One of these fine old places Miss Stearne rented for her boarding
school; another, quite the most imposing residence in the town, had been
leased some two years previous to the time of this story by Colonel
James Weatherby, whose family consisted of his widowed daughter, Mrs.
Burrows, and his grandchild, Mary Louise Burrows. Their only servants
were an old negro, Uncle Eben, and his wife, Aunt Polly, who were
Beverly bred and had been hired when the Colonel first came to town and
took possession of the stately Vandeventer mansion.

Colonel Weatherby was a man of exceptionally distinguished appearance,
tall and dignified, with courtly manners and an air of prosperity that
impressed the simple villagers with awe. His snow-white hair and
piercing dark eyes, his immaculate dress upon all occasions, the
whispered comments on his ample deposits in the local bank, all
contributed to render him remarkable among the three or four hundred
ordinary inhabitants of Beverly, who, after his two years' residence
among them, scarcely knew more of him than is above related. For Colonel
Weatherby was an extremely reserved man and seldom deigned to exchange
conversation with his neighbors. In truth, he had nothing in common with
them and even when he walked out with Mary Louise he merely acknowledged
the greeting of those he met by a dignified nod of his stately head.

With Mary Louise, however, he would converse fluently and with
earnestness, whether at home during the long evenings or on their
frequent walks through the country, which were indulged in on Saturdays
and holidays during the months that school was in session and much more
often during vacations. The Colonel owned a modest automobile which he
kept in the stable and only drove on rare occasions, although one of
Uncle Eben's duties was to keep the car in apple-pie order. Colonel