Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-12-24
: MRS. HARGRAVE,
DREssMARER AND MILLINER.

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 q 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.
huge mastiff, usually chained in his
kennel near the stable, had broken loose
and sprang upon her as she heared the
house. Her cries attracted the attention of
Albert, at 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 haari To hAatinn fer moro -o.i5l,r 49,,
was its wont.
He was dazzled from the first, and Edith,
with her natural graoes 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. A
careless observer could hardly have failed
to be impressed with the charming sur
roundings and attractive appearance of the
place, despite its evident ago 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 hidde n
by masses of ivy and Virginia creeper.
The porch at the side of the house was
fairly covered with the latter, while inn
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 beer
| allowed to grow without human aid ol
interference.
| Some of those flowers, self-sown in {
previous season, which had the hardihoot
to confront a mass of weeds, showed
glimpses of bright color here and there
| but many of their associates, whose dut'
it was to bloom at this time of the year
were sickly, spindling stalks, bearing few
leaves and no blossoms whatever. Th
shrubbery needed trimming; the ornament
al railing was broken down, and the who'll
was characterized by that air of neglec
which frequently visits garden when tn
owner dies or removes to foreign parts.
Jacob Rodbrook, grandfather of Albert
had been q famous horticulturist, and hat
taken an immense amount of pride an
pleasure in the cultivation of these plots
Since his death the entire place had bee
left chiefly to the care of servants.
OF his two sons, the elder had mar11e
early, and died few years afterward, leav
ing a widow and one child, the hero of on
story. The other was wanderer in strang
lands. His love of adventure had led hir
from country to country, from one cont
| nent to another, until he was now believe
TO have visited nearly every part of th
globe. Nor had his father disapproved c
this mode of life. After spending fe'
hundreds in the purchase of a suitable out
fit for his son, no further outlay on the oil
oentlemans part was required, James bein
able to maintain his independence in what
ever part of the world he found himself.
Upon receiving the intelligence of h
fathers demise, he had written to inforl
his nephew that his return might be e'
pected during the following winter.
Albert's mother had soon followed h
husband to the grave, leaving their lit
boy TO the care of his grandparent and Mi
Peeriam.
As Edith gazed upon the varied beauti'
of the homestead, bathed in a flood
morning sunshine, to her ambitious mir
several improvements had already sugges
ed themselves.
II should have that wing torn down nj
a new porch built, running the who
length of the house," she was thinkin
when Albert Rodbrook emerged from
side path and stood before her.
His beaming face showed sufficiently q
pleasure that the meeting afforded hiI
and her greeting was as affectionate as b
own.
"I have some news to tell you," he sal
as they stood for. few moments in {
shade of gigantic oak. my Uncle Jam
is coming home, and may be here Il
week"
"Your Uncle James2" she said, in sol
surprise.
Until this moment she had never ev
heard of the existence Of this member
: the Rodbrook family. His long abser
: had done much toward effacing hisenemC
b fsom the minds Of Elmdale's residents, a