River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-06-25
IN A PICTURE.


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 humorcd her masters
whims to the day of his death .'What
viii they do without Peggy? If it
were Somc Peep 1t would not make
- much Il ference, but the Vaues-''
and the ncighbors left the sentence ex-
pressyely unfinished.
And how was that? Well, the
Nanes tccy. little singular. Roscoe
Vane. tue second did nothing but
study arr and paint pictures or rather
a picture. He had had the same one
ON his easel for five years Once in
while he wnud TetOuch 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 a great picture,
but Ray SAID she wasn't sure Ray
was a 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 soilcd their dainty
hands. Their Uncle Roscoe forbid it.
He was reserved, refined to fragilty,
like his father before him. At fifty his
hair wa already white. When Peggy
died She mad, apparently, many last
things to tell hun, for he was alone
with her more than three hours. At
ter that he shut himself up with his
picture more than ever.
Il don't know, said Ray, pouting
her red lips, what Uncle Roe expected
to become OF you and me. Ruthie!"
why Ray 2"
..Wcll, | am eighteen tomorrow,
and YOU have been twenty this long
time
yes, smiled Rulhie, stitching away
on Ray ruillcs.
''Grandpa intended us to 20 into
society; but Uncle Roc"
Has no intentions regarding any
thing. | know it, RAY. But IL am
quite contrnted with my lot 7
THAT is because Isle Stanieis comes
to walk with YOU in the garden, or lay
over the piano while YOU play"
Well, You have Lord Layton for a
lover"
Yes, "a ycritable lord visited at the
old mans on; poor, but not threadhare:
no longer young, but courtIy and
agreeable. lie had invested his small
income in America, and he liked RoS-
coe Eanc
Hes fifty if he's day. But he
has his title, and he's not bit disa-
greeablc | might do worse, and
Ray tapped her little foot thoughtfuly.
There 5 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 anywhere2"
There mUst be a ljttle-for our
bread and butter Ray, said Ruthie,
thoughtfuIly. But | think some
times, Ray. that we are very poor
When they called this place the Or
chard, --
so ridiculousr interrupted Ray,
with il, ten-foot garden =
But when grandpa was Young it
was surrounded by apple orchards
and pear orchards. and peach or
chards. II WAS part OF a great estate.
There WIS a summer mansion down
. by the river, and cottages for the
WI AihtHs Out anu pa w us Hpb 0OOu
AT taking care of property, and little
by little it went. Land and houses
were sold, road was cut through
and house lots sold and built upon.
All is changed We might have been
great hclresscs, Ray concluded
Ruthic. sadly, ''but, as said before,
think we are very poor.
Ray silently reviewed the situation.
~ L.. , !. .
said, az last rising and speaking to
her reflection in the mirror "Ruthie,
who told Won All this?'
''Ljsle Staniels
In faithful. wise, untiTing old Peg
" place came an inefficient mulatto
girl. who went to sleep over the fire,
and let the mullins burt. Uncle Roe
was surprised that his mutton was
underdoue and his coffee muddy 1t
never never occurred To Ray that she
could hcipIt if they starved to death
but when Lord Layton was coming
to dine, Ruthie, in very slave. in de-
fiance of her uncle's well-kuown com
mands, went into the kitchen with a
cook book and prepared q decent din
ner.
But dav by day the old house seemed
togrow forlorn and shabby. There
was no one now To fight dust and de-
cay The small paned windows were
3hscurrd bv dust, the brasses tarnish-
ed, mold crept into the presses. and
the mice iuto the larder. Uncle Roc
came out of his study only to look de
Jeclcdlv around, shake his head, and
retreat again lu his den RAY made
the ~lmc pretty toilet. and sung rs
gaIy us ever for Lord Layton, but had
spells of meditating 1t was a duh
and lonely summer.
Li,le Staniel, with his blue ewes,
golden hair and debonair grace, came
sometimes and chatted with Ruthje
-trolling IN the little garden with its
sweet williams and princes feathers,
or prrctieur "a song with her. Surely
he liked title Ruthic, hut was that all?
lie Wa poor, he could hardly think of
marryj.-; certainly he had never said
one word Go hrr OF il. Though it was
Ruth c's nature 10 be serene, some
times her ewes were red with crying.
And now Uncle Roc stayed in the
bedroom that led from his studio. He
had eaten little tor a week, and, when
Ruth5e. who had learned after many
times burning the bread AMI h-r face
together 10 make toast, carried him
~ rcrast, which, though scaut was
delicate. he moved the tray aslt.3 and
pointed Ia the open door.
II ook 1T the easel. Ruth DO you
see that have had my picture framed?
Is III not heautiful?'
And when Ruthie acquicsccd, he
took her hands
Dear child. we have fallen upon evil
TUNES, Not that it matters much for
M. bun for Won well, YOU VIII not be
lett peuuless There is a fortune for
You in my picture 1872
4 stream of bright arterial blood
flowed suddenly from his mouth.
Buthic's screams brought Ray and
Chloe as he sunk back among the pill
lows. They summoned the doctor.
sent for Lord Lay ton; but Rosco Vane
only lived an hour.
At suitable time there was a search
among his papers for his will. but
none was to be found, and no one
knew Of any property save the old
mansion Of the Orchards.
There is the picture" Ruthie said,
tiadl,. to Lord Layton. 1T is worth
great deal of money. is it not2 I'm
Gle said -" and she repeated Roscoe
Eane'S last words.