She was correct in this; no one there knew of the intended visit of Anna Ashburton, and it was left to Mr. Courtney to take the sad news to “Friedenheim.”
Only to the Rev. Carl and Mrs. Courtney did he impart the information that “My Lady’s Manor” had been restored to Anna Ashburton, and she had bequeathed it to him.
His reticence was not owing to any wish to keep it a secret, but the subject was painful to him; it concerned no one but himself, and even in the home circle was seldom mentioned. Beyond it, no one in the neighborhood knew that Reginald Farnsworth was not the owner of the property.
The place had lost all interest to Valentine Courtney; the sight of it brought sad remembrance, and for that reason he took up his residence in Baltimore, making occasionally short visits to “Friedenheim.”
The first time he came out to remain over night he brought with him Ralph and James Rivers, the sons of a deceased college friend for whom he was guardian.
This first visit was one long to be remembered by the boys, everything was so new to them and enchanting; their journey on the train and arrival at Dorton Station, their walk in the glowing sunset across the flowery meadow to “Friedenheim,” the warm welcome to that beautiful home, the joyous greeting of Roy and Cecil, the supper of fried chicken, oysters, Maryland biscuits and waffles, and after it, a visit to orchards, woods and brook, accompanied by Mose, the colored waiter, and by the pet dogs of Roy and Cecil; then their return to the piazza, where sat the elders of the family, enjoying the serene beauty of the evening. All was a delight to the two city boys who had never had so many pleasant things crowded into one evening.
They were on the piazza but a short time when Mose, who had left them at the gate to go to his place in the kitchen, came to the lattice and whispered to Cecil, who happened to be nearest, “Ax your mother if you can’t come out in de kitchen. Aunt Kitty will give us roasted apples and cream, and pop-corn, and Aunt Chloe will have molasses candy for us, and bline Israel is comin’ and will sing.”
“All right, I know she will let us,” was the response, and Mose hurried back to give notice, that preparations for the entertainment of the visitors might be quickly commenced.
“Who is Aunt Kitty and Chloe and Israel?” inquired James.
“Kitty is the cook and is Moses’ grandmother. Chloe was our nurse, but is now helper in everything, and Israel is an old man who goes from house to house to saw wood. He lives in the alms-house in winter and works all summer, and is the tallest and blackest person I ever saw. He is blind, does not know darkness from daylight, but sings. You never heard such a grand voice as Israel has. Mamma says it is so mournfully sweet that she feels like weeping when she hears it.”