Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-05-13
STRANGE, WILD STORY.

for livingw
The envy and suspicion that prompted
this remark, and others like it, was turn
ed into pity, when the women of the
BlOOmsbOrO' learned that the genteel
and reserved stranger. who had sought
home among them, was burdened with
great sorrw.
This lady and her little girl wore
handsome clothes-they had no others
and their appearance and manners were
in strange contrast with their surround
ings at Aunt Polly Carter's. In explain
alton, the kind old woman told her neigh
bors that Mrs. Van Dale was her great
niece; that her own pretty home had
been broken up, her money wrOngfully
taken from her, and she had come to live
with her, and she was trying to make
her living by making fine shirts for
city store.
Years after this, when greatly depress-
ed, and fearing that she was about to
die and leave her little girl friendless,
Mrs. Van Dale told her story to one who
had manifested sympathy without vul-
near as / can after an interval of more
than twenty-five years. will repeat the
story here.
after my mothers death, went TO
sea two voyages with my father, who
was sea-captain-Oncet to Calcutta and
once to Hong Kong. After this, his
health failed, and he gave up his ship,
and we travelled in our country for about
year, when he died at Saratoga.
Il was left with small property of
twelve thousand dollars, in charge of his
only relative-a half-brOther-fOr whom
my father had sent in his illness. OF
course was heart-brOken, for I was
alone in the world. The only personal
friend or relative had was this kind
old farmer. He took me after my fathers
burial to his home.
"The moment Ientered it, | saw that
his wife, who had no children, and
whose only purpose in life was to save
, both work and money, was not glad to
see me. She did not even kiss the poor,
forlOrn little girl whose coming had so
surprised her.
"After dull and unhappy year, my
uncle sent me to boarding school; and |
went gladly, feeling sure / could find
there more Of the love for which my
heart was aching than | had found in
my uncle's hOme.I
MY hopes were realized. The princi-
pal-of the school was q tender, motherly
woman, and encouraged real friendships
among the girls. When had been there
a year or two, the brother of my room
inate-a graduate of medical school
came to visit her; and from the hour
wen we two met, my fate was in
gerwoyen with his.
my uncle was satisfied with the young
mans family and prospects; and gave his
consent to our marriage; and in four
months after that, he gave me my twelve
thousand dollars into stranger hands.
IL was taken to my Husbands home, q
rambling old house, said to have been
built HbefOre the Revolutionary War.
There were modern houses around 1t,
which were occupied by the brothers Of
my husband-rOugh-lOO men-and
= by widowed sister. The sister was the
Oldest of the family; and she was a most
fOrbidding woman in person and man.
ners.
"The family all called my husband
Or. Thad,' although he had never had
patient-and they seemed: very proud
of him and of his learning, as well
they might be. was told that some OF
his brothers were engaged extensively
in the oyster business, and others In
shipping, down the coast whatever that
was.
81 often heard loud talking between
the young men and the old people, who
always seemed pleading with them, fol
or against something's knew not what
"When l had been in the house about
six months, was startled and distressed
one day, by my husbands telling me
that he must leave me for some time
and that if felt Lonesome with the old
people, could go to Effie's.
"Effie, the widowed sister, seemed more
like stalwart man in wOmen's clothes
than shs did like woman. She always
looked at me as if reading my yer,
thoughts. told my husband that there
was a weirdness about Effie's house thai
made my blood run cold; and added, :.
am afraid of your sister, :,
"He asked me if anyone had been tell
me stories about her.
II replied that no one had spoken U
me about her, in fact knew no one on
of his family, and pleaded with him I.
take me with him. But he put me OIL
saving that he was going to lonely par
of the coast on business, and should occu
nv hut while there with two old Old ne
rroes and several rough men with whOn
ne should not dare leave me in his lonl
absence on his scientific expeditions fui
ther down the coast and into the inter-
or. e. Al
"That night two men came TO Tn
bouse and carried some iron-bound b0xe
from a locked closet in my room over y
Efie's house. My husband asked me not !
mention, this to the old people, VINO wei
then absent, and then added, Doctor
have many things that people ought nc
xxovr Ennxu