The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-10-28

and hev,nd the smothered murmur OF
voices or an occasional Whit Of camphor
we had no hint oil existence behind them. I
saw neyer-never until this very day. Pass
ing through the hall / saw a door open: 1t
was the door through which Miss sally
used to enter. I had what the photograph
ers call a th~ree-quarters view OF an old
Southern bedroom. An involuntary jour-
new of the eye brought me back the limp
sweep oil worn lace curtains, the dull g!eam
OF the mahogany bed-posts and the twisted
legs of a w~riting-desk, thefaded roses on the
chi~ntz-covered chairs, the dimmed richness
OF the velvet carpet. -,
at must have been my lady's chamber"
said | to Grace, "but where was she?"
In point of fact she was then on the way
to the cemetery, which we, being 1aster
walkers reached first. l have related how
we saw her.
We took a long walk before we returned:
When we entered the garden Dr.. Rayenel
and his wife were standing with Mrs. Sally
before the azalena bushes.
Miss sally introduced Miss Ravenel to us,
saving, 'Couisin Ro is so much better; she's
been taking a walk. l expect now we've got
her back wen keep her with u.s."
Mrs. Ravenel CAV me a quick look, wnlcn
I fancied held something like an aPpeai IN
it's recognition. 81 saw you in the ceme-
terry, Miss Lawrence" said she, "and your
friend. l went there. Doctor was scared:
haven't been able to leave my room till
to-day, and he was afraid I'd overdo, but
but I couldn't stay away any longer:
| It's my little boys grave, you understand.
| The eyes which she lifted to mine were
| swimming in tears.
| felt very sorry for her, but it was decld-
| edly awkward. 1t was a relief to perceive
the Doctor limping over to US.
tt1F. 1aa~ ba said tSd.,n'f Won think
| YOU had better retire? You look f~atigued.
You see, Miss Fredrica, l keep watch on
| Mistress Ravenelin a double capacity, both
as husband and physician"
Every well, Doctor" said Mrs. kavenei,
meekly. You know best"
She made me a little old-fashioned salute
! before she walked away on her husband 9
| arm. r
'How pretty she isl" l said to Miss
on her cheerful face. >,
..Well, yes, ma'am, l think 80, OF course"
she answered, with a pleased smile, but we
are just like sisters, you understand, linen
she added: ''Cousin Ro is very delicate
we have to be careful Of her."
Safe in our own room, Miss Sally gone
we discussed the Ravenels. I quite frankly
said that l thought them a queer couple
"What is the matter with herr. SAID l,
"Why do they make such a row o mel
leaving her room? Why is she so AFRAID OF
her husband? 1t is my opinion that our
| "fne-mauuered doctor is a tyrant.'
.'Wait a while,'' said Grace. She prldes
herself upon her judicial way OF levin
things. She inherits it, just as she lnherlts
her tall figure and straight nose and beautl'
full brown eyebrows. But you nave al
opinion?" said l.
mot yet" said she.
After this we saw a good deal Of Miss Raw
enel. She appeared at dinner and at tea
which was a sort of supper, with all manner
OF hot dishes. The Doctor was very cour
teous to her. Grace, who would not heal
a word against him, maintained thai hi
manner to her was perfect; but I perceived
one thing directly-he was watching MI
wife. Scores of times l caught him stealing
chances at her; Grace might call h
Chances of affection. They were nothing o
the kind: he was watching her. Poor wo
man, she was never alone. Miss Sally o.
Madame Ashbury Or Tempe were alwaysa
her elbow. "Ro's such an invalid she need
some one alw US with her." Mrs. Asbur.
would say with a sigh. 49,,
"She seems such q sweet woman, l ven
tured to remark once, "but so sad"
1eS. IDd dill, Sllu / ASo~AJ
sad. And no wonder poor Ro's had heap
and heaps OF TROUBLED"
Her little boys death was a great sol
row, | suppose
1.-THE worst of all. Yes, ma'am. 70
know he was drowned. 1t happened durln
the war. Doctor was at the front and ha
been wounded. Sally and l went to nurs
him and we had got him well enough t
move and were bringing him home. Of
> ocI as we drove through dh7t t. sight his eyes Re
njantation a the men bringing tue ilts
dripping body to the house. =,
"The poor child had been out with o.
well. Such an awful scene! Ro look o
awfully, screaming SO you could hear hi
> ont doors, but Doctor he hardly spok
But it broke his heart all the same, al
7 when the other troubles came and they lot
. everything he hardly seemed to notic'
\. property went (he's from South Carolin,
y you know, and then Ro's property, tot
. She was a great heiress, but they had t
sell everything to pay the mortgages whe
!. the wal was over. They chung to the oil
! mansion for a Long while, but at last tina
= had to 60 too. The few thousands they &C
I over the mortgage is all they have. Doctc
i gave up his profession after mis- marriai
: because it took him away from home to
1 much. Now he has taken it up again, BIT
he has only been in town a little while, ar
= people don't want a doctor out OF tow
= We begged him to come here. where "
could look after him, see he had good, he
meals and keep his clothes in order, fo
: poor Ro's such an invalid she can't see t
anything. [ assure you, ladies, she need
e somebody to look after her the whole Ell
: during time-she does SO, DOR child. Sk
4 was raised that way, not to know how t
pick up her own handkerchief. Such lu,
: ury and such reverses! 1t Is hard for 4
poor mortals to understand; but, n
!; doubt, it is all ordered for good"
II believe" l said to Grace aiterwart
"that DR.. Ravenel blames his wife for tina
: boys death and has never forgiven her."
, II think he is very fond Of her," answere
+ Grace, quietly. l myself was OF quite 81
, other opinion. By this time l had grow
very mich interested in Mrs. Ravenel. Sh
was the ~gentlest creature, and there wa
about her a pathetic eagerness to Civ
pleasure to others. She seemed to find GU
by instinct the small fancies or tastes {
those about her. l happened to mentio
before her that l liked to see pine cone
blazing in our fireplace. That afternoo
Tempe appeared with a great basket {
cones. Miss Ro done sem 'em ter Mis-
Lawrence" She discovered all our pc
Southern dishes, which Immediately ar
peared at the table. And the very flower
which | liked used to be presented to me b.
the Doctor with the remark: "Mistres
Rayenel tells me that you are fond of these
Miss Fredrica." She was the most genel
Gus creature in the world; one had SON
ado to prevent her stripping herself OF a
her mali relics OF prosperous days. "Give?
said Miss Sally; cousin Rod give her hea,
away if she could get it of her shoulders.
Miss Sally was devoted to the poor lady
walking with her, reading to her, caring 10
her in a score OF ways. Once ! caught he
darning Mrs. Ravenel's stocking. II Away
look over Ro's clothes" said she; "Temp
takes the whole enduring day over on
stocking"
st doesn't seem to occur to n one,
was Grace's private comment, that Mrs
Rayenel might look over her own stock
ings."
"Oh, Grace" said I, when IL 50 kind *
us-when this very day she is going to le
/ Tempe shampoo our hair"
Indeed, at that moment it was hangin,
about our shoulders.
"You mean she has other people to b.
kind to us" answered Grace, dryly. "Misl
Sally cooks things for us, and the Doctor
goes to the woods after yellow jasmine, and
! femme ia going to nv hair. fol