Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 August 1901 — WHY IT WASN’T RENTED. [ARTICLE]

WHY IT WASN’T RENTED.

House >n I Furnishings Were Ideal— No Sentimental interest. Ulchnrd Watson Gilder is an enthusiastic lover of the delightful Berkshire region of Western Massachusetts, and has a summer home there, says the Saturday livening l'oct. He loves to climb the hills, to drive about the charming roads, to fish in the waters. With a close friend, a well-known New York nriist, be set out one day for an all-day drive. Both were entranced by the scenery and delighted by the succession of fine homes, old and new, that they passed. Suddenly the artist and Mr. Glider uttered an involuntary cry of pleasure, for there, right lu front of them, as they rounded a beml, was a delightful old home. Its pillared doorway, Its fan-shaped window. Its gambrel roof, Its picturesque gables, its quaint, oldfashioned air, were very charming, and upon It was n sign, "For rent.” The two men left the buggy and stepped toward the house. It was empty, but through the narrow slitted window at either side of the door the author and artist glanced. They saw a big grandfather's clock at the turn of the broad stairway; they saw an antique chair In the ball. “What a delightful find!" cried the artist. “What a (harming mystery!” exclaimed Mr. Glider, A man sauntered up from the field. He was the caretaker. “Would you like to look throngh the house?” he asked. ■ Nothing would please the two men better, and the door waa forthwith unlocked.

Throng a room after room they walked. In one place stood an ample corner cupboard; in another an antique sideboard; here wan a great carved claw-foot sofa; there was a table with claw and ball legs; upstairs was a huge canopied four-post bed, with other old-fashioned furniture. In short, the entire house was furnished in colonial style. “A dream of beauty!” said the artist. How strange it seemed. What mystery, what romance, perhaps even what tragedy, lay beyond It all! Here In th© ancient house were all the ancient furnishings untouched, in spite of the keen search for such things by the myriad of lovers of old-fashioned furniture and the dealers whose agents go everywhere. Undoubtedly there must be some strange and striking story to explain it all. They sought out the caretaker. “What old family had lived here for all these generations? How does It happen that everything lias remained untouched? Why Is the old house at last without a tenant, and why is it offered to any stranger?” The questions of the two men came eager nnd swift. The caretaker was puzzled for a few' moments, and then he said: “Oh, 1 see what you mean. Why, this house was bought by Mr. Z., a secondhand furniture dealer, of New York, and lie has fixed it up here. Just to rent it, with things he sent up from his shop.” The author nnd the artist slowly retreated to their vehicle and drove away without a w'ord.