River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-09-16
THE GHOST OF THE LABURNUMS.

because II II - IOiltlt b4iNA'f
For that reason | shall come, sad
pretty RaphmIIa Fairlie. Il shall come
and keep you company for a whole
week. Just rs soon as / can get away
from the city. | knew you and Phil
were mopIng, nodding her curly head
Sagaciously.
sudden gravity went over Fannie
Brudenel's gentle countenance, yet her
ewes frightened expectantly.
Il should love to have you there, OF
course was all she said.
When train time came and Fannie
had left RAGS pretty studio and the
city. the little artist still sat daintily
touching the photograph She was color
ing. and evidently thinking of some
thing else. She was not sure that Doe
tor Philip Brudenel would exactly APP
prove of her going to the Laburnams,
but She meant to 20, for all that, for
She loved him, and she could plainly
see that he had cares and pcrpleXltles
of which she knew nothing. And
though they had been engaged over a
wear. he made no proposal of marry
inc soon. only looked moOdily when
the subject was approached. Rae 80
enjoyed his company that she could
live with him in the black hole of Cal
cutla. She declared to herself, but prob
ably Philip did not think 50. Anyway
She WAS going to the Laburnums, In,
home at Lowshore, because she felt
that her love gave her a right to know
what was troubling him.
Ten days later She locked her studio
and steamed away to Lowshorc, and
soon the depot carriage had set her
down at the door Of a tiny cottage hid
i'm laburnum-trecs.
Fannie kissed her afiectionately.
"What a delightful apparition you
are Rae" she said. and led her into "A
little sittingrOom.
Everything wa, very plain, and very,
very tiny, Rae thought, accustomed to
spacious city apartments; and when
Fannie had taken her hat and travel
ing--achel. and gone to spread lunch
for her. Rae looked around and saw
that the carpet was threadbare and the
furniture extremely old-fashioned.
Suddenly a door opened, and an old
lady, leaning on cane, tottcred INTO
the room. Her face, bordered by a
snowy cap. had strange, white, putty
look, but She yet showed signs of hav-
ing been very pretty in youth.
"What are you?' she asked Rae, "A
fairy? Do YOU think you can better
our fallen fortunes? No, no, that can
never be
RAGS cheek burned under the
strangely significant words, but She
guessed immcdiatcIy that the old lady's
mind was wandering: then Fannie en-
tered the room.
Come mother. come and rest now,
She said, gently, and drew her from the
room. She came back, saying to Rae:
MY mother is demented. DO not be
troubled by anything She says.
1t was evening when Doctor Philip
brought his fine presence into the tiny
home. His start of delight on behold
ing Rae was succeeded by rather sad
smile.
'.What pleasure did you expect TO
find here. child?' he asked, holding
her hand.
Perhaps | did not come for pleasure,
Philip"
For what them
Profit"
II find very little of that here"
Two DAYS passed Rae saw plainly
what the life was ut the Laburnums-
monOtonous, meager; but ever since
Philip had first brought his sister to her
studio. Rae lad loved Fannie, who was
older than herself. and patiently becom-
inc one of the sweetest of old maids.
So She enjoyed sisterly talks with Fan
ME. Philip was absent most Of the
time
You ought to have come in the
early autumn. Rac-it is prettier then.
lin November we have nothing attract
ive-Hterally nothing. have often ex-
pressed the wish to Philip to have you
visit lis: but he always speaks of the
contrast between your life and ours
YOU i'm the city, with access to so much
that is entertaining, and we so shut
out from the world But because it Is
YOU. | think, Rae. that | will show you
the house in the hollow
The house in the hollow. FAM
Yes. our ancestral home; for Philip
and came of prosperous race, poor
as We now are, and the old house is full
Of what Is beautiful and rare. Get
your hat and we will 90 now. -
Through long lines of laburnumS,
across tiny kitchen garden along i
decaving orchard into Il slope still green
in the November sunshine. At one
end of the valley which opened toward
the sea. where white sails were noise
lcssly fitting. stood a large and hand
some house of painted brick, with oriel
windows and other picturesque effects.
1T is not an old house, said Fannie.
1T was built 10y my grandfather, in his
hast DAYS, rs wedding present To my
mother. The old house which had for
mcrlv stood here he had pulled down
and this built He intended to reside
with his only daughter when She mar
RED Israel Braucairc. Il French jew
whom he had chosen for her. But my
mother fell i'm love with her music
teacher. Ross BrudcneL and cloped
with him. and grandfather wrote and
hade her never To come back. But
when Philip and | We're fathcrless, my
mother came. iii her great extremity,
and begged her fathers assistance.
Grandfather gave her this cottage we
have now. and allowed her a small i'm
come with which to bring IL up, but
never forgavc ncr At last he died, willing
all his property to Il distant cousin IN
India. who has never come for It. The
house stands empty with MI Its bcautl-
ul furniture. and the rich fields lie fat
low. while Philip barely supports Us
with his small practice. Lomshore Is n
ii~tressingly healthy place, with 4
faint smile
The interior of the house was finish
al III rich foreign woods. the floors POI
isIlcd like glass and laid with costly
rugs and tapestries The furniture was
of mahogany ami velvet, long mirrors
and dark paintings adorned the walls
Ii was indeed handsome house, speak
iu., Of almost limitleSs wealth.
There are thousands af dollars worth
uf silver in the bank at Shorehor0ugh,
said Fannie. and rents accommodating
there which will he a small fortune in
itself But we have nothing.
How hard how cruel" cried Rae.
Il should not think your grandfather
could rest in his grave to have YOU and
Philip. with all your refinement and
culture. spending your lives in a hand
to hand scramble for bread.
They say he does come back and
wander uneasily about here, said
Fannie. carefully closing shutters and
doors and coming ont into the sun
shine. But of course stories are told
of all such places Phillip SAYS he
does not believe a word of it. with a