The reason given in the Cape Cod Item was that Mrs.Colton was "in debilitated health," whatever that is, and had been commanded by her doctors to seek sea air and seclusion and rest.

Well, there was sea air and rest, not to mention seclusion or sand and mosquitoes, for a square mile about the new villa, and no one knew that better than I, condemned to live within the square.

But if Mrs.Colton had deliberately chosen the spot, with malice aforethought, the place for her was a home for the feeble minded.

At least, that was my opinion on that particular morning.
It was not the carpenters who caused me to pause in my walk and look across the lane and over the stone wall at my new neighbor's residence.
What caught my attention was that the place looked to be inhabited.

The windows were open--fifty or so of them--smoke was issuing from one of the six chimneys; a maid in a white cap and apron was standing by the servants' entrance.