Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-07-26
Cara's Bravery.
ny ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.

'For whom did you want the house,
Young lad, P'
For myself. SIR" -..
Dr. Lee leighton stood amazed. The
girl before h IN was go young-not
more than eighteen. and so pretty
golden haired and blue-eyod as an an
gel. He had never dreamed that she
was making tho 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 makeP'
IF let the cottage-yes."
The young lady mused a momem,.
Il think l will Ike it." she said
then.
Il beg your pardon, Mss Clarke-P'
Yes"
DO you quite understand the situa-
don?'
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
lad, ?"
Il have tho care of two younger
Lrolhers-twelve and fourteen years
old. | have only limited income.
which exc out by embroidery. | am
anxious to get my brothers out of tho
city and there is n good academy here.
am not afraid of ghosts. with a faint
SIN lie, 1--WE shall come"
Her words and manner were so at
variance with her delicate beauty
was so petite and yet so sclf-possessed
and dignilied. DR.. LoightOn's exper-
icnCe in girls did not seem to serve him
at all in this emergency. He rccollect.
eel that his sisters. Maud and Bess. al.
ways regarded the outer walls of This
tie Cottage with an apprehcnsive gaze.
nnI could not be persuaded to pass it
alono after dark and here was this
z RI. no older than they, proposing to
live there, with two children!
You have no parentS?'
"No."
"Rclatives?'
"Nono 10 rely upon. depend on
myself entirely, DIR. Leighton; am
used TO it, Would YOU like to let me
have Thistle Cottage" with a steady
glance into the young mans counte-
nance.
u hesitate only on your account"
nc FASTENED to say. at is no fable
that a man was killed there. He was
murdered by son of unsOund mind.
after quarrel about money. The
estate was owned b. my father. II is
now mine. 1t long ago fell into ILL
reputo on account OF the murder. but it
is II very pretty place and has been
kept in repair | will walk over it
with YOU again and make any changes
Nou may find desirable" thus tacilly
consuming to the young lady $ propos-
al.
What her words had failed TO do,
her clear blue eyes had succeeded in
accomplishing. They had won the
confidence of the owner Of the cottage.
"Shc can but try since sho wishes. "
he SAID 10 himself. Il am close by at
our house. If she. gets frightened out
she can come to us"
When they had gone over the house
again. the girl asked quito cooIly:
what became of the murdererp'
He fled from justice-is probably
dead. He has never been heard from,
and his ghost is said to haunt this spot
If YOU can prove that il does not,
will gve you five years rent here
free"
The young girl made no reply. only
smiled brightly.
What bravo little creature!'
thought DIR. Leighton.
4 week later Caroline Clarke ant
her brothers were settled at thu
Thistle Cottage.
DR. Leighton did not fancy the boys
He told his mother that they wer,
'.whelps that wanted licking int
shape" But when he saw the gentle
ness and tact used by their sister il
managing them, when he saw he
patience, her charming smile in Ell
enlargement of their simplest well
doing, he was ashamed of his intoler
anCe.
"Mv father" she hcsitatcd. did no
set his DO a very good example
They were much away from home be
fore he died. They will do mucI
better here away from harmful
associations she said
That's a good 9 ria rare goo,
girl, Lee" said old Mrs. Leighton. g
only wish Maud and Bess had half a
much character"
But Cara, as the BOYS called her, di
not trouble her neighbors. She wa
an exquisite housekeepcr; she has
piaDO-an old one but of mellow tone
she did much work with crewels an
fosses. In the evening she assiste
her brothers W tn their stud es. The
were fond of her under their rough
ness and seltisI,ncss. They shovee
snow. when It camn. took care of tn
pOultr, she encouraged them in thei
ambition for prize chickens-and ker
in wood aud water. There was not
brighter little homo, in the villaG,
Cara had finished the rooms herse
with pretty artistic touches. On tn
pale bui paper % the sitting room sl
had pa nted, here and there. bunc
OF red Bergundy roses. She liza
gided the oornices and hung before
doorway crimson curtain. AS fC
ghoSts-when people quered her. sh
simply answered: mo. | have nc
seen any,"
But perhaps the air of the moul
tain village did not agree with Car
Clarke. for she grew pale. She Wa
alwatS sweet but sometimes she ha
littlo wenriod air. DR.. Lcighto
asked her if she did not work too har'
at is not that" she answered. l.
wondered sometimes. with a secret di
quiet. # she had not some where
sweetheart who did not write TO he
But Cara kept her own counsel.
The fall and winter wore away will
out bringing any revelation to him {
what troubled her. Jack and Will
the boys were jubilant over the pro
prct Of a vegetable garden with peas
potatoes and squashes of their ow
raising. But their sister looked so
that tho Young physician felt called Q
to eXpostuale. ....... ..
Cara" he said, Il want TO spe;
to you. You must have a change
YOU will de"
80, no. | shall. not" she replie