Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-11-25

WHOLE NUMBER, go.

know" said Uncle Benedict keenly
scrutinizing her face, as they stood on
the door steps waiting for the door to
be opened.
eyes, know" said Rachel, glanc-
ing round with Frightening eyes.
THAT is a very choice climbing rose
over the window, if it was only prop
erly trained"
ats rather lonesome, said Uncle
Ben.
II like the country" Rachel an
swered hopefully.
As she spoke slipshod old woman
appeared to let them in, and led the
way to the best room, green curtain.
ed apartment, with a shabby carpet
on the floor and fire in the stove
that emitted far more smoke than ca
loric.
Smokey, eh p said Uncle Ben.
"The draught seems to be poor"
said Rachel but dare say it can be
altered" .--..-..
Il hadn't any idea the ceilings were
so low" grumbled the old gentleman.
Its partly the effect of the wall
paper" said Rachel, with glance at
the red and green monstrositiss. "a
new striped pattern will improve it"
"What queer little cupboards at the
sides of the mantel," said Uncle Ben.
"Oh they will be SO nice for our
best china" said Rachel, brightly.
my dear said the old gentleman,
II believe you are determined to bs
pleased. Do you really think you
shall like this place p .-..-
II shall like any place whore Hugh
is, said Rachel brightly.
She went all over the house with
the old gentleman, planning improve
ments and suggesting and contriving,
until he really began to think that she
would make an Arcadia out of the
old tumble down house, 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 a carriage at the door
when Rachel rose from her breakfast
of bread and butter and coffee the
next morning.
Come, my lass, I want to show you
a place further up the road which has
been taken by friend of mine."
The drive and the delicious Septem-
Der air were like an invigorating ton
ic to our weary little bride and pic
ture awaiting them, in an exquisite
little villa with it's roseclad bay WIN
dows and picturesquely sloping roof.
Rustic iron chairs stood under the
bowling branches of the tall elm on the
lawn, and a marble cupid, holding
up carved conch shell, scattering
bright rain into flower bordered ba-
sin directly in front of the gates.
ooh how beautiful" cried Rachel.
II never saw such superb scarlet ger
aneums in my life; and what lovely
marble hall /"
"Oh, yes; tbs beautiful"
Come in, my dear, and see how you
like the interior" said the old gentle
man, serenely.
1t was perfect, from the parlor, with
its supurb Brussels carpet exquisite
silk hangings, to the bed room, all in
white and pink, like the inside of
roses heart and the fairy conserva-
tory, all stocked with camelias, hello
tropes and rare fuenias at the south
end of the house.
at is like fairy land" cried Rachel,
enthusiastically. Do tell me, Uncle
Ben, who is to live here p
Uncle Ben turned round and faced
her?
You, my dearl"
"And Hugh, of course
"To be sure II
"But uncle" gasped little Rachel,
quite overwhelmed by this unexpected
good luck, "the other house"
'That's only a little joke of mine.
This is the real home, and 1 give it to
you with all the more pleasure that
you were disposed to make the best
of the bad bargain you thought you
were in for. Ny dear, the contented
mind you possess is worth thousand
houses"
And Rachel felt something warm
i