Daily Republican., 1881-01-28
. aLuE GLASS ExpEEImEsr.
pY BERTHA BgRTos.

BY BERTHA BRRTos.
A grand old residence Of gray stone,
standing back from the highway and
half-ooncealed BY the dense foliage Of
the gigantic trees.
A long pissza, extending across the
froat Of the house, was supported BY
immense carved pillars, aDout which
roa "A clustered and vines olam oered
and swsysd gracefully with the summer
breeze.
A velyesy lawn sloped down in front
while o broad avenue, bordered BY ash
and maple, extended down to the pub
lic road. :,
AZ one side Of the houss ran o small
brook, singing sweet, but sad song,
and. like human beings, hurrying on,
as II possessed Of the very spirit VI IN
rest.
Rack Of the mansion and stretching
svay toward the west, stood an orchard
laden with pink and white blossoms,
aud waiting Its wealth OF fragrance
tbrouah the air, while In a noriherly
direction lay q range of majestic noun
tains. covered with the rich foliage O.
dense forests.
Between house and mountain range
intsryened q valley, where wrsaths O
purple mist hung In the early dawn ol
morning.
flowers delighted the behoider, and
fairy.like arbor ,encirclsd by the stronl
arms Of An immense grapevine, suggest
sd A quiet nook where one might pas
an idle hour in restfulness.
There were quaint gables, porohe
aud bay windows about the mansion
that instead Of detracting from tn
architectural beauty, gave 1t sort 0
picturesq queness, and the soft gray :
lihe building, seen in glimpses througI
the foliage was most ensrancing 10 TN
eye. ,,, so,,h
west corner room, with walls iiIs
with the choicest literary trsssures,ia
iithe proprietor Of this stately old mar
Ision. -s.,...
He was a pale, nervous man OF thirty
1--we, with an expression Of listlessnes
on his face, entirely al variance WIZ
Ibis surroundings. ,,
He was g!anolng lisilessly over tn
Ioo;uo napaY WhAu q paragrAp
caught his eye. As he read, q smil
llit up his face for an instant, then b
lcallsd: d,
"Mother, come this way" and !
answer to his summons, through doc
lust sjar came q fair, graceful iookin
old LADY, with silvery hair and fAt
:: AZ placid as o summer sky.
4 face that showed such depths
= love aud tenderness, as she drew a
. essy- chair TO the sofa, and laid her 90
|. white hapd caressingly upsn the bro
of the invalid, that one osuld plainl
ses what q wealth Of Affection she la
: ished upon her handsome son.
% "Mother. humor one Of my fancle
\ will your' he said, as he raised b
8 learnest. blue eyes to her face. Ike
THAT" and he indicated parasral
under the head Of wants.
i; "Well Ralph, what Of III am So
!. l do not see," she said. at last, as s
took of her glasses.
i "You know, dear mother, that "
J, ara t,yad with the care OF your whim
u cal boy. Just answer this, and let !
middle.aged, Americ
T lady come and give you a little ass
70 tancs. II will be q diversion to me
= o., no doubt, she is some lone spins'
E Of forty i've or 6Ay summers, pint
p for some congsn;..! heart to beat
= rhythm with her own. You will
mere to,see to the proprieties. !.
- lonesome, and II she reads we'll, l "
give her chance TO exercise her vot
talents; for you know 1t hurts yon
read aloud, am In no danger Of ia
A | ing in love with the ancient maiden
D, and he laid his hand tenderly up
hers.
"Of course, my son, II you wish
out perhaps we may mot like her."
3. "Well, mother, 1t need be nothi
perm snent-as the single invalid &c
e tleman may recover, and dispense wi
Of her services at any time"
An answer was sent with the und,
y standing that the situation might i
prove permanent, but If the lady che
y to come on those terms q reasonal
u * compensation, with the comforts Of
i aiet home, would be given--and 81
c,fying the following week for her
rival.
= Ralph Sutherland was slowly rect
srins from long illness. Somewt
~ capricious--after the manner Of inv
lids, his mother petted him, and ind
Issd his whims, hoping thereby
" divert his mind from the past.
Two years before be had been
gagged 10 o beautiful girl whom
loved dsvotedly; but, through 80
= misunderstanding, caused by gossi
i. the engagen ent was broken Of, q
they had drifted apart.
She had gone with her uncle to Ca
= iornia, while he took an extended Il
In Europe.
He had lately rsturned--satia
. with travelling--tired, nervous, :,
", less, unsatisf4d, and had been striol
IN, down by fever.
ar For long weeks life hadlbeen q bla
but, as consciousness returned,
mothers gentle care had been n