Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-10-14

mousse there until they got old enough
to begin to think about marriage and
homes of their own. Next came
nurse Keturah's reign, then followed
dust and silence. 1t was one of the
prettiest spots in Melville. Ivy aud
hop-vines EMPOWERED it, red honey
suckles rieted over the tiny porch,
pink, white and purple morning glo.
riss strung their bells across eves,
window, while bird, butterfly and bee
twittered, fiuttered and buzzed in
excess OF summer life and Joy about it.
One week after these incidents, al
ready recorded, took place, the door
of this sylvan retreat opened upon
Anthia Thorburn's perfected plans.
She had at last come into real and
heartfelt sympathy with these poor
mill.folk and their human ache and
need. Having availed herself of the
opportunity for studying the sad eff.
fects of the parents enforced neg
lect, taking this as the key note of
her new life and work, her plans
were rapidly formed and put into
execution.
Engaging the services OF Mrs.
Printer and tive others at fair sal.
airy, day nursery was opened in the
cottage under the vines, for the es.
pecial benefit of such children az
were toe young to be left in charge
of those who were scarcely beyond
babyhood themselves. Here they
were washed, dressed, fed and at.
tended to from six. A. NJ, until half.
past six, P. NJ, every day except
Sunday.
At the outset, Mr.. Thorburn felt
disposed to discountenance an limo.
Walton SO extraordinary, so unparal.
leled, in the history of his house.
While for her part, Mrs Lansing,
the deaf aunt, either could not or
would not understand what was pro
posed. She seemed determined it
should be something terrible, some-
thing to be ashamed and repented of
as long as they lived. Anthia, poor
girl, was distressed beyond measure.
Nevertheless, she renamed tender,
yet firm, and finally carried her point
triumphantly.
Alter the second week Of the nur.
sery's opening, Mr.. Thorbnrn conde.
sconded a visit, and subsequently
dropped in quite as matter of
course. Mrs. Lansing sent ID an oc.
casienal dainty, but was exceedingly
timid about venturing in person.
There's never any knowing abou.
these children she said, disereetly
keeping the gardens length bstween
herself and the happy, rolly-poly lit
tie band of HopsleY Hall, as 1T was
wittily named.
If, apart from his inerdinate self
love, Fitz Maurice Maurice had a
spark of genuine admiration to spare,
it struck out in Anthia Thorburn's
direction. Inclined to wander away
after every fresh, attractive face, he
invariably returned to bis boyish
fancy after the novelty were of, and
become more than ever devoted
Miss Thorburn was used to him.
They, too, had grown up together.
She knew very well that few prop
erly. directed efforts would secure the
prize. yet was not sure she cared for
it sufficiently to make them. Re-
naming in this undecided state of
mind, she allowed bis attentions to
come or 60, and was entirely salts.
6ed in either case.
Such being her mental condition,
and that small organ, the heart, hav.
ing no werd to say for itself, she pur-
sued tbe--very uneven, at this criti-
cal period-tenor of her way, while
Fitz allowed himself a new indul
gence. lie became absorbed in Celia
Prlestly, who was visiting his lady
mother. Having been in the way Of
calling frequently on this maiden at
the paternal residence in an adioin.
ing eeanty, her family agreed it was
high tine he declared himself.
In view OF Fastening this desired
event, Miss Celia accepted Mrs Msu
rice's invitation to spend a few weeks
with her. The manner In which the
'object' straightway conducted him
self, caused the lady 10 assure her
anxious parents there was nothing
to fear and everything to expect.
Riding over one day, Just to see
the dear girl, DIR. Prisstly was met
and captured by his ancient enemy,
the govt. Now it happened that this
gentleman was a friend to Ralph
Alden, deceased, and, having no son
of his own to succeed him, was
deeply interested In aiding and abet-
ting Ralph juniors studies. 1t fol-
lowed, as matter of course, then,
that this young man should be sum-
moned to gait upon the crippled pa
rent, while Fitz Maurice attended
the charming daughter wherever it
pleased her to 20.
Mlllyille gossips refused to see the
matter in this very reasonable light,
Having settled that Maurice's son
should marry Thorburn's daughter,
they resolutely closed their visual or.
gans to every other aspect of so i'm.
portant question. YouBg Aden's
calls were interpreted to. mean an
understanding between Celia and
himself, and forthwith a second en-
gagement was announced.
1t frequently happens that some
people ara long while finding out
what almost everybody knsws.
ARthia Thorburn was informed of
Ralph Aden's daily visits to the pre-
tsntious mansion by the Big Mills
She also became aware of the inter-
probation put upon them, tut. unfor-
tunately, she was left in ignorance as
to the fact of DR.. Priestly's presence,
and his being confined to bis chair
with the govt. This girl, whose years
seemed all at once to have leaped to
their full stature, bad found her
work. She bad not been called to
do any great thing, still the task
promised TO tax her young heart and
strength to their utmost. With no
slight pain, she learned that the
being on whom she relied fer sympa.
thy and advice was drawn away,
was becoming absorbed ia new IN
terests.
As Miss Thnrhuru in tho hiy hr;oL