Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-09-01

ing in her own rich pastures, could see
them come trooping 10 the @byre" at the
welcome milking hour. could count her
white dots Of sheep on the fell sides, feed
her own pigeons and poultry, and lose her
way in her own wood. A very pretty
wood sheltered Calder Grange from all
but gentle winds. II was full Of wild
flowers and ferns, and tiny mountain
stream came tumhling down rocky bed
from the heights Of the fell above and
made its way through it. All in this wood
was left TO nature-the trees had been
thinned here and there, and winding paths
cut, or miniature bridges built, and that
was all.
For one week Lucy explored her new
territory with increasing delight. Il
think" she said, Il could live here for
ever, without caring to see any human be-
ing but you, Aunt Esther. There is only
one thing that makes me unhappy here,
and that is those birds. They sing so joy
ously from morning until night that they
end by making me miserable. l can't be
so happy as they are-that's what they
make me feelw
The Mostyns came to pays long visit at
Calder Grange. Lucy waited for them at
the lodge, and when the carriage drove
up she was leaning nleslitatively against
the great gate.
"Well, Lucy" cried Mrs. Mostyn, alight-
ing, show do you like the feeling of look
ing over your own gatel Philip says that
that is one OF the great joys of ownea-
ship!"
II like the feeling of ownership i'm
mensely," said Lucy, 'if only had not
the consciousness that had gained it at
the expense of other people"
"Oh, those stupid Richmonds, you
mean," cried Mrs. Lettice.
SNOW, Lucy, have done with such nom
sense" said Mr.. Mostyn. "The place is
yours! If you really can't be happy till
| you have given it up to some one who en-
vies you the possession of it, begin with
me. If everybody who succeeded to an
estate ran about offering the greater part
of what he had got to everyone who chose
to think he had better claim to it, the
whole country would be turned topsey-
turvey."
"Yes, really, my dear child" added his
wife; 81 think never heard anything so
idiotic in my life as that expedition of
yours to Mrs. Richmond! Be thankful
that you came out of it so we'll" Lucy
sighed.
"Lucy, you were always tae mOntee,"
said Philip kindly. "You should have
consulted Lettice."
Some days passed-very happy days.
Lucy showed all the beauties of her gar
dens and woods and fields to Lettice, who
admired them heartily; but she drew the
lines at the cows and poultry, and refused
to commend them for anything but their
utility. At last, too, Lettice grew tired of
woods and fields and "outside things"
and said, "Let us stay in the house this
morning"
"Very WE'LL" said Lucy, and she seated
herself by the window, and began silently
to admire the mountain before her.
'1s that mountain yours, Lucy" said
Lettice.
"No." replied Lucy
"Then why on earth do you spend your
time in looking at it2 would not. Let
us spend our time in doing something nice.
Have you looked into all the drawers and
cupboards yet?'
"No," said Lucy, at makes me so mel
ancholy. don't like turning over things
which belonged to dead people,"
Nonsense! People can't live for ever.
And how horribly crowded and disagreea-
ole the world would be if they did. l
like this house Of yours-it is one of the
most comfortable places ever saw, but I
wonder you don't explore little. 1 have
always wished some one would leave me a
great house like this full of uneXplored
cabinets. Think how nice it would be to
open drawer after drawer, and find dia-
mond necklaces and earrings, and enam-
elled portraits of lovely ladies set in dia-
monds and pearls. The thing which al
ways worries me is to know how far it
would be right for me to take these pearls
and diamonds off the portraits to make
something pretty to wear myself You
see, after all, they do them-the ladies'
you know, no good
Lucy laughed, and said "You surely do
not give much time to the question:"
"Yes, do, when think about it. Come,
we are doing nothing; let us open that
marquetry affair in the corner and see
what we can discover in it,
They found the key, they opened the
cabinet; inside it in pigeon-hole they
saw bundles of yellow-looking letters tied
up with ribbon which might once have
been blue or green Or any color, but was
now dull white. Lucy exclaimed, 'They
are from the other Miss Claveringw gw-for
thus was Mr.. Kenrick's lost love now al
ways designated.
"If were you I'd burn them.'
It would he more respectful, Perhaps
said Lucy touching them with tender rev.
erence.
at would be great deal more sensible!
Letters OF that kind are always silly, and
every one thinks so but the person who
receives them. Stay! is this her por-
trait?"
1t was a we'll painted miniature of Miss
Clavering, and it really did resemble
Lucy.
II have a great mind to pass my time
in travelling as matter of speculation!,
cried Mrs. Mostyn. "But after all, one
might spend lifetime and not have the
good luck you had. What are you look
ing at so moulnfully? Let me see. .Por-
trait of my sister Susan in her YOUTH
That is Mr.. Kenrick's writing suppose"
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