Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-08
THE MYSTERY
AT IHs
GrayHOuSo.
AT THE


do not however, feel sure that people
are any the less happy for being obliged to
cut and e0ntrive little. Ny sisters and
hand to turn our dresses instead OF having
new ones, but even in that there Was q
pleasure, for the family group would rs.
semble to admire and congratulate and
protest that the costumes looked as well,
II not better, than new ones, and the tender
eyed mother would whisper that We should
have the new ones IS soon rs she could
manage il. In such household there was
not much time for tsneies, IS may be sup
posed, Our lives were thoroughly
busy ones. Eaca member Of tbs
family, old and Young, had his or her daily
duties. Our parents wisely made US al
useful and 90 we we're all happy.
: Twas not the eldest, q brother and 3 sis
ter had been born before me; but il my dear,
Just parents had q fayorite child, | believe 1t
was myself
Perhaps it was that was totally unlike
all the rest. In q family OF brunettss was
the only blonde, and / was very fair indeed.
The fair MISS Raymond was my sobriquet
wherever We went
Doctors are obliged to entertain, even If
they are poor; their patients expect It, and
my father made point Of giving dance
every Christmay.
All these parties i had attended year
after year, but that which took place on my
eighteenth birthday proved the largest lSnd-
mark In my short cs-eer-the first mile
stone upon the new road was to travel 1t
al came about 50 strangely, too, Just as If It
was to be.
Our rooms we're looking very pretty; "
had twi ed the gssSlier with eyergreens, an
festooned the rather shabby walls with hol
and mistlssoe; and the great bay Windo
was turned into bower, With pillars an
trellis work Of greensry and flower
and was hung with tiny lamps Of yarie
hues while q few Turkish lantern
within aided the effect; and on this bow .s
Was hung q gift for every guest-nothiu
much worth having you may be sure, bat
Just little souvenirs made By our giris ,
hands; and the people OF Langtord, being
easily pleased, accepted our triHing Oder
ings and treasured them for our sskes.
J Perhaps am conceited, but think we are
fsyoEiies in LAngiord.
When the first peal was heard at the bell
little before the proper time, We ran down
heller skelter TO receive our guests but on.V
found young Robert Hilyer, the lawyer s
son, waning in the hall.
''Oh, Miss Lily" be said, as he sighted
me, "do you think Mrs. Raymond would
object TO our bringing triendT
Lady or gentlemsnP / replied eau
tiously. "A nice dancing man would be 3
Acquisition" then suddenly remembering
manners, ended politely, "but any friend
Of yours viii be welcome, and mamma will
not object one little BIZ"
THANK you-I think you will ike him, "
and our old playfsllow Bob turned to the
, door, then he stopped, and added sheePlshly,
'-but don't ike him too much, for my sake,
Lily"
] Poor Bobl be vas perpetually yexing me
} with foolish speeches, yet do not know why
, / should have heeH really vexed, for don
think they would have annoyed my sister
=. Mary at all.
j went in and told my mother that we
j were 10 have an AddiIion to our party, and
, the guests came dropping in one by one.
. The Hilyers were rather late, but We had not
begun 70 dance when they arrived.
I Miss Lily Raymond, Mr.. Fairfax" that
4 was al our introduction, and we knew each
other.
=. Perhaps Mr.. Fairfax was not handsome.
, People say that Bob g features are far better,
but / thought his was the Endest and best
1 face had ever seen in my life.
B Two honest gray eyes looked into my own,
/, and a welLshaped mouth smiled at me, dis
ulsy ing sound, powerful white teeth, wi b
no moustsche to hide the sweetness of tn
i expression, and as l met those eyes my hes Z
e Huttered, ike Gagged bird, as 1t had nsys
4 done before. =,
Yes, it was love at FIRST sight on both sides,
and before the evening was over We esc 4
knew that such was the case.
: The presents on the bower had been dis
Itributed and there was not one lett whe
, Mr. Fairfax stood before me there was a
one near enough to hear his words, aud
was lust then taking q pin from small
nheart-shaped pincushion to fasten a rent
which some one had torn in my gosssmer
2Whits dress. -,
"And where is my giA, Miss Raymond
he asked, stepping beside me beneath the
nbower.
! Il did not think you would care for such
tribes" / answered, my face sI aglO#i and
/ fear everything is gone.
mo, not everything; you have not gwen
:IaWay your heart, and he stretched out his
Nhand toward the little Pincushion which l
liheld. =,
FYou wouldn't care to have that, would
"yOaT' asked, my eyes falling beneath his
gaze.
TRY me-" he answered, and in another
pfmoment my fingers were imprisoned IN
"You viii never ask for it back darling"
''he pleaded, and having secured my scarlet
ubernouse which lay near at hand be led me
.lout by the open window into the moonlight
beyond.
Lilly. / love you" he whispered, and
wrapped an opera cloak around me with
tender hands.
y Then there was silence between us-the
silence of happiness too great for words.
The following autumn We were married.
II was somewhat trial to me that my
husbands mother was to share our home,
but 10 this arrangement i certainly could
make no objection, rs she had lived in that
house al the days Of her married life.
nv Walters father, ike mine, had been q
ldoctor, and he had first been his partner,
land At the old mans death had succeeded
TO his practice. Our home was in village,
the village OF Mears Norton, and yet it could
hardly be said TO be IN it it did not stand in
the main street as so many doctors houses
Sdo. but was the very last Of that struggling
aittlepla and virtually stood alone.
) Nv husbands practice did not depen
IupOn the inhabitants Of Mesrs Norton onl
for his father and be we're well known in ID
lcounty both as followers Of the hounds as
well IS Of Esculapius-
& Our pretty domain was called The Graz
gHOuse,n but who had 90 named it l eann)
)ssy. Mrs Fairfax told me il had been calls
)so before her time, and the Oldest inhabita1;
In the parish had never kroSn 1t By an
lcther name.
y @Ths Gray House must have been very
az -. -, k,,aur yvhan n had hean huilk /.