Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-10-25
MRS. sPuLSBURY'S WILL.

FIfe atmosphere of Deepgrove is
dense with old associations. The elms
that arch its single street seem with
their close canopies to have shut in the
tieeting ghosts of the past. and old ro-
mances and tragedies Turk behind the
tiny-paned. deeplseated windows of the
ancient houses.
But although the place IS haunted
with the love-stories Of 3 by-gone age
its present is Intensely practical: and
although the good old fashion of falling
in love will probably be followed by
young people everywhere so long as
time endures, and is the one earthly
thing of which we are sureSt that in
some spiritual modification it Will out
last Death itself. still in Deepgrove one
sees so little of its outward manifesto
ton that one might fancy Cupid ban
ished from the world outright.
1t was in the shadow of the Doctor $
house that | first CHANGED upon a mod
ern romance, which seemed in some
sort of revival of one begun two gem
erations back. where it had met with
rather 4 pitiful endings romance
WINCH bad slept foT seventy years to
find IT'S frpition in our workaday world
ana TING.
mansion in q certain way to nv friend
Charlotte Edwards. who had come to
New England to visit for the first time
the home of her ancestors. BY good
right Charlotte shoul id have been hostess
in the ancient house, for her grand
father. a nephew of the old Doctor. had
been brought up within its hospitable
walls and had inherited the estate after
the death Of the worthy couple But
he had emigrated early to Ohio. had
married and settled there, and had pre-
ferred to dispose OF the property falling
To him in New England. Charlotte was
the first of the family who manifested
the tastes of an antiquarian. She pos
sessed certain papers and heirlooms,
which had come down to her from her
grandfather, and she was eager to coll
lect every scrap of information relative
to his earlytvouth. We went over the
deserted building together. and she
listened with tears in her ewes to the
simple story of the Doctors life. and to
that of the silent woman who had Or
dered his home.
Il know much of them already" she
said .'for have an old journal. writ
ten by the Doctors wife. 1t came out
to grandfather with other matters after
her death. but he never read it; and
perhaps it is well that he did not, for it
reflects scant credit on his graceless
youth, while it shows the doting tender
ness of two women in very touching
light. l should like to have known
Mrs. DR.. Pillsbury. There was strength
in her character as well as affection,
and there are some rather mysterious
circumstances relative to the property
liza oh
planned"
My great-aunt Debby." I replied,
sis very old. She remembers Mrs
Pillsburv we'll, aud probably knew your
grandfather. You must visit her with
me, and | will set her to talking about
old times. Her memory is not to be
trusted on recent events. l have al
WAYS to explain that I am not nv
mother. but the affairs of the early half
of this century ARE perfectly clear to
her
We were leaving the house when /
noticed figure standing in the angle
formed by one of the urn-topped gate
posts of the old cemetery opposite. 1t
was John Burleigh. a young lawyer in
a neighboring town, the son of a poor
hill-countrv farmer. who had struggled
hard for his education, and was now
engaged in fiercer struggle for live
lihood. He was leaning against the
tall gate-post with folded arms. his
gaze fastened upon an upper window of
the Doctors house. just within which
Charlotte and | had been standing.
Evidently he hal no, noticed us at the
side-door. and was waiting for our re-
appearance at the window. Charlotte
saw him almost as quickly As l had
done. and caught my arm eNcitedly.
There is that dreadful Mr. Bur
ieigh!" she exclaimed. Who would
have thought that l should find him
here? He is my ghost-he follows me
everywhere"
But he lives here" replied. lust
on the crest of the hill over vonder. and
is probably on his way home from his
office h C.. He passes through this
lane every evening. / did not know