Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-01
CHAPTER V
Tho No,y Ho

was ulStlnctly sorry when we
reached the Gable Farm. 1t was not
nearly SO picturesque as Mr.. Ander-
SOM home, but as he had said, it was
PROBABLY far moro comfortable, seeing
that it was fairly modern; but 7 was
conscious of chill feeling as I cIam :.
hered down from the trap and stood
looking up at my companion.
'Aren't you coming in?" I asked.
Hc laughed and shook his head.
Not now, ! think, thanks. Hulo
Here Is Mrs. Albarry."
The door Of the house had openoI
behind us. and short. rather stout
woman with a CHEEKY face was beam
ing out at us.
IN" farm boy, Ned. who. as after.
ward discovered, was groom. coachman,
gardener and man Of all work. had told
her of our accident. and think she was
relieved to Sce INC delivered Of tho door
safe and sound. with no broken limbs.
she thanked Mr.. Anderson rrofuscly
Tor b Is care. Sh" begged him to come In
II only for a minute, but he would not.
IL was cold to leave the horse standing,
n" said. Besides he must get back Ii
looked down at me.
morrow"
Are you really coming to see me
ttomorrowE' | asked dOubtfu!ly, and he
laughed.
me-" '''' '0u '0f o'u
You can please YOURSELF" ] said.
In. that case" said Mr.. Anderson,
L shall certainly come"
He turned the trap about and drove
of again down the snowy road, and !
reluctantly followed Mrs. Albcrry in.
doors.
, She was a dear old soul. From the
FIRST moment l knew that ] should love
her, and SO | did
don't know what she had been told
about my misdeeds at home, but, at
any rate, she received me as II was
a princess Of royal blood. She was
one OF the old time, seldom to be-
found d-now sort Of women, and because
Of some kindHess she had received from
my Aunt Isabel years before she felt
that she could not do enough for me
as a sort of repayment.
! don't know what the kindness was:
never asked. but from my knowledge
of Aunt Isabel l should say that il
was about the only good turn she had
ever done In her selfish life.
Mrs. Alberry, however, seemed TO
think the world of her. and she talked
about her with breathless sort of
enthusiasm as she took me upstairs to
ny bedroom.
1t faced the front of the house, and
rom it could see the roof and ton
widows of Mr.. Andcrson's house. There
vas light in one of them now, and it
'hone out like IL CHEEKY beacon through
he closing dusk of the afternoon.
Mrs. Alberry was watching me
lnXiously,. and realized that | ought
. be admiring the room instead of the |
new outside, so ! turned hastily and !
ookcd round.
IT was Il long, rather. narrow room. !
With two windows, and there was n .
'hcery fire burning in the gratc.
lt was furnished with dark. pa-ly .
ictorian furniture, and II heavy four.
'oster bedstcad, which l found rather
lttractive after the extremely modern
urniture we had at home. There WINS
N old fashioned Paisley quilt on the
ed, too, and Mrs. Alberry told me
Rter, with great impressiveness, that
had been in her family for genera.
ions and that she herself had seen two
elatives--her mother and her grand
nother--breathe their last beneath its
warmth.
don know whether she thought it
would please me to hear such doleful
ecollections; but ] was too young to
mind, and ! spent many happy and
rcamless nights cuddlcd warmly be.
lcath it.
We had supper downstairs: mine had
'cen set in solitary state in the best
,ar Tor. But l objected so strongly, and
Ieclarcd | would not eat my meals
lone, that Mrs. Alberry, with many
risgiyings, consented TO my Joining
erself and her husband in the kitchen.
] always liked the kitchen best of any
oom in the house. Though it had been
ullt fairly recently, it had warm
ed brick floor and wide open fire.
lace, and lunches of dried herbs al
Iays hung from the ceiling and gave
he place a delicious scent.
II don't know what your mother
'ould say, miss" Mrs. Alberry said in
eSpair, as ! drew my chair up close TO
he fire and prepared to enjoy myself.
1T was, arranged for you to have the
est parlor."
Il hate the best parlor," retorted,
and l love the kitchen. I won't eat
thing il you drive me in there alone"
She gave in with sigh.
II don't know what I'll tell your
lothcr," she murmurcd, and said
"Why need tell her any
ling2 Why need you? AS long as I'm
lfc and out of the way, that all she
linds about"