Mrs. Farnsworth. "When am
| told that such things are beautiful l
am Immediately convinced. say
they are beautiful, and that is
enough"
''That has always been enough for
me-" l replied. my uncle used to
try to interest me. but he gave it up
when he found that my pagan soul
was aroused by nothing but pottery
idols. am q heathen!'
II am gratified that you make the
admission so frankly" said Mrs. Farms
worth. Il have always been a great
admirer Of the heather. But, you know,
Mr.. Singleton, Alice and never can
agree as to just what a heathen is.
All our sQuabbles have been about
that. am disposed to include all
who believe in fairies good. or bad.
and persons who honestly believe in
signs, omens, and lucky stones and
all who have the receipt of fern-seed
and walk invisible-there's Shakes
peare for that"
II think" said Mrs. Bashford
soberly, that l have always believed
in witches; and If keep on believ-
ing / shall see one some day. We
shall find anything in this world that
we believe In hard enough"
She was talking very gravely, as
though witches were the commonest
topic Of conversation. but finding my
eyes turned upon her in frank wonder,
she laughed at my amazement.
"Let US be honest with you. Mr..
Singleton" Mrs. Farnsworth explained,
sand tell you that we are just testing
you. It may be a breach Of hospital
ity, and you are but a stranger, but
we are curious to know whether you
are Of that small company Of the
favored Of heaven who can play at
being foolish without becoming tdiotic.
Alice Is sometimes very near idiocy.
You admit that, Alice !"
Il not only admit 1t, but l might
even boast Of It'll" my aunt replied.
At the mention Of witches had
caught Antoine crossing himself as he
turned to the sfdeb6ard. confess