The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-24
..s...s
MRS. HARGRAVE,
DRESSMAKER AND MILIINFR.


This lady and Miss Peeriam. housekeeper
at the Farm, were cronies of many years
standing. Thus it happened that not long
after Edith's arrival she met young Rod
brook, not at n church sociable or other
gathering, where his timidity would proba-
bly, have prevented him from addressing
her, but in this identical grove of oak
trees, through which she was passing to de-
liver some message from her aunt.
A huge mastitf, usually chained in his
kennel near the stable. had broken loose
and sprang upon her as she neared the
house Her cries attracted the attention of
Albert, ut that moment coming from rear
door. Advancing to the rescue, like some
knight of old, he silenced the animal,
thereby earning look of gratitude that set
his heart TO beating far more rapidly than
was its wont.
He was dazzled from the first, and Edith,
with her natural graces and superior
knowledge of the world, took care that the
spell should not be broken.
She had resumed her walk, and pres
emily the old house came in sight.
careless observer could hardly have failed
to be impressed with the charming sur
roundings and attractive appearance of the
place, despite its evident age and old
fashioned adornments. True, the bricks
had crumbled in some of the more ex-
posed portions, and the roof of one of the
wings was in evident need of repair, but
most of the ravages of time were hidden
by masses of ivy and Virginia creeper.
The porch ut the side of the house was
fairly covered with the latter, while i'm
mense bushes of lilacs and snow balls
grew in close proximity to the front win
dows. The flower garden bore marks of
having at some time received careful at
tention. Beds were artistically arranged,
walks laid out, and numerous supports
erected for the vines and larger plants
But it was further evident that for the
past year at least, the vegetation had been
allowed to grow without human aid or
interference.
Some of those flowers, self-sown in a
previous season, which had the hardihood
to confront mass of weeds, showed
glimpses of bright color here and there,
but many of their associates, whose duty
it was to bloom at this time of the year,
were slckly, spindling stalks, bearing few
leaves and no blossoms whatever. The
shrubbery needed trimming; the ornament
al railing was broken down, and the whole
was characterized by that air of neglect
Which frequently visits a garden when the
owner dies or removes to foreign parts.
Jacob Rodbrook, grandfather of Albert
had been famous horticulturist, and had
taken an immense amount of pride and
pleasure in the cultivation of these plots.
Since his death the entire place had been
left chiefly To the care of servants.
OF his two sons, the elder had married
early, and died few years afterward leav-
ing widow and one child. the hero of our
story. The other was n wandcrer in strange
lands. His love of adventure had led him
from country to country, from one CONT
nent to another, until he was now believed
TO have visited nearly every part of the
globe. Nor had his father disapproved of
this mode of life. After spending few
hundreds III the purchase of n suitable out
dit for his son, no further outlay on the old
gentleman's part was required, James being
able to maintain his independence in what
ever part of the world he found himself
Upon receiving the intelligence of his
fathers demise, he had written to inform
his nephew that his return might be ex-
pected during the following winter.
Albert's mother had soon followed her
husband to the grave. leaving their little
boy to the care of iiis grandparent and Miss
Poeriain.
As Edith gazed upon the varied beauties
of the homestead. bathed in n flood of
morning sunshine. TO her ambitious mind
several Improvements had already suggest
ed themselves.
81 should have that wing torn down and
a new porch built, running the whole
length of the house," she was thinking,
when Albert Rodbrook emerged from a
side-path and stood before her.
His beaming face showed sufficiently the
pleasure that the meeting afforded him,
and her greeting was as affectionate as his
own.
81 have some news to tell you" he said,
as they stood for few moments in the
shade Of gigantic oak. "My Uncle James
is coming home, and may be here this
week"
"Your Uncle James," she said, in some
surprise.
Until this moment she had never ever
heard of the existence of this member OF
the Rodbrook family. His long absence
had done much toward effacing his memory
from the minds of Elmdale's residents, and