The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-08-05

| November sunshine. At one end Of the
valley which opened toward the sea, stood
a large aud handsome house Of painted
brick, with oriel windows and other pic
turesque effects.
1T is not an old house," snid Fannie
1T was built by my grandfather, in his
last days, as wedding present to my
mother. The old hohse which had form-
/ erly stood here he had pulled down and
this one built. lie meant to reside with
his only daughter wheu She married Is
rael Beaucaire, French jew, whom he
had chosen for her, But my mother fell
in love With her music teacher, Ross
Brudenel, and eloped With him, and
grandfather forbade her TO return. But
when Philip and were fatherless my
mother caiiie, in her great extremity, and
begged her fathers assistance. G.and-
father gave her this cottage we have now
and a small income with which TO bring
us up, but never frgave her. At last he
died, willing all his property to a distant
cousin in India, who has never come fof
it. The house stands empty. with all its
beautiful furniture. and the rich fields lie
fallow, while Philip barely supports us
with his small practice. Lowshore is a
most distressingly healthy place, " with II
faint smile.
The interior of the house was finished
in rich foreign woods, the floors polished
like glass and laid with costly rugs and
tapestry. The furniture was of mahog-
any and velvet, long mirrors and dark
pictures adorned the walls. 1t was in
deed handsome house, speaking Of linn
itless wealth.
There are thousands of dollars worth
of silver in the bank at Shoreborough,"
said Fannie, ''and rents accumulating
which will be d small fortune. But we
have nothing"
"How hardl how cruell" cried Rae. II
should not think your grandfather could
rest in bis grave to have you and Philip,
with your refinement and CULTURE, spend
ing your lives in hand to hand scramble
for bread"
"They say he does come back and
wander uneasily about here" said Fan
ME, carefully closing shutters and door
and coming out into the sunshine. "But
of course such stories are told of all such
residences. Philip says he does not be-
lieve word of it," with marked en-
phasis which made Rae turn and look at
her.
"But you do, Fan"
"Twice people have tried to sleep there
and declared that grandfather appeared
to them. should not dare to try it, for
1 am timorous thing at best, and"
The intensity of Raes thoughts made
her quite deaf to what further her COM
panion was saying. No wonder Philip
was sad and hopeless of their marriage
as he was situated and seemed fated to
continue to be.
"The will was made Immediately after
mammals marriage" said Fannie, stand
ing under the laburnums and looking up
at the great house. Poor mother says
he told her on his death-bed that he made
another wlll-perhaps in her favor. Bat
what she says goes for little. Her state
is a very strange one since a fever she had
Just after Philip came of age-yet she
seems to understand some things in our
affairs that we do not understand till af-
terwards. 1t is almost uncanny to think
over the strange knowledge she has had
during these past years" said Fannie,
musingly.
They walked back to the tiny cottage.
Rte's veins thrilled with excitement, but
Fannie went soberly about getting tea.
They kept no servant, this poor, disin-
herited family. and Rae learned that
Philips own hands titled the little kitch-
en- garden while every labor of the house
hold was performed by Fannie.
She could not sleep that night after she
had gone to bed. The moonlight seemed
to disturb her, and make her brain Wild
ly active What influence strung her
nerves? for when all was still and the
night far advanced she rose and, dress.
ing, donned her warm sealskin cap and
sack and came out into the hall. She
took bd ch of keys from their nail ,and
selecting one which she had seen Fannie
take, held it tightly in her slim Whit
fingers as she went out into the MI yht.
In the moons white light she went
steadily through the long line Of laburn-
ums across the tiny kitchen garden, into
the hollow. She stood a moment before
the great still house, listening to the roar
of the sea- Strangely enough she did
not feel afraid, II she thought of the
presence of an unseen spirit it was to ap-
peal to it Prayerfully for help,
Apother will 1t must be. At least ii
would do no harm to search, aud that is
what she hal come for. She LEFT the hall
door open and the moonlight flooded the
tiled ball. 1t STRAINED through the
chinks of :he shutters, which she opened
one by one as she fitted keys to drawers
of all kinds. But there were no papers
anywhere. Many things which must have
been the property of the old SOU re she
found. but not his will
"Oh, il only could if Iouly couldr'
she said in a Sad voice. "and it would
restore Philin to his iuherilanccT
Rat, tat, tat-the sound of a cane on
the tiled floor. Rae turnod for the first
time, her eyes wide with fright, The en-.
thusiasm with which she bad entertained
her generous purpose had made her n
terly forgetful of herself, Now some one
was coming. The door swung slowly on