The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-09-17
THE GHOST OF THE LABURNUMS.

"Wby do you not invite me 10 The
Labnrnums, FanP'
Because it is SO lonely there, Rae
For that reason shall come" said
pretty Raphaella Fairlie. 81 shall come
and keep you company for n whole
week, Just as soon as [ can get away
from the city. l knew you and Phil
were moping." nodding her curly head
sagaciously.
A sudden gravity went over Fannie
Brudenel's gentle countenance. yet her
eyes bri- htoned cXpectantly.
81 should love to have you there, OF
course" was all she said.
When train time came and Fannie had
left Rae's pretty studio and the city,
the little art st still sat daintily touch
ing the photograph she was coloring,
and evidently closely thinking of some
thing else. She was not sure that Doc
tor Philip Brudenel would exactly ap-
prove of her going to the Laburnams,
but she meant to go, for all that. for she
loved him, and she could plainly see
that he had cares and perplexitirs of
which she knew nothing. And though
they had been engaged over II year, he
made no proposal of marrying soon,
only looked moodily when the subject
WAS hDDDOttlltU. lAttt So tnlONeu
company that she could live with him
in the black hole of Calcutta. she de-
clarcd to herself, but probably Philip
did not think so. Anyway she was GO
ing to the Laburnums, his home at Low
shore, because she felt that her love
gave her right to know what was
troubling him.
Ten days later she locked her studio
door and steamed away to Lowshore,
and soon the depot carriage had set her
down at the door of a tiny cottage hid
in laburnum-trees.
Fannie kissed her aflcctionately.
"What n delightful apparition you
are, Rae" she said, and led her into
little sitting-room.
Everything was very plain, and very,
very tiny, Rae thought, accustome to
spacious city apartments; and when
Fannie had taken her hat and travelling
sachel, and gone TO spread lunch for
her, Rae looked around and saw thatthe
carpet was threadbare and the furni-
turc extremely old-fashioned.
Suddenlya door opened, and an old
lady, leaning on cane, tottered into
the room. Her face. bordered by a
snowy cap, had n strange, white, Iuny
look, but she yet showed signs of hav-
ing been very pretty in youth.
"What are youP" she asked Rae. "a
fairyP Do you think you can better our
fallen fortunesp No, no! that can never
be-"
Rae's cheek burned under the
strangely significant words. but she
guessed Immediately that the old lady's
mind was wandering; then Fannie en-
tered the room.
Come, mother, come and rest now" I"
he said. gently, and drew Ler from the
room. She came back, saying to Rae !:
my mother is demented. Do not bt
troubled by anything she saws"
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 tC
find here, childP" he asked, holding
her hand.
Perhaps I did not come for pleasure
Philip"
"for what thenP"
Profit"
81 lind very little of that here"
Two days passed. Rae saw plainl,
what the life WAS at the Laburnums-
monotonous. meager; but ever sine
| imp ifslu nicb hin oiob't w Nv
studio, Rae had loved Fannie, who wa
older than herself. and patiently bt
coming one of the sweetest of old maids
So she enjoyed ssterly talks with Far
ME. Philip was absent most OF III
time.
In one of these confidential chat
Fannie said:
"You ought 10 have come in the earl
autumn, Rae-it is prettier here then. i
November we have nothing attractis
literally nothing. have often e,
pressed the wish to Philip to have yo
, visit us; but he always speaks of IL
! contrast between your life and ours
; you in the city, with access to 50 muc
that is entertaining. and we so shut o'
/ from the world. But because II is yo
think, Rae, that ] will snow you u
house in the hollow"
|, The house in the hollow, FAM"
Yes, our ancestral home; tor Phil
and | came of prosper Gus race, POI
{ as we now are, and the old house is fu
l of what is beautiful and rare. Get yol
hht and we will 20 now"