Talbot's Angles

tion at Miss Parthy's is certainly the most inquisitive person it has ever been my lot to meet. I was prepared to like

that we are used to down here, though he is polite enough as I remember. Parthy and I have wondered whether he could be a

hat he has come down here to hunt up some unsuspecting damsel w

did he ask you

taken place, but he wanted to know all about Talbot's Angles, how much land

mise. A real adventurer would make his inquiries of someone else. I wouldn't judge him too severely. He says

he bring any sort of

the insurance company by whom he had been employed in Hartford, and that he had friend

don't believe he ever had a trunk, and I b

new you so bitter. Do give the

him. You know you said you weren't goi

trouble at all. Of course, he hasn't the little thoughtful ways that Berk has; he doesn't always stand with his hat off when he is talking to me in the street, and he doesn't rise to his feet every time I leave my chair, and stand till I am seated. He has allowe

t salvia as he took a leisurely passage up the gravelled walk. He waved a hand

urried before that?"

late to supper, but I never hurry when there is no need to. I don't wi

invited to take

l like it,' and I have piously enshrined that saying upon the tablets of my memory. O

inda did the ordering this

had dropped formalities

remember things that occurred this morning before

eepy old place? That is news. I didn't k

be important to you,

se, they are i

Miss Ri has returned, as you see. Then Grace and Lau

r g

is for good only

en I have been talking over the fence to your friend, Mr

urprised. "I don't see why

I am to have guests thrust upon me whether I invite them or not, I must be decent enough to see that they have pla

ntively. "What do you think of a man who would put s

unqualified curiosity or a deeper purpose, that of finding o

that's the place to which he lays claim? Why,

ot saying what are the facts; I am on

claim may perhaps touch our property somewhere, and

I can, but he is a reticent sort of fellow, and as dumb as an oyster about that matter, though there is rea

ing neighbor,"

of the old titles, and see just how the property in the vicinity of Talbot's Angles has come down to th

d of the interest and to have something to put into the home place. He thought he would rather hol

still more property belonging to the Talbot family

so long ago that I don't re

and I think there must be

ew Miss Ri was fond of them and no

slices of cold ham, fried potatoes and a salad, while the side table held some delectable cakes, and a creamy dessert in the preparation of which Phebe was famous. No one had ever been able to get her exact recipe,

" said Berkley, sitting down afte

st such every day,

n I could induce Phebe to accept t

d. No, bat, o

y b

conceited young men who might have

l. Don't you know it is my lack of conceit which prevents my harbor

know it is your selfish love of ease a

ry me. You might do it, by the way, and then we might take our revenge by luring Phebe a

ss Ri with more heat than would appear necessary.

ject to your mind?" Ber

till finally Miss Ri said placidly, "I told Linda not long ago that I never got mad with f

h I might get back at you, if one good turn deserves another. By the w

belie

cted the same person would send another this year. 'He sent 'em last year,' said the old

boat the Mary haha. He told me he thought that Minnehaha was a nice name for y

ur brother when he came back

ne long lost. 'Well, well,' he said, 'so you've got back. Been away a right smart of a time, haven't you?' 'Three years,' Mart told him. 'Where ye been?' 'To New Jersey.' 'That's right fur, ain't it?' 'Some distanc

rn shoreman is Aaron, wants nothing better

out to open. She was unsurpassed as a cook, but only her extreme politeness excused the awkwardness of her ma

ome, Linda," said Miss R

l come," replie

ou two make eyes at an interloper." And he followed the two

iss Ri he said, "I believe you have not formally presented me to your niece, Miss

were. How would it do for me to adopt you as one,

" returned the gi

pted niece, Miss Verlinda Talbot, and beware how you t

erstanding whether this was meant seriously or not, and wo

within gun-shot. I haven't recovered from my scare yet, have you, Jeffreys? Next time you go to town, Miss Ri, I

t was simply the informality of old acquaintance, though he wondered a little at it. In his part of the country not even the excuse of lifelong association could set a young man so at his ease with one of the opposite sex, and he was quite sure that he could not play openly at making love to two girls at once.

down the shadowy street together. "Haven't heard anything o

ing a

you going to

gularly, and one doesn't have to spend much in a place like this. Once my papers are found, I thin

r; but I was at college for some years, and I didn't see

l about her home, Talbot's

st occupation." Then suddenly, "Good heavens, man, you don't mean that's the place you are thinking to claim? I can tell you

. If I find the papers are lost irrevocably, I shall go away with only

arch that title the very first chance I get. I am as sure as anyone could be that it is all right. Let me see, Miss Ri would know about the f

peered in. Yes, there was a light in the sitting-room, and from some unseen window above was reflected a beam upon th

of the sitting-room was partly open, for the night was mild. He could see M

l prowling tomcats," she began

mething. May

as gone

come to

ou ought to know better than to come sneaking

kley told her. "I've done it for two nights runn

pen the door for him. "Now, what is it you want?" sh

dog, that he comes

, but don't talk loud, so as to waken Linda; the child needs

a's forbears were; that is, on the Talb

ther, but he died early; there were only the

eir fat

dison Talbot, and his father was James again.

, I reckon t

ou up to? Are you making

ct of old titles, and as it may come in my wa

session. Poor child, she clings to that, and I am glad she can. I wish to g

g myself up to the scratch of marrying Grace Talbot. Now,

ad wisely. "She doesn't have to air her family silver

wisest

erk; the place reverts to Verlind

poison her or use a d

ughts run on the possibilities of the case. I'm not quite so degenerate as to wish for anyone'

a while, and I wanted to get them straight in my mind. James, son of Martin, son o

t's

hat fascinating book at which you've been casting stealthy gla

bout his interest in the names because he wants to get them straight in his mind. He's not so interested in Verlinda as