Weekly Chillicothe crisis., 1885-06-18
IN A PICTURE.

was only n servant, but such AZ honest,
faithful, lOng-tried old creature could
not slip out of her place without being
missed and mOurned for. She had
waited on Roscoe Vane's beautiful
granddauGhters since they were
babies, and humored her masters $
whims to the day of his death. "What
will they do without Peggy? If it
were some peopc 1t would not make
so much difference, but the Vancs-"
and the nCighbors left the sentence cx-
prcssvely unfinished.
And how was that? Well, the
Vanes wcre little singular. Roscoe
Nane, the second, did nothing but
study art and paint pictures, or rather
a picture. He had had the same one
on his easel for five years. Once in n
while he would rctouch it and alter it;
the rest of the time he admired it.
The girls were fond of music, but they
knew nothing of art. They had been
taught that this was great picture,
but Ray SAID she wasn't sure. Ray
was beauty; Ruth was simply pretty.
Ray would do nothing but sing and
dress and dance about the garden.
Ruth practiced music diligently, but
stitched at her sisters pretty costumes
and visited the poor. Yet neither of
the pretty girls ever soiled their dainty
hands. Their Uncle Roscoe forbid it.
lie was reserved, refined to fraglity,
like his father before him. At fifty his
hair was already white. When Peggy
died she had, apparently, many last
things. to tell him, for hc was alone
with her more than three hours. Az
ter that he shut himself up with his
picture more than ever.
al don't know" said Ray, pouting
her red lips, "what Uncle Roc expected
to become of you and me, Ruthiem
"Why, Ray?"
"Wcll, | am eighteen tomorrow,
and you have been twenty this long
time
"Yes, smiled Ruthie, stitching away
on Rays ruflles.
"Grandpa intended us to 60 into
society; but Uncle Roc,
Has no intentions regarding any
thing. know it, Ray. But IL am
quite contented with my lot"
"That is because Lislo Stanicls comes
to walk with you in the garden, or lay
over the piano while you play"
"Wcll, you have Lord Layton for a
lover
Yes, veritablc lord visited at the
old mansion; poor, but not threadbarc;
no longer young, but courtly and
agreeable. He had invested his small
income in America, and he liked Ros.
cOc Nane.
"He's fifty, if he's a day. But he
has his title, and he's not n bit disa-
grecablc. | might do worse" and
Ray tapped her little foot thoughtfully.
There's no danger of any one marry.
ing us for our money, Ruthic," she
continued, after awhile. "You know
papa lett us nothing, Do you suppose
there's any money-anywhcre?"
There must be n little-for oul
bread and butter, Ray" said Ruthie
thoughtfully. "But | think some
times, Ray, that we are very poor
When they called this place the Or
chards-"
80 ridiculous" interrupted Ray
"with its tcn-foot garden
"But when grandpa was young il
was surrounded by apple orchards
and pear orchards, and peach or
chards. 1t was part of a great estate
There was n summer mansion dOwr
by the river, and cottages for tn,
workmcn; but grandpa was not good
at taking care of property, and littl,
by little it went. Land and houses
were sold, n road was cut through
and house lots sold and built upon
All is changed. We might have beer
great helresses, Ray" conclude,
Ruthie, sadly, "but, as | said before
think we are very poor
Ray silently reviewed tho situation
II shall make the best of it, sh,
said, at last, rising and speaking t,
her reflection in the mirror "Ruthic
who told you all this?"
elsie Stanicls."
In faithful, wise, untiring old Peg
gy's place came an inefficient mulatt,
girl, who went to sleep over the fire
and let the mullins burr. Uncle RO
was surprised that his mutton wa
underdonc and his coffee muddy. |
never never occurred to Ray that sb
could help it if they starved to dealt
but when Lord Layton was comin
to dine, Ruthie, in very slave, in dc
iiance of her uncle's well-known com
mands, went into the kitchen with
cook book and prepared a decent din
ner.
But day by day the old house seemc
to grow forlorn and shabby. Their
was no one now to fight dust and dc
cay. The small paned windows wer
obscured by dust, the brasses tarnisl
ed, mold crept into the presses, an
the mice into the larder. Uncle Ro
came out of his study only 10 look de
jectedly around, shake his head, an
retreat again to his den. Ray mad
the same pretty toilet, and sung a
gaily as ever for Lord Layton, but ha
spells of meditating. 1t was du
and lonely summer.
Lisle Staniel, with his blue eye'
golden hair, and debonair grace, cam
sometimes and chatted with Ruthie
strolling IN the little garden with il
sweet williams and princes feather!
or practicing a song with her. Surel
he liked little Ruthie, hut was that all
He was poor; he could hardly think {
marrying; certainly he had never sal
one word to her of it. Though it WI
Ruthie's nature 10 ba serene, som'
times her eyes were rcd with crying
And now Uncle Roc stayed in I'll
bedroom that led from his Studio. Il
had eaten little for week, and, whe
Ruthie, who had learned-after man
times burning tho bread and her fac
together-to make toast, carried hi
up repast, which, though scant WI
delicate, he moved the tray aside an
pointed to the open door.
I.ook at the easel, Ruth. Do yc
see that have had my picture franco
Is it not beautiful"
And when Ruthie acquiesced,
took her hands.
Dear child, we have fallen upon ey
times. Not that It matters much I,
me; but for you-well, you will not
! left penniless, There is fortune fS
you in my picture"