Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1881-03-26
e IN his own keen gray eyes, neverthe-

] -
Gle Ben's 5arouche toward the new home.
with Uncle Bcns newspaper rafting by
her side As the autumn twilight began
+, fail, her thoughts busy, as a woman's
| will, at times.
L ncle,' she said, turning suddenly
toward the old gentleman" wha, sort OF a
house is 1T Ours, mean.'
well, y said Cnce Ben reflectively, ''its
cottage, should say
"a modern cottageI"
eli, no. rather Of the antique order"
Oh CRED Rachel, Il am glad. 1oe-
splse these Lew, stiff, formal places, that
look as If they we're merely 10 be admired,
not lived in aud enjoyed. Uncle, what are
you larxhina a. {"
Al Your curiosity. my dear re-'
the old gentleman.
Then | won't ask another question,
said Rachel, resolut,ly.
But she fully atoned for that deprivation
by sketching on the tablets Of her own
| fancy an endless variety of Little Gothic
| structures, with bay windows, and trelises
| covered with climbing roses and honey
suckles; while Uncle Benedict watched
her from behind the. screen Of his news
paper, with the queerest expression on his
brown old face.
| 'Tm almost sorry / commenced the
| thing he aid to himself. If / 81 Ould be
DISAPPOINTED in herl But, pooh it's the
/ only way to md out if she's worth my
| boys love.
| Presently the numbering old chariot came
to stand still; but 10 Rachels surprise,
in front Of no fairy cot or low eaved editice
1 1aI q 81
terres. \ tumble down uupainted farm
house stood a little back from the road
with its shutters hanging loosely by one
| hinge, and one or two scruDby lilac
bushes toriornly tossing their foliage to
the wind.
How dreary it looks!' thought Rachel
with little shuduer, as she wondered
whetL er the coachman had really meant 10
stop there. But Uncle Ben at once seized
his carpet bag and umbrella.
Come, my dear" he said to Rachel
''ls this the place." she asked.
''This is the place. [ Uncle Ben answered,
with sudden paroxysm Of coughing.
Gates little out of order,' as that use
full mode of ingress became suddenly de-
| tached from its sole remaining hinge and
tell with crash to the ground, ''but that
soon set right with screw-driyer and a
dozen screws.
Alas, poor Rachel! What were her sen.
sations rs she looked blankly around the
neglected, dismal spot which was the sole
realization Of her fairy dreams! This the
home Uncle Benedict had given them
felt asst she could repel the unwelcome
gift and tell Uncle Benjamin plainly thai
she could not spend her days In hove
like this
But then came sober second thoughts
Uncle Benedict had meant kindly; they
were poor, and could no. afford to dispens'
with the meanest OF roofs over their ht ads
No, she must gratefully accept the presen
IN the split in which it was given, ant
check in the bud all her rebelllous ant
unama DC replnings.
Il tolk you it was a cottage, you know,
!, said Uncle Ben, keenly scrutlnlzlng he
i, face, as they stood on the doorstep waiting
Tor the door to be opened.
. "Yes, know" said Rachel, glancin
round with Frightening eyes. That Is
; very choice climbing rose over the VIII
dow, if it was properly trained,
''It's rather lonesome said Uncle Ber
lkc tue COuHtIy, IAdeAtl dHo 'SiCe
hopefully.
e AS she spoke, a slipshod old woma
appeared to let them in, and led the wa
% to the best room, a green Curtalned apar
), ment, with shabby carpet on the foo
and fire in the CRATE that emitted II
more smoke than calorlc.
smoky chlmneys, eh? > said INC
Ben.
Tine d1aught seems to be poor, sal
- Rachel; but dare say it can be q
:. tered.
. Il hadn't any idea the ceilings were
- low srumbltd the old gentleman.
''It's partly the effect of tie large pa
/, tern Of tie wall paper, said Rachel, Wi
a glaLcc at :he red and green monstrt
is. "A narrow striped pattern vii! IL
prove II.
y ~ queer little cuph'ayds by Il
y side OF the maulelt - sa.u Uncle Ben.
u .'On, they will be nice for our bt
a. china, SAID Rachel.
>, MY dear, said the Old gentleman,
believe YOU are CcteTuintd 10 tc please
DO you really think You shall lhe Il
- lace
Il shall like any place where Hugh is
= SAID kache!. biI5hIN.
- She went Ill over the house with the
,Ir gcn,leiuan, planning improvements. Il
suggesting and conirivlng, unit he rea
began 10 think she would make All Arca'
ou, Of the tumLle down CID farm. And
-, she ssed a .rw tears on tier pillow wi
she went 10 rest under the caves OF
rom, in an apartment which must b
y oeen built Tor Ion Thumb, Uncle BE
-, dict never suspected.
D.. There was the chariot a. he door VI
Rachel rose irom Ter breakfast OF br,
. - and butter aud coffee the next morning :
en. Come, my lass. said the old Cen
lis | man, Il want - show you place Ia,
hle III, the road. which has been taken /
To- Trend u mine.
lie dive aud the delicious Sep.en.
lch air were liAc al lnvisora.sng tonic 10
n,s wearle,. little bride anu a picture &
the ins 81, Ie .! Na.,eau awaited them, n
uld exquisite villa win lis rose CLAD bay "a
dows aud picturesque sloplng roof. Ru
ic,. iron caalrs stood under the oowlng braI
,hs IS Of the e.nls on the Lawn and MA
l tlt -