At the Sign of the Jack O'Lantern

irst

en one already "had a book." It was the front room, opposite the parlour, and every door and window in it could be securel

emly setting for the treasure they bore. But in looking at the books, one perceived t

t part, the books were simply but serviceably bound in plain cloth covers. Many a paper-covered book had been bound by its purchaser in pasteboard, flimsy enough in quality, yet furt

flowering of the centuries, like a single precious drop of imperishable perfume, was hidden in this rude casket. The m

and; so frail that a slight pressure of the finger will crush it to atoms, yet, held to the ear, it brings the surge and sweep of that vast, primeval ocean which, in the

. Yet that trembling old hand, quietly laid at last upon the turbulent heart, in the solitude of a garret has guided a pen, and the manusc

y a triple inscription upon a single stone. Thrown like the shell upon Time's ever-receding shore, it is, nevertheless, the means by which unborn thousands shall commune

wardly rebound. Still open, on a rickety table in the corner, was that ponderous volume with an extremely limited circulation: The Publishers' Tr

can't go out, we'll take down all these books, arran

marked Harlan. "Do you think

ned Dorothy; "you

easantly upon the porch. Four weeks had been a pleasant vacation, but two weeks of comparative idleness, added to it, were too much for an active mind and body to endure. Three or four times he had tried to begin the boo

," announced Doroth

Nobody ever

ished, then. I feel it in my bones

a huge silk hat was toiling up the hill, aided by a cane. He was bent and old, yet

under-" be

her hand over his mouth. "The very first pers

ius," amended Harlan.

his imperial pardon

me from the rear depths of the house. "You let hi

rlan opened the door, "in presuming that I am so

swered Harlan, polite

e fact that Claudius Tiberius had scooted in between his feet; "it w

into the parlour, "to be able to make your acquai

egularly from a sheet of white cardboard, and bearing in tremu

te me the letter. I should have hunted

varied duties in connection with the practice of my profession have hitherto-" His eyes sought the portrait over the mantel. "A most excellent likeness of

mother told me a great deal about him and we had one

likeness. He was my Colonel-I served under him in the war. It was my desire to possess a portrait of him in uniform, but he wo

"why he should have left the house

had known your uncle more intimately and had visited him here, or, if he had had the privilege of knowing y

arlan rescued him. "I want you to meet my wife, Mr.

y and regarded the guest unblinkingly. Hearing approaching footsteps, he took out his worn silk handkerchief, unfolded it, and wiped the cold perspir

o call upon us, and you have come at exactly the right time. New reside

anged environment. Judson Centre, while possessing few metropolitan advantages, has distinct and pecu

here," said Dorothy. "A

ed the old gentleman, warmly, "and

striped trousers worn with a rusty and moth-eaten dress-coat in the middle of the afternoon. An immaculate expanse of shirt-front and a general air of extreme cleanliness went far toward redeeming the unfamiliar costume. The silk hat, with a bell-sha

ff and wiped continually. He was smooth-shaven and his scanty hair was as white as the driven snow. Now, as he sat in Uncle Ebeneezer's par

oper respect to you at an early date. If I were not most unfortunately a single gentleman, my wife would do herself the honour of

the discourse, "that particular pleasure must be on our s

-I served under him in the war-and until the last, he allowed me to address him as Colonel-a privilege accorded to no one else. He very seldom left his own estate, but at his

an, kindly, "though, as I have t

s many virtues, but at some future time I shall hope to make you acquainted with your benefactor. He was my Colonel, and in serving under him in the war, I had an unu

e shall stay here this Summer, anyway, as I have some

to suggest, I should think you would find any other season more agre

oors, and I am going to keep chickens and a cow, but my

d, in genuine astonishment. "Am

ay which that modest youth f

mounting to his temples. "I've done newspaper work

g the privilege of clasping your hand. It is a great honour

ect. "We hope it may be," she observed, lightly, "and I wond

r the sake of the distinguished author whose wife you have the honour to be, for the sake of yo

bout a maid,"

madam, I beg

eated Dorothy

nce of Judson Centre, the help. Do I understand tha

olemnity of his tone, "if help is to be found. I

for your uncle during the entire period of his residence here and whose privilege it was to close his eyes in his last sleep. She is at present with

d you-could you

happiness to endeavour to persuade her." Drawing out a memorandum book and a pencil, the old gentleman made an entry upon a fresh page. "The multitudinous duties

y obliged,"

visit, such as the first should be, and it is not my desire to intrude upon an author's time. Moreover, m

arlan, kindly, follo

rly in the eyes, if I may be permitted to allude to details. I think I told you, did I not, that he was my Colonel and I was privileged to serve under him in the war? My-oh, I walked, did I not? I

e the way was rough. They watched him until the bobbing, bell-s

Dorothy. "He's lonely and we

Harlan, "that I look

thy, "and that reminds me. I w

" inquired H

, somewhat spitefully, "but there's no law

of. Can we reach

loth monuments, slipping, as Dorothy s

"come on down, Uncle! You're a

avy gilt frame bruising Dorothy's cheek badly. In catching it, Harlan

made on wrapping paper with a brush and India ink. Below it, in gr

ring to laugh, though, as he afterward admitted, h

n a small, unnatural voic

easel which bore Aunt Rebecca's portrait. She was not at all surprised to find, on the back of it, a n

lan had joined her. "What kind of a woman do you suppose she c

her portrait told the truth, possessed of all the virtues save self-assertion and dominated by habitual, unselfish kindness to others. She