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Bacheller, Irving, 1859-1950

"Darrel of the Blessed Isles"


Learn to obey yerselves, an' God help ye."
Thereafter, many began to look into their own hearts for that
fearful master, and some discovered him.


XVI
A Rustic Museum
That first week Sidney Trove went to board at the home of "the two
old maids," a stone house on Jericho Road, with a front door
rusting on idle hinges and blinds ever drawn. It was a hundred
feet or more from the highway, and in summer there were flowers
along the path from its little gate and vines climbing to the upper
windows. In winter its garden was buried deep under the snow. One
family--the Vaughns--came once in awhile to see "the two old
maids." Few others ever saw them save from afar. A dressmaker
came once a year and made gowns for them, that were carefully hung
in closets but never worn. To many of their neighbours they were
as dead as if they had been long in their graves. Tales of their
economy, of their odd habits, of their past, went over hill and
dale to far places. They had never boarded the teacher and were
put in a panic when the trustee came to speak of it.
"He's a grand young man," said he; "good company--and you'll enjoy
it."
They looked soberly at each other.


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