The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-04-06

he should return.
i" Foolish children p said Mr. Bene-
dict, as he saw Rachel sobbing on
Hugh's shoulder. But there was a CHEEKY
twinkle in his own keen gray eyes, new
ertheless.
Poor girl the atmosphere had lost
somewhat of its sparkle. and the world
looked less bright, as she journeyed to-
ward her new home.
AS the autumn twilight began to fall,
her thoughts became busy as woman's
will at times.
Uncle" she said, turning sud.
denly toward the old gentleman, "what
sort of house is it-ours, I mean 2"
"Well," said Uncle Ben, refectively,
"it's cottage, 1 should say"
GA modern cottage2"
"Well, no; rather of the antique Or
der than otherwise"
"Oh," cried Rachel, Pm glad; 81
despise these new, stiff, formal places,
that look as if they were merely to be
admired, not lived in and enjoyed. I'm
Gle, what are you laughing at 2"
cat your curiosity, my DEAR" replied
the old gentleman.
"Then I won't ask another question, I"
said Rachel, resolutely.
But she fully atoned for that depriva
tion by sketching on the tablets of her
own fancy an endless variety of little
Gothic structures, with bay windows,
and trellises covered with climbing roses
and honeysuckles, while Uncle Benedict
watched her from behind the screen of
his newspaper, with the queerest of ex-
pressions on his face.
"I'm almost sorry commenced this
thing" he said to himself. eff
should be disappointed in her But,
pooh it's the only way to find out if
she is worth my boys love!"
Presently the numbering old carriage
came to standstill but, to Rachel's
surprise, in front of no fairy cot, or low
eaved editice surrounded by verandas
and flower parterres. A tumble. down,
unpainted farmhouse stood little back
from the road, with its shutters hanging
loosely by one hinge, and one or two
lilac bushes forlornly tossing their
foliage in the wind
elbow dreary it looks !" thought
Rachel, with little shudder. Nut
Uncle Ben at once jumped out.
"Come, my DEAR" he said to Rachel.
els this the places" she asked.
"This is the place." Uncle Ben
answered, with a sudden paroxysm of
coughing. "Gate's a little out of
order" as that useful mode of ingress
became suddenly detached from it's sole
remaining hinge, and fell with a crash
to the ground "but that's soon set
right with screwdriver and half, a
dozen or so screws"
Alas, poor Rachel! What were her
sensations as she looked blank around
the neglected, dismal spot which was
the sole realization of her fairy dreams z
This the home Uncle Benedict gave
them And for au instant our little
heroine felt as if she could reDel the uu-
welcome gift, and tell Uncle Benedict
plainly that she could not spend her
days in a hovel like this.
But then came sober second thoughts.
Uncle Benedict had meant kindly, they
were poor, and could not afford to dis.
pense with even the meanest of roofs
over their heads. No; she must CRATE
fully accept the present in tie spirit in
which it was given, and check in the
bud all her rebellious and unamiable re-
pinings.
know" said Uncle Ben, keenly scrutiniz-
ing her face, as they stood on the door
step waiting for the door to be opened.
"Yes, | know" said Rachel, glancing
round with Frightening eyes. "That is
a very choice climbing rose over the
window, if it was only properly trained"
cts rather lonesome, said Uncle
Ben.
"T like the country" Rachel answer
ed, hopefully.
AS she spoke aslipshod old woman ap-
peared to let them in, and led the way
to the best room, a green curtained
apartment, with shabby carpet on the
floor and fire in the stove that emitted
far more smoke than caloric.
"Smoky, ell ?" said Uncle Ben.
The draught seems to be poor"
said Rachel "but dare say it can be
81 hadn't any idea the ceilings were
SO low," erumbled the old gentleman.
"It's partly the effect of the wall pa
per-" said Rachel, with glance at the
red and green monstrosities. GA mar
row striped pattern will improve it.
What queer little cupboards at the
sides of the mantel |" said Uncle Ben.
Oh, they will be nice for our best
china" said Rachel.
My DEAR" said the old gentleman,
'' believe you are determined to be
pleased. Do you really think you shall
like this place 2"
81 shall like any place where Hugh
IS, said Rachel, brightly.
She went all over the house with the
Did gentleman, planning improvements,
and suggesting and contriving, until he
really began to think she would make an
Arcadia out of the tumble down old
farm. And if she shed few tears on
her pillow, when she went to rest under
the caves of the roof in an apartment
which must have been built for Tom
Thumb, Uncle Benedict never knew it.
There was the carriage at the door
when Rachel rose from her breakfast of
bread and butter and coffee the next
"Come, my lass, said the old gentle
nan, 81 want to show you a place
further up the road, which has been
aiken by friend of mine"
The drive and the delicious September
,ir were like an invigorating tonic to our
wearied little bride, and a picture await
ID them, in an exquisite villa with its