The Fairmounts by Valerie Nifora

Author:Valerie Nifora [Nifora, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vasilike Maslar
Published: 2022-05-14T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

I took my breakfast in the solarium, trying to take my mind off the papers on John’s desk. They had released their grasp on me but only for my brief moment of lucidity. Like a demon’s curse, they were beckoning me back, calling me forth to grasp them again, to look them over and study them. What if there was gold? There were signs alluding to such—old articles John had found claiming there was gold present a generation or two ago. It seemed an odd affair for John’s uncle to have purchased an abandoned mine so very long ago with seemingly no desire to open it. And why the sudden interest in it by others? Clearly, it had been left alone for at least a generation.

“Tea?” A voice startled me, and I turned to see Mary standing behind me. I had not heard her enter the solarium.

“Mary!” I smiled, relieved. Any demon chasing my mind had vanished. “Yes. I would like more tea.” She settled the tray on the table as I continued, “I must not have slept at all, since the women in this household seem to be prowling about without my noticing and startling me. Normally, I can note your perfume.” I offered her my cup and she poured my tea, then placing the silver pitcher back on the serving tray, she sat next to me on the bench, wrapping her skirts under her legs. “What kept you up so late, Harry? I’m sorry about my outburst yesterday, with my running away as I did, and . . .”

But placing my hand on hers, I said, “Mary. Think nothing of it. Who amongst us has not wanted to run into a forest and be lost to the world?” And smiling, I said, “Are you done with your concern about my Aunt Lois?”

Mary nodded sheepishly. I nodded in agreement and went back to stirring my tea.

“Why did you not sleep?” she asked.

“Uncle John presented me with a case about some mine claims. It seems that has become my calling now.”

“He asked you? I don’t understand.”

“You see, there’s an old abandoned mine John inherited from his deceased uncle. Some believe it to still have gold, and there’s a challenge now. Papers left at the bottom of old dusty trunks and old dusty minds now found anew.”

“Where is the mine?” Mary asked with an eagerness in her voice.

“Down by the coast,” I said, sipping my tea. Mary’s face showed a mild recognition.

“I saw your picture in the paper,” she said.

Nodding, I continued, “Yes, forgotten until my little win in the paper. And now everyone who ever had any deeds to mines is crawling out of the woodwork to see if they can either reopen them or sell them off for a profit. Uncle John wants to settle the dispute for this particular mine and has asked me to do it for him. He handed me a valise with a stack of papers which I read all night, against my better judgment, for which I am sorely paying the price.

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