Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1912 — Chestnut Lodge [ARTICLE]

Chestnut Lodge

By A. MARIA CRAWFORD

(CowrW «ax. tar Aa»c«i*i*d Literary Pima)

“I am so glad,” said Polly Moore, “that I came a day before your other guests, Aunt Phoebe. It gives me an opportunity to have a comfortable talk with you." - ' “Bob Gaines is coming this afternoon for the same reason. If my headache doesn't get better, I: will be compelled to leave you two to entertain each other." "Bob Gaines of all people! I believe I will catch your headache,” moaned Polly. “Isn’t ft too bad that we dislike each other when you love us both and want to pair us off like cooing doves?” - “There is one thing that pussies me, Polly. You have never seen Bob, he has never caught a glimpse of you, yet you claim that hate bolls in your hearts. It isn’t reasonable — mere prejudice! Somebody carried tales, yet neither of you will give the culprit away.” Polly glanced up at her Aunt Phoebe with mischief lurking in her blue eyes. “What will you give me to make this young person change Ms opinion of me? Chestnut lodge?** “That’s not fair. Polly.- I .have willed you everything I have except this house and grounds. I promised it to Bob when be was thirty and I can’t go hack on my promise. The fact of the matter is that I have had Jt attended to legally. Bob sets the place next year?’ ~ ••'phis house is the only thing in the world that I actually want Look at. these high ceilings, this walnscoatIng, the beautiful old mahogany and rosewood furniture, the rugs—all to go to a man that I despise! Why do you love him so. Aunt Phoebe? He isn’t related in any way and I am your own sister’s child.” Aunt Phoebe sat looking pensively in the fire where the big logs were blazing. Her face, crowned with its soft white hair, appeared singularly youthful and there was a reminiscent tenderness in her eyes. “Polly,” she said, “I am going to tell you why I love Bob Gaines and Why I expect to give to him this house next year. He will be thirty then. His father courted me in this very room. I loved him, but I was a foolish young thing and. flirted with everybody. You remind me of what I was in those days. He said that if I loved him I must give up all my other admirers. We quarreled about 1t and—and he married Bob’s mother." “Oh, Aunt Phoebe dear. . Ididn’t dream of anything like that How often I must have hurt you! How true you have been through all these long, lonely years—true just to a memory. That," said Polly softly, her arms tight about the straight, aristocratic old figure, “this is what I call love! Everything tn this room Is suddenly fragrant with romance.” Miss Phoebe smiled at the eager young face so near her own. “Be kind to Bob when he comes. It Is almost dark now. and a good night’s sleep Is what' I need. My headache is really severe." Polly changed her traveling dress for a filmy little gown that looked as if It had been made of moonlight. The diamonds on her breast gleamed like stars in a summer sky. Why did she feel so antagonistic to Bob Gaines? She sat musing in the great chair that Miss Phoebe always occupied when sh was downstairs. It was all because of a chance remark of the man’s, made soon after the announcement that Polly Moore would" inherit all her Aunt Phoebe’s estate, that is, everything except Chestnut Lodge, the beautiful stone house built on a farm. Edith Tyson had told Polly what Bob Gaines was reputed to have said at his club. “I suppose people will- say that 1 ought to bunt up Polly Moore and marry ’her to get the rest of - Miss Phoebe’s wealth, but no spoiled flirt for me.” ,

•'Well,” Polly had answered when Edith had repeated the remark,''"the next time you see that young man please say that I would rather be an old maid than to marry an idle, redheaded Irishman. Aunt Phoebe told me his hair was red.” , The message bad been promptly delivered, and Polly and Bob had thereafter avoided each other. When James switched on the lights in the hall Polly saw a good looking stranger standing there, a suitcase beside him. His hair, she noticed with a start of surprise, was not red, but brown.” . When he had made himself presentable and entered the drawing room, Polly extended her hand oardially. "At last we meet, Mr. Gaines, i am Polly Moore, as . you probably know.” "One of the maids tells me that your aunt Is indisposed. I am very sorry, but at the same time a little glad for It gives me a nice long evening with you.” Polly exerted all her efforts to charm the man. She remembered the sweet story of her Aunt Phoebe’s romance and her heart was warm for this young fellow who might have been Miss Phoebe's own son. The man himself seemed strangely ill at ease, bttt Polly attributed it to the fact of their hitherto violent hatred. "That cabinet over there of curios Is worth a small fortune,” he said.

indicating a quaint hand-carved piece of furniture. “That amethyst necklace that belonged to some queen, 1 believe, Is very valuable." “Yea, indeed. Are you interested in Aunt Phoebe’s collection? I think that she is very foolish to leave such things here even if she does have a sort of double lock, don’t you?” * . L, “Yes, but J suppose she trusts her servants.” Polly excused herself presently. She wanted to run upstairs and ask about Aunt Phoebe before, dinner, she said. When she reached the landing she heard a, strange noise and went quickly down again thinking that a log had fallen from the fire and that she could help Bob put It back in place. What she saw fairly paralyzed her. For a woman, she thought very quickly, and reached up to get a loaded pistol that Aunt Phoebe always kept on a high stand in the hall Then she povered the man .where he knelt before the famous cabinet slipping the jeweled necklace in his pocket . , “Hands up! I think,” she said, coolly, “that I- can shoot pretty straight. To think that- you would steal from Aunt Phoebe!” ■■ * The man cowered before the look in her face. “It’s all a joke," he whimpered just as the door bell rang. - When Polly heard James enter the hall she spoke to him quietly/ without taking her eyes from the “Hurry up, James, and see who is there. Be careful Than come here.” “Well, hello, James. How’s Aunt Phoebe? Tell her Bob’s here,” Polly heard a deep voice say. “What the devil does this mean?” “Come and help me. I* have caught a gentleman thief.” It took very little time for Bob and James to replace-.the -valuables, and tie their prisoner hand and foot Then James and a big burly fellow from the stables stood guard over him in a locked room until the sheriff could arrive. Phoebe was shaking before the fire when Bob went back to her. He handed her a glass of wine. “I—l can’t hold it" sobbed Polly. “I am seared to death.” “After you have been so brave? Here, I’ll hold it Drink it all.” But Polly’s coolness had disappeared. “I —I can’t I tell you. Why, he could have murdered me and I—l talked to him about everything. Oh!” walled Polly, “I’ll never get over this —never!”

Bob put his strong, steady arms around her and held the wipe to her mouth. “Poor little girl!” he said soothingly. "Brace up. That was the bravest thing t ever saw a girl do. Nice scheme of that thief’s. One of the maids was a confederate and she put him on to my coming and Aunt Phoebe's headache. He is certainly a bold, bad man. I admire you for what you did, even if you don't like red heads.** Polly glanced up where the firelight showed on Bob's hair. "When, when I said that," she stammered, “I—l didn’t know it was such a beautiful red.” Two hours later Miss Phoebe, feel* ing better ,come into the room softly and saw two figures before the dancing flames. Polly’s fair curls rested perilously near the auburn locks of her favorite. - "This doesn’t look exactly like hatred,” she declared. “It isn't,” laughed Bob. "It’s a case of old-fashioned love. Polly is going to marry me,” “You watch her, Bob," cautioned Miss Phoebe, "Polly is marrying you for this house.” ’ “That’s ail right,” agreed Bob cheerfully. "I don't care how, why or what her reasons may be, just so she marries me.” Polly helped Miss Phoebe to her big chair. “It had to be, Aunt Phoebe,” she whispered, “I am the spirit of your love. Bob is the spirit of his father’s. The memories in this room just reached out and drew our hearts together.” --