The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-05-29
the keyes Of the grand pianoforte, the
yyaARaeAsik

into something sanity HOnce the rose
wood case was closed, st. Cecilia became
pretty, winsome Fanny Kimberly again.
& There were few influences that could
soften the upper crust of manner of
Rupert Smithson, but he could hide his
|ke9faces away when Fanny played, ashamed
Eof himself of tears that started or smiles
that hovered on his lips, as the music
pierced down into that warm loving
heart he had tried to conceal with Gym
real words and looks.
So, when the final chords of the
nocturne melted softly into silence, the
old. bachelor stole away and left the
house, bidding no one farewell. They
( were accustomed to his singular ways,
ard no one followed him, but
Mrs. Kimberly, sighed, as she said :
Rupert gets older and crustier every
year." -: "' '''s
"But is so good" Fannie said, leaving
the piano stool with a twirl that kept it
spinning around giddiy: =
why don't he get married ?" said Ru-
pert. cts downright shame to keep
that splendid house shut up year after
year, except just the few rooms Uncle
Rupert and Mrs. Jones occupy"
IT mean to ask him. Fannie said, inn
pulsively.
mo, no, said Mrs. Kimberly, hastily.
"Never speak Of that to Your uncle Fan
ny--znever." ,.T~s =. 60 n: .-~..s
"But why not?"' ="
never told you before, but your un-
Gle was engaged years ago, and there
was some trouble. I never understood
+ about it exactly, for I was married and
left Wilton the same year that Rupert
came to New York But this do know,
the lady, after waiting three or four
years, mawied,~ and Rupert has, never
| been the same man since. [ am quite
sure he was very much attached to her,
and that you would wound him, Fannie,
if you tested about marriage"
".ButI don't mean to jest at all.
think lie would be ever so much hap
pier with some one to love, and some
one to love him in return. It must be
dreadfully lonesome in that large house
with no companion but Mrs. Jones, who
is hundred years old, am certain. y
lie ought to marry her." said Ru-
pert, "she always calls him dearie.
Don't children, jest about it any
more," said the mother, "and be sure
you never mention the subject to your
uncle." ,., >: -. -: -, "a 49,. -: -, ~ -
r The first of April was "a clear, rather
|:cold day. the air bright and Swapping,
sand the sky all treacherous. smiles,- as
| became the coquettish month of sun
shine and showers.
Uncle Rupert, finishing his lonely
breakfast, thought to himself:
&4N"I must be on the lookout to-day for
Rupert's promised trick. He won't
! find it so easy as he imagines to fool his
old uncle. Who's there? The last in
answer to somewhat timid knock up
on the door.
r. It certainly was not easy to, astonish
Rupert .Smithson, but his eyes opened
with most unmistakable. expression of
amazement as the door opened to admit
tall slender figure in deep mourning,
and low very sweet voice asked:
"Is this the landlord?"
he-the-what? >'..s - :. =
II called about the house, sir"
"What .house?" :'Take seat" re-
calling his poGteness. ':~7
| "Is not this As W-place?" 50
"CertainlY it is :" =
II have been on the lookout for some
time for furnished house suitable for
boarders, sir, and if I find this one suits
me, and the rent is not too high"
"But-" interrupted the astonished
bachelor.
20; 4 hope it's not taken. The ad-
| vertisement said to call between eight
anG nine, and it struck eight as stood
upon the doorstep"
"You have the Herald in your hand,
sir" she said, timidly. II did not cut
it out"
ooh, you saw it in the Herald" and
he turned to the list of houses to let
Sure enough, there it was.
"To let, furnished, a three-story,
brown stone front, BASEMENT" and
rather a full description of the advan-
tages of the premises, with the en-
pathic addition, "Call only between 8
and 9 a. NJ"
$50 to be sure am at home, the ras-
call" said Rupert Smithson, laying
aside the paper. liam sorry, madam, u
he said, that you have had the trouble
of calling upon useless Grand"
"Then it is taken!" said a very disap-
pointed voice, and the heavy Grape veil
was lifted. to show sweet, matronly
Sface framed in that saddest of all bad
Eges, widows cap.
Z "Well, no." said the perplexed bach
elor, lit is not exactly taken"
"Perhaps you object to boarders?"
! "You want to take boarders?" he an
swered, thinking how lady like and
gentle she looked, and wondering .ifrshe
had long been a widow.
Eyes, sir; but would. be very care
full about the references"
for rH Ia you eyer kept 1parasr" be-
i "No, sir. Since my husband died
ssix years ago (he failed in business, and
drought on q severe illness by mental
sanxletyJ myssdaughker Yand mYseN have
been sewing ;Sbuts3we have both been In
i'll health salTwinteE, and I wish 10. try
some way of getting a living that sAlesu
combining. I have kept house several
years, but have not capital to furnish,
so we want to secure house furnished
like this one. if possible. $50:
| NEult0 UNCONSCIOUS 1OI Cllo reason, eu
pert Smithson was finding it very pleas
ant to talk to this gentle little widow
about her plans as she spoke, was won
dering if it would not make an agree
able variety in his, lonely life to let her
make her experiment of keeping board
ers upon the premises.
n think. you will be satisfied with
my references, sir, have lived in one
house and have had work from one firm
for six years, and gif<you require it !
can obtain letters from my husbands
friends in Cincinnati. =. r..
- "Cincinnati!" ''''' ,
! ''He was quite we'll known there.
Perhaps you know Of him, John Muir
ry,-street?
!; "John*Murryr' go ~ Y 4
Rupert. Smithsonk looked searching1y
F into the pale sad face that was so plead
"ingly raised to his gaze. Where were
the rosy cheeks, the dancing eyes, the
laughing lips that he had pictured as
belonging to John Murry's wife
knowing now the truth, he recognized
The face.beforelhim, the youth ali gone,
I and the expression sanctified by sorrow
and suffering.
You have children" be said, after 9
long silence: - - =: ~ 80 =,
"Only. one living, . daughter seven
teen years old. I have buried all the
| Others" r. 80, ~..~.,c>. -. se,,,s..s-.
/ IT will let you have the house on one