The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-12-05

to the paror, where wood fire blazed |
Rosaland dropped into picturesque, old.
fashioned chair, which dated as far back as
the check, Her lovely arms, with their CO.
quettish elbow sleeves, fell into her lap Her
little crossed feet revealed dainty strapped
slippers. There was an exquisite rose leaf
flush on her face. Gilbert Rosse, who had
ridden over from neghboring Rossemere,
drew up chair beside her, fascinated, ap.
parently, manlike, by toilette aud grace.
Ruth took low seat in corner of the fire.
place out of the light of the blaze. Mil
dred fitted off to the kitchen, where blazed
another fire of giant size, over which hung
a coal-black kettle. Aunt Linda was the
presiding genius Of this precinct Its |
yellow walls were darkened by smoke. Mys.
terious shadows haunted it, Two talow |
dips served to illuminate the centre merely |
of large table, where Aunt Linda and
Cynthy were supping, the small colored boy |
at respectful distance
Il seen de ole lady jes now, Miss Milly,'
| says Aunt Cynthy.
You don't say so ! responded Mildred,
| with spontaneous interest.
'Suthn on her mind, she. She keep
lookin' at me an lookin'. Cap wild frill,
spinniu wheel an all Can't make her out
nohow Desc is tight times fur de Masons.
Reckon dat's de reason she show herself SO
often. De old place be sole, sho as fate, on
less miracle take place
Mildred assented. TWAS as Cynthy said.
This might be her last visit to Fair Hill
There was mortgage on the farm for $1,000,
which would be foreclosed in December un-
less the money were forth coming, which
seemed unlikely. Mrs. Mason had tried to
raise the sum far and near, but without sue
cess 1t seemed incredible, but the beautiful
homestead represented by this inconsidera-
BILE amount would doubtless be sacrificed in
default of it.
'Mas'r BERTHE Roose fooliu rount arter
Miss Rute kin stan it. Mas'r BERTHE want
Rute ter marry him right now, an lebe her
ma an de boys to shf fur deyseves. But
Miss Rute she say no. She say, eff she are
wort habin', she are wort waitin' fur, IAN
she nebber marry so longs her mas all up
side down like. So reckon Masr Berthe he
tryin' to console himself
All of which Mildred knew already. Gaz.
ing into the bright blaze, she wondered how
it would all end. Rosalind was bewitch-
ing
Still talking, Aunt Cynthy went back in
to the dining room. Oar she are now = she
said. She hab lef' de spinn' wheel. She
are walkin' up an down, dar by the
q clock ..
The clock stood in a recess beyond jamb
which ran along all the rest of that side of
the room. 1t contained a closet. and in the
parlor, on the other side of the wall, a deep
fire place. But these two recesses having
o been taken into consideration, there still re.
mained space unaccounted for in the mid
+ die of the jamb. Mildred, staring over at
the wall, puzzled out this fact.
2 Now she are here, pursued Aunt Cynthy,
"a knockin'.' Aunt Cynthy put her hand on
the wall precisely where Mildred had estab.
a lished a hollow space.
r Mildred came and stood beside the old wo.
man. odd ? the girl said. There is boart
It here 1t is not bricked over like the rest o
the WALL Mildred wrapped on it with he
y knuckles, and it gave hollow sound, yer,
,! different from that which followed the knock
q ing above and below it.
Gurus ? repeated Aunt Cynthy. IC
like ter take out dat ar board tust-rate
y OATS whar she raped an pinted.'
p Here Aunt Mason appeared She ha
81 heard for so many years of Cynthy's 'Ol
Lady that she listened to this last demon
stration OF hers with composure, and rasse
n on to give out breakfast-a matter of NOR
y immediate interest. Mildred drifted bac
y into the parlor, seated herself in the corne
r. of the fireplace, listened to the wind how
ing down the wide chimney, thought ofshiT
- at the sea blown about in such gale as wa
'y brewing Ships Zone ship, more prope
u, ly. .... .......H.
~ 1t was consolation to Mildred to obser,
: that whenever she looked towards Bert
81 Rosse, he was looking towards Ruth l
-, consequence Rosalnd grew more pointed
ho charming and sparkling. But poor lit
:. Ruth never once raised her eyes from Il
" piece of knitting she had taken up. ID
mother called her presently, and she we
= out of the room and did not return. Aft
y" a while Mildred followed her. 1t was du
work chapperoning Rosaliuds firtatio
She would go and write letter. She pass
w Ruths open door. No light Ruth kneelil
'e' by tide window, her head on the sill. The
-, was something very desolate in her little fl
% ure in the moonlight. Mildred scolded a~
-, at Berthe Rose to herself Men were
same tickle, worldly creatures all the woI
~. over. No, not all men
She wrote her letter-a long one. S
lad heard horses hoofs clattering down
,or avenue by that time. She was seized W
orc an intolerable thirst, which the water in
10 room, drawn for hours, failed to quen
eys She stole down stairs Ruths door still OPT
Ruth still kneeling in the moonlight.
,ho the head of the stairs she met Rosolir
~, lamp in hand-Rosslind, with fresh blot
and steady smile and dainty dress. Do
rrt into the parlor, where the dying embers s.
,.u up a farewell flame to light her across
r"r room. Into the dining room No won
,or Mildred started Aunt Cynthey was tn
T, before her. Candle in one hand, axe in
,on other, she was loesenng that board in
i wall
MI. Ssh sh don't let 'em hear us, hor
wer fought dat ar Mas'r Berthe would neb
sss go. Is boun' ter see what are behind di
sad board. She bin agwine on awful Neb
two know her so rampageous befo'. Eff you