Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-15

"Welcome to Mount Graham, Elinor. my child, I"
ne SAID as he led me into the parisor: ~ was
lonely, and longed for the slght Of . fair young
lace. Ali the old man Is failing, my GEAR:
looked up, surprised at his tone: As the light
fell upon my lace Uncle Hugh started linen ne
glanced a. portrait which snf ss my S,ss ns1roT
.You have crown strangely like-"he said and
knew what be meant The portrait was that
OF my own grsat-auut Elinor, whose sudden death,
lus one year after her marriage 70 augn AM
often been told OF the likeness and IL was Win re-
| lief that now saw that It's recognition was
| pleasure rather than a grief 10 hiG.
The next day / renewed my acquaintance with
| the garden, and with Andrew, the old gardener
Apparently not plant had oeen ADDED ana not
ders were as trim and glossy as ever. LarkspurA
jasmine mangolds. all grew just where remem-
| bered them. There was the row OF hollyhocks
trim and straight against the garden wall, and
there was the summer-house. laughed out as
| saw IL.
f. sLord love you, yes miss ThatIl stand there
| IL was queer thing 70 put It there; but Master
Hugh wanted IT. and that's enough for l."
1T Is that This SPOT should never have
Andrew scratched his head taoughtfulIy. $50 it
do seem, miss, and so II was once" he said. 1.-THE
beautilulest bed OF lilies all white and gold That
war many long year ago, though, before ever you
was born; before Miss Eli0or, Master Hugh's wife,
died. Beg pardon miss! but knowed her first as
Miss Ennor, and Miss Elinor she always was to me-
bless her sweet heart. II was her lily bed Mornin
lilies a-blowin' and a-swingin' on their green
stalks. said 1t minded her OF Heaven, IL did, with
the white robes a-geamin', and the golden harps
a-ringin', and the praises yoin' up like fragrance
forever and forever. Oh, but she was lovely
young ladyl After she died Master Hugh seemed
TO go just wild like-clean distraught said he'd
wei crofr IN
mind the day we'll Then he came out Out here here.
the lilies she loved says he and TO make sure I'm
going 10 make my bed now so then he began
and In ne dug and he dug and he dus, right smack
beautiful liliSsi He dug and he dug, and at last
after while, he seemed to forget what he was
They do say miss some does, that the-the fire,
you know, Is down there, and was mortal afraid
ned come 10 1t. Day in and day out he dug and
he dug. So at last he made bold to send word to
his brother, Master Philip; young Master Philips
father he Was. so he came, ana brought friend
with him. never had no opinion or that young
fellow from the time saw him moonin' round the
edge OF the hole, a-pOk1n' and pryin'. And when
he goes down into IL, and comes up with a broad
grin on his lace, why, makes up my mind about
him then and there. SO then goes into the mouse
post haste, and presently out comes Master Hugh
In t9werin, rage, and Master Philip with hun.
be Quoted, not he. FIJI up that hole, Andrew,
says he. or here! I'll do it myself And with
at the sides TILL he buries himself nigh up TO tue
waist. SO then he hauls him out, ana ! nils up
the rest myself and glad enough 10 do II, so long
as he wasn't at the bottom or IL. Mind, An
drew, he says, when it's done, a spade Is never
10 be put into that place while I'm above ground
while Master Philip and his friend they drives
away. so that's ali know, miss; and II you can
make anything OF IT. why, I'm free to confess
can't. But, ah they Was beautiful lilies"
Andrews story. instead of clearing up, had only
deepened the mystery OF the spot, aud a weird and
uncanny feeling crept over me as turned away.
peculiarities which had given Uncle Hugh his
reputation OF being little cracked. Looking at
him now with eyes purged from their childish
so regarded. His horror OF anything like innova-
ton was certainly wonderful. All the water used
in the house was brought from a we'll an eighth OF
mile away, not even pump in the kitchen being
tolerated. The rooms were lighted solely by wax
candles In an od-fasnioned cdndelabra or heavy
silver candlestickS, IS was reckoned gentee In his
/ youth OF course IL was useless TO suggest such
horrors as gas or kerosene; but at one Time bold
effort was made TO effect a compromise. visitor
with some regard for his eyesght brought with him
as present 10 Uncle Hugh an old-fash1oned astral
lamp, in which sperm Oil burned with a villanou5
Hugh was made very uneasy about IL. Ponteness
caused him TO tolerate IL during his guess y stay,
riage borne him from the door than Uncle Hugh
turned with beam1ng face, crying: THANK the
Lord the villain has gone! Now Tor a return to
the good Odd ways!" Aud straightway the lamp
was oanished 10 the ,umber-room, the windows
flung wide TO purify the room, and the wax can
dies. with their glow-worm light, again reigned
supreme.
The winter came soon and cold that year. It Is
hardly necessary TO say that not a lump of coal
was ever burned in Uncle Hugh's domains. II was
sight 10 See the great kitchen with its huge open
nreplaceS where the monster logs were consumed,
the cranes, spits. and bake-pans, and The queer
oven on tue side OF the chimney place. All over
the house open wood fires cracked and snapped
and reared; out however agreeable as accessories
found tuem wretched substitutes for the furnace
modern ldprcy no
weather, and vainly StrOve to fancy myself thor
oughly warmed by the ruddy glare.
"Uncle Hugh" SAID at length, rendered deS-
perate by despair, "why do you not burn cOal?"
| knew that l ran the risk OF offeuding Uncle
Hugh, but was by no means prepared for the
scorn and indignation in his face as he dropped
the Rdnbter aud turned upon me.
And why should Uurn coal, young Lady," he
! asked In cool, inciSive tone which was
| worse than an outburst OF rage ais not the fuel
| that my fathers used good enough for me? II the
Lord had meant coal 70 be used by man. would
He have shut IL up in the bowels OF the earth? He
has put our enemy under our feet, and there let ft
| stay. There let II stay!" he cried again. stamp
ing MS loot as II ne were trampling upon the very
/ umph snoue In his eye.
stared at him mutey for moment, too much
astonished TO speak. Then the memory OF tine
sort encircling warmth Of the coal nres In INV
own home came over me once more, and urged
me on.
sisted: when the Lord was ready for men to use
coal He brought IL To light. II you would but TRY
IL once you would never go back to wood. 1t Is
cheaper, too"
'Ifit were cheap as dirt IL should never be
burned In my house!- cried Uncle Hugh, hotly,
Then, mastering his emotion with an evident
EFFORT, lie added with his old-time court sy: 81
crave your pardon, El1nOr. These subjects would
willingly avoid; but this / will say: Your last
argument Is false, for cheaper 1t Is not The wood
| fetched?"
had forgotten that point, and vexation at my
slip, Joined 10 the effects OF the miserable cold,
nearly got the better OF my temper / tried 10
turn II OF with joke. "You have only TO dig up
your buried treasures"-but / stopped short In
dlSmay. For Incle Hugh had started to his feet,
MS lace white, his eyes glaring, his hair fairly
bristllng In spite Of his tightly tied queue
| what! what!" he stammered, scarcely able to
speak. "Who has been telling you? Who has
| you mean, girl?"
Dear Uncle Hughv cried, terrified at his emo
lion. sit down! Do calm yourself. 1t was only
that captain Kidds treasure was buried here, you
Know, ana IL Just happened TO come into my mind.
( give me"
Uncle Hugh sat down, weak, unnerved, tremb-
ing In every limb. Gradually the color returned
10 ms lace and he regained the SELF control which
ne had SO strangely lost That lost myself In
wondering conJectures need hardly be said. In
vain strove 10 pierce the mystery, to piece to-
setner ny childish recollectlOns and old Andrews
story Iney were like Two halves OF different puz-
Zies- DO what would could not Mt them to each
o.heI. II one AIDED me 10 plausible solution, the
otner came up and undid all my work. until at last
did what II would have been wiser to do at nrst,
| simply gave the whole thing up and tried 10 turn
my attention 10 other matters.
| nad enough 10 think Of Just at this time II
nave not spoken before OF the part which Philip
Il IA q