The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1873-03-14
The Lost Song.


Fannie Rae had come down to spend
Christmas at "Raeburn,u - the old family
homestead. Ny grandmother and
grandfather had been abroad for wears
and this being the first Christmas for so
long that the old house was opeped.
they wanted to fill il with bright Young
faces, and merry laughter, to crowd out
the voiceless memories which lurked in
overy corner, and so a whole party of US
had come-cousins, first, second and
third, in fact of all degrees. Speaking
OF cousins. isn't it strange that very Of
ten the further removed the nearer
they seem? At least George Stewart
was only my third cousin by blood, and
vet he always assumed more on the
strength Of our relationship than any Of
my first cousins, and, somehow, in my
own heart / did not mind it at all,
though did tease him so.
But I must 20 on with my story. 1t
was Christmas eve, and the old house
was quiet at last. We girls had all gone
to our rooms after a merry evening to-
gether. Fannie and Rose had the room
near grandma's, while Kate and Lille
were just opposite. Some one had to
sleep alone at the other end of the hall,
and, after long consultation, it was de-
cided that l should gO,efor had rashly
boasted of never being afraid. 1 will
confess to feeling little lonely when all
was quiet and the deep shadows in the
corners of the room seemed very dark,
for the light Of my candle did not reach
far. There We're three doors in my
room, and after fastening securely the
one into the entry, / merely turned the
handles of the others, and finding them
locked inside, did not care TO explore
any further Just then. Imust have been
a long time undressing, for the clock
struck the hour of midnight as put out
my light. Even then / could not 20 to
sleep, but found myself wondering what
was behind those doors that / had not
opened, and | determined to have a reg
ular exploring expedition the next day.
There were so many romantic stories at
tached TO this old house. l had even
heard hints of private staircases, shutup
rooms, etc, and had always delighted in
mysteries.
think l must have been asleep for a
short time, when 1 suddenly found my
self awake with a start, and a curious
impression that / was listening for some
thing. There certainly was a sound
overhead, but what was it? 1t came
" 4 hASlll2ulEllEu
a faint, broken melody, and yet imper-
feet, like some one playing a long for
gotten air on a piano where some of the
strings were broken. Three times ii
came, like the verses of a song, and
though there were no words, it seemed
to speak to my very heart, and thought
Of George, and how sOTrowfully he looked
at me that evening as l had passed him
without saying "gOod-night.n 1t was
only TO tease him, and l had pretended
not TO see his proffered hand, but had
taken Willie Thorne's arm instead,
and we had walked up the broad stair
case together.
Again, all was still, only a long
drawn sigh seemed to echo my own
through the room, and came from the
direction of the furthest door, Without
a sensation of fear, only an ill-defined
feeling of pain and regret, / sank to
sleep, and when | woke the morning
sun was shining brightly enough TO dis
pei all illusions. resolved to say moth
ing to the girls, but quietly to explore
and see what was TO be found, for |
knew perfectly well that what / had
heard was no dream. SO / got up long
before breakfast, and after completing
my toilet, threw wide the shutters and
opened the first door nearest the entry.
Only an empty closet Disappointed,
but slightly relieved / closed it and
went over to the other.
The keyeurned hard in the lock as if
it had not been opened for long time.
Then the door stood wide, and / saw a
flight of stairs, but only prosaic wooden
steps, like those leading to any garrett
started bravely up, and soon found
myself in large loft or attic, filled with
odds and ends.
First, an old spinning-whe caught my
eye, relic Of our most industrious great
grandmOthers. Then a stack Of old
firearms, with which our ancestors, the
bold Raes, may have shed the blood OF
daring foes, or, perhaps, and am afraid
more likely, have only done damage
among the crows that came to
steal from their spacious corn-fields.
Lastly, beyond these, and be-
hind pile Of mattings and boxes, ]
came upon an old piano. 1t quite star
tied me, at first, but then the broad day
light was very reassuring, and l am not
nervous. 1t was very old and of most
curious shape, and evidently had beer
very elegant in its day. ! tried to lifl
the lid, and found it locked, but as
touched il a shiver ran through me, for
was convinced now that this was wha
my ghostly music had come from las
night, and l determined TO find out be
fore another day had passed who it hal
belonged to, and what restless spirit still
haunted its worn strings.
SO, after breakfast, when all tn
others had gone to church, went Il
my grandmothel's room to sit with her
for she was not very strong,-dear oil,
ladyi-and rarely went out Of the hOus
in winter.
After we were nicely settled, and ha,
got through our mornings reading, Itol'
her of my last nights adventure, ant
my Subsequent researches, and begge'
her to tell me all about the old pian'
that / had found in the attic. Shl
smiled at my eagerness, but did no
seem at all surprised or incredulous, for
though she herself had never heard thi
music l spoke of; there had been other
long ago, she said, who, sleeping in tina
room on Christmas eve, had been know
10 near faint sounds, coming as If from
the Old piano above, though it was al
ways locked, and the key had been lost
me coincidence, at least, was very
Sstirange' taken in connection with tho
history attached to it, and which my
10 me. ~
"Many years ago.u said ms, crro,,5
mother, "when your great -,,rco so,,.ad't s,..la'
grandfather was alive. this bonso ,I.o. ~
full OF life and merriment. for -,
Aunt Annie-your great-greaf-ar1rtv ~
whom you are named, child-lived bar,
with her father and brothers SLa -
as bright and sunny as the dav was Iono-
but so full of mischief and co0uetr, ti,ss
she gave the heart-ache to ali the vonn