Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-01-18

muse LopS she aneaQ, al
most hidden by the great elms and
them refiectively. Through Webb she
seemed suddenly to leei hat she had
known the little tragedies and Joys of
Freedom all her life. She was not a
bit afraid now to meet Aunt Sabrina
or this Miss Milly OF B'lindy. And
she was eager to see the old, old
house and the spot where Leavitts
had been massacred as they protected
their women! After all. it was going
to be very pleasant-this playing at
being one of the old Leavitts! She
wished. Webb would hurry.
When Farmer Jenkins followed
Webb to the wheel Of the wagon,
Nancy knew that Webb had fingered
to tell of her coming. She met the
farmers open stare with a pleasant
little smile SO that, an hour later, he
"opined" to the thin. bent-shouldered
woman who shared his name and la
bors. that IF that young gal wouldn't
set things stirrin' pretty lively up at
AS they approached the outlying
houses of the village Webb assumed
an important air. This here's Free
dom, Missy, and I'm proud to do the
honors for Miss Sabriny's niece! It's
not big as places go but it's record
can't be beat sence Ethan Aliens
day. Webb knows. fer I marched
away with the boys in blue back in
81. though I was a barefooted
couldn't do nothin' more useful than
beat a drum. And thar's service
flag. Missy, and every last M of the
six of EMS come through hull
thanks be to God! And thar's the
hotel by the p%ostofice and cross
here's the school house which I help
ed build the winter they want no call
fur the stage. This is the Common
and thet's the meetin' house, as any
one could see, fur it amt a line diff
ferent from the meetin' houses over
at Bend and Cliffsdale and Nor Hero
and all over Vermont, l guess. Fun
ny how they never wanted only one
kind o. meetin' houses! And here's
the old smithy lookin' like it was old
err than B'lindy lowed. and here's
whar we turn to go up the Leavitt
road. Seem how you're sort of a
special passenger I'll go right along
my custum!"
Nancy was tremendously excited.
She stared to right and left at the lit
tile old frame and stone houses set
%suuarely' in grass-grown yards flanked
bv fower-beds. all abloom. and each
wearing, because of tightly closed
blinds. an appearance Of utter deser-
ton. On the wooden "stoop" of the
place Webb had dignifed by calling a
"hotel' were loungtng q few men who
had scarcely stirred when Webb in
salutation had flourished his whip at
them. The Commons, hot. in the
June sun. was deserted save for. a
few chickens pecking around in the
long grass. The green shutters OF the
meeting house were tightly closed,
too. From the gaping door Of the
smithy came not q souna. Even the
great branches OF the trees scarcely
stirred. Over everything brooded a
peaceful quiet.
"Oh. how delicious" thought Nam
CT. rHow very, very old everything
is. How ! shall love I'll" She leaned
forward to catch q first glimpse OF
Happy House.
Back by the spithy thar's old
DanI Hopworth's place. Shame to
have It on Miss Sabriny's road only ]
low most as long as the Leavitta
been here thar's been some Of the no
good Hopworths! Poor old Dan'rs
B'lindy sea, and his grandchildren
amt any better. Ana that thar leads
down to old man Judson's. His ten
acre piece runs right up to Miss
Sabriny's. And thar's Happy House,
Through the giant elms Nancy
caught her first glimpse Of the vine
covered old stone walls. Her first
feeling was of disappointment; in the
square tines OF the house there wai
little claim to beauty. But its ugli-
ness was softened by the wonderful
trees that arched over it, roof; the
gray OF its walls and the tightly
blinded windows gave . stirring hint
Of mystery.
The door. built sduarsly in the
middle OF the house, opened almost
directly upon q stOne-nagged path
that led In q straight line 20 the rbad.
There was something sternly for
midable about It; Nancy, staring at Il
with Z rapidly beating heaft, wonder
Cd, when II opened, what mightai& h
store for her beyond r.!
Wabb. With mitch ado, WA swing
Ne her BIZ bAg M the wheel.
~ Is vat we're maxim. history, ! gue1