The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1923-03-22
The
House of Dreams
BY ERNEST LEVINE

90. 1929. Western Newspaper Union)
Maytown is-near New York. 1t Ia
old as the Puritans, and some say
hi this is pretense-it takes it's name
fom the Mayfiower. No one would
ness at its age from the neat rows
clapboard houses on either side of
BE long street, unless one took q
lance at the old Manor House, back
its maple grove.
A very old house, which has be-
nged to the Clay family from time
bmemorial. A mysterious house, for
years at least, since old Mr.. Clay,
Ie author of profound. queer books
kcame a recluse there. Mysterious
zen TO the tradesmen's boys, who
hook at the back door and, eliciting
response, leave their parcels there.
rhe old, deaf housekeeper hardly
hunted. She, too, was a recluse Cos
rose and fell In Maytown about the
amor House. What was happening
side it? Who We're the visitors who
Bznetimes went there?
b1aytown Is puritanical, prohibition
of course, godly and possessed of a
arning hatred for beauty. Beauty
Id immortality are the. two deadly
BIS. immortality in Maytown? HUSH
Mayt0wn hated the Manor House
18th fury that was becoming mad
kss. 1t hated 1t for its age, because
the spacious rOoms-poor, cramped
Inds that dwelIed in little, ornate
Arlors with twisted furniture, and
by halls. 1t hated 1t because 1t
Dod for something which had once
zen the heritage of all men, certain
eedom, a nobility of life.
lie hated old Mr.. Clay, who could be
zen very rarely seated in his chair
bon his porch, among the naples. An
b man with white beard, who wrote
Reer books about beauty. Novels?
ell, sort of novel, but nobody could
bderstand them,
But-who were the night visitors at
e Manor House? Who were the Wis.,
brs that some people declared they
Id seen leaving, very early In the
prning? Women Young women
b, old Mr.. Clay might not be all that
pretended to be!
It was curious, the sort of people
DO told these tales. There was the
hid Henry, for instance, sensitive.
eamy boy, who declared that he had
lard music late one night, and seen
e windows brilliantly lit up, and a
]0wd Of women In fancy dresses, and
very tall man with the collars grand
fher wore when he sat for his
)rtrait.
And there was old blind Matty, who
clared that she had a feeling that |
ere were more people living in the |
RnOr House than any one suspected. |
They limited at things to the deaf old |
&usekeeper, but 1t was impossible to |
IKE her understand. She was stone |
Saf, almost Nothing to be got out |
her.
But more and more the feeling rose |
~ainst the Manor House There was |
revival on in Maytown. There was
general feeling that the happenings
the Manor House ought to be
ppped. Especially after the beauti-
young lady in sort of crinoline
re away on white horse at four
lock In the morning.
Ben Willett vouched for this. He
= heard the horse passing his
hers house, and had crept out Of
and run to the window. She had
pale face, and looked so proud, as
all Maytown were dirt beneath her
something had to be done. Deacon
Eggs and Deacon Brossett agreed. |
@e place ought to be raided. These
openings were almost a nightly oc-
Frence. Especially on Saturday
khts. A little party agreed with
I'm. The Manor House was men,
n to the health and morals Of the
Immunity
"A dozen men and women gathered
concert a plan. Mrs. Sillett and
rs Wimp, the oldest spinster, agreed
- the end justified the means.
oh, it's scandal J" Miss Wimp de-
red Those hussies who go there
IEht to be ducked In the pond"
Al midnight the raiders started.
Yong them was old blind Matty. She
~ she had that feeling that there
re people in the Manor House. She
" heard girl laugh from one Of
Il windows as she went past that
&ern0on.
rash Smash The back door was
IN. The party rushed into the
zee, along the hall, upstairs. 1t was
nous that the Manor House really
reared deserted No! There WAS
electric light burning in the big
2m on the second fioor-the drawing
Rm as 1t had once been.
Pc Mr.. Clay sat there at desk,
n pen in his hand, his white beard
ring at the little breeze that came
Through the window. There was no
! else in the room. and II was thick
Eh dust.
peacon Brossett went up and shook
by the arm. Old Mr.. Clay made
response except to lean heavily
lard him.
I'D Mr.. Clay was dead He had died
Ting, half an hour earlier.
khere was panic. The raiders dis |
6eared. All except old blind Matty,