Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-07-12

glow,
Or the cavernous fire place CHEEKY with flames
We have "modern Improvements" you
know,
and when VIC converse OF those primitive
times,
And the jolly old customs of yore,
We will laugh as VIC think Of their Old fash.
Toned ways,
As We sit rounl-the hole in the lloor.
MARGARET.
From Temple Bar.
\ corridor at the end Of one wing Of 4
large rambling house in the north of
England, barred window, and closed
door. In the passage fair-haired girl
with the light Of Undesirable pity in
her dove-like eyes, kneeling upon the
boards, and pushing biscuits and sweet
meats under the ill-htting door, which
disappeared rs fast as hey were placed
there, showing that there were human
hands to seize them on the other side.
Within, another girl rs young as the first
not twenty, certainl y-groyeling on the
door like wild beast, with dark, dis
hevelcd hair almost hiding the spark of
insanity that desecrated her glorious eyes.
and dcvouring the precious morsels that
her visitant placed within her reach with
the avidity Of hungry child. The room
in which she crouchcd was not comfort
less, but had evidently been prepared for
the reception Of such inmates, and the
cheerfully- guarded window and cushioned
walls showed that the mansion in which
it was situated was occupied by one who
made it the business of his life to receive
such unfortunates into his professional
care. In plain words, a private lunatic
asylum.
My poor Leah whispered the fair
haired girl outside. "do you know that I
am here, and that love you::'
The soft clear voice was not unheard.
Tor Leah raised her head for a moment
and sat listening, with the dark cloud Of
tangled hair thrown back from the low
forehead anu deeply shaded eyebrows.
But the look Of attention passed away
almost as rapidly as it had come, and in
another moment her head was down
again on the floor. and the softly set lips.
that seemed made only to shape love :
whispers. murmured stupidity and hun
grily, More, more
IL am going now said the soft voice
again, ''kut will come and see YOU this
evening, with the nurse, DO you hear:
DO you understands"
There was nothing but an inar,icuia;c
n'ucmur i'll reply, though she listened in
vain; and the tairl,aired girl rose with 4
sigh from her knees. and passed. from the
desolatc corridor into the more habitable
and cheerful part OF the house in which
the physician and his family lived, hay
ing learned from habit to look lightly on
the empty human sllrincs Of reason that
were sheltered beneath the same roof.
"She is so beautiful" said the girl to
herself as she went down the staircase. Il
hope God does not let her know what she
is now. or she would die, as l should do. "
My dear Margaret" said her mother,
looking up as her eldest child entered
the roo, Il do hope you haven't been
among the patients again."
Il haze only been to see poor Leah.
said Margaret Fcnwick, in the same soft
voice which was one of her greatest
charms. II must do that you know.
it makes her less unhappy"
:" Let the child alone, said DR.. Fen.
wick. "She will do herself no harm, ii
she does nobody else any good. But you
did not work upon Brokers feelings to
give you the key. / hope, Madge? The
door was locked, of coursc.'
II talked to her through the door.
that was ALL" answered Margaret, simply.
Papa, do you think she will ever be
like other people again? 1t was only last
week she was sitting here with us all. and
was teaching her to play the accom- ani-
ment to her songs
II know all that" said the physician,
but she is suffering from an acute at
tack Of demcntia now. She is very young
and may get completely over it, but then
she will he always liable to a relapse. 4
sudden trouble would DO it at any time
"And she has money, too:' sighed
Mrs. Fenwick, half enviously, as if it was !,
sin that so much good material for happi-
ness should be wasted. "Didn't yo,, say
she had money!"
"Thirty thousand pounds, I believe,
said her husband, dryly, ''but I think
there are thirty thousand good reasons
why nobody should envy her"
1t is five years since Margaret Fcnwick
knelt at the corridor door, whispering
soft words of love and sympathy to the
unhappy girl inside. She is living in
London with her mother now, for Dr.
Fenwick has been dead some time, and
the establishment at Horewood is broken
up. The gentle charm Of her loneliness
is still in its first flower, and, as she lin
gers over the letter which is in her hand
the clear light OF happiness is irradiating
her brow, and laughing back from the
soft sweet eyes. The words that q man
writes to his promised wife could be an
swered in no more fitting way:
MY DEAREST CHILD: l have got all
the way to Wales safely, and the whole
family is collected here under the patcr-
nal root. needn't say that one thing is
wanting to me, and that, I hope, will
soon be supplied, for, of course, you will
come down and spend Christmas with us
Ny father and mother both want words to
express their anxiety to see you and re.
ceive you as daughter. Write and shy
bow soon you can come.
We are very quiet here, but there arc
one or two new people in the village. 4
Mrs. Fourier has taken the White House,
and her daughter is regular acquisition
The oldlady is not much, but Leah Four
Ter plays and sings divinely, and is un
usually good looking into the bargain
The girls are mad about her. .
You can see how hard up I am for any.
thing to tell you when I nm forced t.
write about strangers I suppose yor
would get tired of It if were to keep OF
telling you that love you, but hav,
very few other ideas in my head just nov
at any one time. Besides, isn't it mucl
pleasanter to tell it with your dear hand
in miner Your own
ARTHUR AsHrox.
"Leah Fourier" repeated Margaret Il
herself, dreamily, II hope she won't re
member me. / wonder whether mad PEG
pie recollect anything that has passed