The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-02-18
HER HOME ONCE MORE.

- sWanted-A @nyernpsS at BraytOh Lodge
One capable OF aching music and ldnglta-
geS, and bringing uneNceptlonahie referen-
ctS.
AT Bravton Lodge, Dear old Bray
ton, nv own home" cried Lucille Bray
ton. throwing down the paper. and
bnrsting into tears. ''dow can l ever
90 back there rs goyernesS, and see it
owned by strangers: and vet. what else
offers itaeif9 ! cannot starye.
Almost desperately she sprang up.
and walked about the little room for n
moment, and then picked up the paper
and re-read the advertisement.
How | wonder who owns the dear
old place now she mused. ''Is there
any girl now who is as happy as | was
who, perhaps, has my room, loves the
flowers and walks as did. Has Il lover,
perhaps. and rows with him on the lake
in the moonlight evenings. Oh, Lloyd,
Lloyd! Why do / torture myself in this
way?" she broke off suddenly throwing
herself on the little old lounge, in a pas
sion of tears and grief.
Hers was truly sad story.
Ten years before. petted only daugh-
ter, surrounded with every luxury and
aflianced TO one whose devoted love she
fully returned. sorrow had singled her
uut..as Il target for its arrows.
First. her lover was called abroad.
and III mid-ocean went down with the
fatcd ship on which he had taken pas
sage. Then, Just as her heart seemed
breaking with its weight of grief, ter
rible blow fell over her hOme-none
other than the death of her father by
his own hand. and the sudden terrible
knowledge that he had Succumbed, first
to one temptation and then another, in
tending in time Ia replace all, but driv-
en- TO desperation at last by the accumu-
lation Of bad luck and wrongdoing.
To make what reparation they could,
the heartbroken widow and daughter
gave up their home and everything they
possessed, and then went away to cover
up their shame and grief in part of
the world where they would be strang-
ers to all.
The year that followed had been one
continuous struggle with sickness and
poverty, in the midst of which Mrs.
Brayton quietly folded her tired hands
over her broken heart and died, leaving
Lucille alone in the world.
After that, overcome with loneliness
and longing to see her old home, l.u-
cille slowly driffed back to the place OF
her happy girlhood; had just tonight
arrived in the little village, taken a
room in the hotel, asked for the paper
and read of the governess wanted in her
old home.
Il can at least go and see the dean
old place. she said to herself the next
| morning, when, after night spent in
sleepiess sad memories, she ate her
breakfast without seeing one familiar
| face. and started off.
! Il don't suppose | will do, because
| nv references are too far away, and
| viii not let them know who | really
| am"
| How familiar was every Turn and by
way of the little village and the road
| leading off to the Lodge. Lucille'S eyes
were so continually blinded with tears,
| that she hardly noted the faces of the
| few paSsers-by. and no one noticed her.
! Yelled. and in her plain black gown,
she bore little resemblance 10 the beau
| tiful Lucille Brayton. who, in other
years. had dashed gaily over these roads
! on her pony or in her pheton, the adj
mired of all observers.
! Al last the dear familiar tower, peep
|
| then. only few steps. and she was al
the gates. stretching Hospitality open, as
in olden times, with the smooth white
drive rolling away beyond under the
shady beecheS.
| Il must-I must control myself" she
murmured. leaning for moment
| against the lichen-covered stone gate,
pillar But, oh, how hard it is! And
how little everything is changed! l had
hoped TO find it so, and yet how doubly
hard il makes it TO bearr'
Slowly she went on, winding in and
out the wide shady drive until the house
was reached and every step revealed
how lightly time had touched the
place.
The new owners had made no chan
ges. Every seat. arbor, and statue wa:
the same, and unchanged as TO posi-
ton.
Two children on the shady stone
porch sat on the same ornamental set
tee she had always used, and at tht
sight of her one OF them jumped up.
Il s'pect you're our new goyerness
Do you want to see mamma?"
Yes" answered Lucille, with grea
exertion at steadying her voice.
And the child at once disappeared in
!. to the house, leaving his sister staring
shyly at the stranger.
A pleasant-faced lady soon appeared
in the doorway.
''Will you walk in, pleasea 1t is yer!
warm without -
Lucille did So, more by sense or fssl