Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-12-08
M YOUR courtesy, / beg you to
call this tale romance, rather
than q novel. for Il makes at

tempt to connect q bygOne time with
the present that Is even now drifting
away from us. It Is legend, bringing
with it the mist of the past floating
round each character and event-even
round the old house itself.
Sometimes 1t drifts aside and you
catch a glimpse of older days-days
when Colonel Pyncheon, out of pure
cOyetousness, despoiled old Wizard
Maule of his house and little plot of
Iand-days when MauIe cursed the
colonel for his sins and foretold: "God
would give him blood to drink !"-days
when Thomas Maule, son OF the wiz
ard, built for Colonel Pyncheon over
his fathers very threshold, the House
OF the Seven Gables.
On the day when Hepzibah Pyncheon
trod her pride underfoot and opened
the little cent-shop, built in the front
gable of the old house, there were but
few Of the Pyncheon blood left. Judge
Pyncheon, his son (who died abroad
and enters not into this tale), Hepzi-
bah and her brother Clifford, little
Phoebe Pyncheon (who had come for
a long visit) and few cousins. were
all. The race of Maule was supposed
extinct-at least there were none
known.
Long since Hester had let one Of the
gables to daguerreotypist named Hol-
grave; and none others were in the
old house save herself and Clifford
(now pardoned out after serving SEN
tence for the supposed murder OF an
uncle), and little Phoebe.
Judge Pyncheon was the great man
of the town; but, despite his ever
ready smile and studied benevolence,
he was not greatly liked. Hepzibah
shrank away from him and Clifford
shrfeked when he would have forced
his way In to see him.
Hepzibah and Clifford scarce left
the house even for the garden; but
Phoebe and young Holgrave met there
often; and the kindly mist made itself
thin between them till they saw each
other clear and their hearts drew close
and love came to them-but so softly
and sweetly they knew 1t not for love,
but called it by that other sweet name
friendship.
Then Phoebe must needs go home
and with her went all the sunshine;
and the mist drifted back--and all the
scant happiness that had come with
her to HepzIbah and Clifford for a lit
tie, fed away.
When she had gone the judge be-
came even more determined to see
clifford.
"Cousin Hepzlbah," he begged, with
his most benevolent smile, ''let me see
Clifford"
.You cannot" said Hepzibah. 'Since
yesterday he hath kept his bed"
"Whatf'' cried the Judge. as he III
Then / must and win see him. There
Is none who would 80 delight to pro
mote his happiness and wellbeing. !
beg Of Jon to let me see him, HepEi-
bah"
'Tn the name Of Heavenl" cried
Hepxibah, her anger overcoming ner
fear, "give over. beseech you, this
loathsOme. pretence Of afrection for
your victim. You let him 60 to prison
under false accusation. You hate him
Say so, like q mani AT this moment
you cherish some black purpose against
him N your hearth Speak It outl But |
never speak again Of your love for my
poor brother"
The judges benevolent eountenance
became hard.
"Cousin HepSibah." he said, "it - my |
fxod purpose to wee Clifford before
leave this house. win give yOn my |
reason. OF my gncle's estate, which
Inherited, not one-third was apparent !