Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-12-10
YOUR courtesy, I beg you Il
call this tale romance, rather

than novel; for 1t makes at
tempt to connect a 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 eyent-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
eovetousness, despoiled old Wizard
Maule of his house and little plot Of
land--days when Maule cursed the
colonel for his sins and foretold: God
would give him blood to drink days
when Thomas Maue, son Of the wiz
ard built for Colonel pyncheon over
his fathers very threshold, the House
of the Seven Gables.
On the day when Hepzihah 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 Pynche0n (who had come for
a long vlsiD and a 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 q dagucrreotypist named iiol-
grave; and none others were In the
old house save herself and Clifford
(now pordoned 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
shrieked when lac would have forced
bis way in TO see him.
Hepzlbah 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
aud sveetly they knew It not for love,
but called it by that other sweet name
friendship.
Then Phoebe must needs 20 home
and with her went all the sunshine
and The mist drifted hack-and all the
scant happiness that had come with
her to Hepzlbah aud Clifford for lit
tie, fed away.
When she had gone The Judge be
came even more determined to see
clifford
cousin Hepzibah, be begged, with
his most benevolent smile, "let me see
Clifford"
"You cannot said IIepzibah. "Since
yesterday he hath kept his bed.
"What:" cried The judge Is he il2
Then must and viii see him, There
Is none who would 80 delight to pro
mote his happiness and welbelng. ]
beg Of you to let me see him, Hepzi-
bah"
"In the name Of Heaven" cried
Hepzlbah, her anger overcoming her
fear. give over. / beseech you. this
loathsone pretence Of affection for
your victim You let him 20 70 prison
under false accusation, You hate him
say So. like man AT this moment
you cherish some black purpose against
him III your heart Speak il out But
never speak again Of your love for ny
poor brother"
The judges benevolent countenance
became hard.
"Cousln Hepzlbah. he said 1T Is Thy
fixed purpose to see Clifford before !
leave this house. / Will give You my
reason. Of my uneIe's estate, which
lnherltez. not one-third was apparent