Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-08-10
Cara's Bravery.
BY ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.


"For whom did you want the house,
young LADY,"
For myself. sir"
DIR. Lee Leighton stood amazed The
girl before II m was so roung-not
more than eighteen. and so pretty
golden-hared and blue-eyed as an an
gel. He had never dreamed that she
was making the application 10 rent
Thistle Cottage herself. But Miss
Caroline Clarke took no notice of his
surprise.
The house is in good order, sir"
1T requires few repairs only"
said the young physician, rather stiff
ly.
He had began to think he was throw
ing his time away.
''And those you will make?'
IF let the cottage-yes.
The young lady unused moment
Il think l will Ike it," she said
then.
Il beg your pardon, Mss Clarke"
Yes
''Do you quite understand the stua-
tom
Il think do. The house is thought
TO be haunted, and the rent is merely
nominal TO anyone who will live
there"
Yes But How are you situated
in regard to family my dear young
LADY ?"
Il have the care Of two younger
brOthers-twelve and fourteen years
old. | have only limited income.
(which | exc out by embroidery. am
anxious TO get my brothers out of the
city and there is a good academy here.
l am not afraid OF ghosts with faint
smile. 1--WE shall come"
Her words and manner were so at
variance with her delicate beauty all
was so petite and yet SO self possessed
and digniiied. DR.. Leighton's exper-
fence in girls did not see m to serve him
at all in this emergency. lie recollect
ed that his sisters MauG aud BesS al
ways regarded the outer walls of This
tie Cottage with an apprehensive gaze,
and could not be persuaded to pass it
alone after dark. and here was this
girl. no older than they. proposing TO
live there, with two children!
You have no parentsF'
mo"
"Relatives?'
None to rely upon. I depend on
myself entirely. DR.. Leighton; | am
used to it. Would you like to let me
have Thistle Cottage?" with a steady
glance into the young maG's counte-
nance.
81 hesitate only on your account"
he FASTENED to say. at is no fable
that man was killed there. He was
murdered by son of unsound mind.
after quarrel about money The
estate was owned By my father. IL is
now mine. 1t long ago fell Into i'll
repute on account OF the murder. but it
is very pretty place and has been
kept in repair. l will walk over it
with you again and make any changes
you may find desirable" thus tacitly
consenting to the young lady prop0s-
al.
What her words had failed 10 do.
her clear blue eyes had succeeded in
accomplishing. They had won the
confidence OF the owner of the cottage.
"She can but try since she wishes"
he said to himself Il am close by at
our house. liz sire gets frightened out
she can come to us
When they had gone over the house
again. the girl asked quite coolly:
What became Of the murdererY'
He fled from justice-is probably
dead. He has never been heard from,
and his ghost Is said TO haunt this spot
II you can prove that i; does not I
will give you five years rent here
free"
The young girl made no reply. only
smiled brightly.
what brave little creaturer'
thought DR.. Leighton.
A week later Caroline Clarke and
her brothers were settled at the
Thistle Cottage
DIR. Leighton did not fancy the boys
He told his mother that they were
'.whelps that wanted licking into
shape" Bot when he raw the gentle
ness and tact used by their sister in
managing them. when he saw her
patience. her charming smile in en-
enlargement OF their simplest we'll
doing. he was ashamed Of his intoler-
ance-
NY father" she hestatcd, did not
set his boys a very good example.
They we're much away from home be-
fore he died They will do much
better here away from harmful
associations" she said.
That's good grl-a rare good
girl, Lee" said old Mrs. Leighton. Il
only wish Maud and Bess had half a.
much character"
But Cara, as the boys called her, did
not trouble her neigh bors She VA