The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-10-19

WIS put up Oh LHe HpOb, OHfle Ilut ~,
Andrew, and John did the whole o.
the work, and no one else was al.
lowed even to look on. 1t was set sc
low that no one could possibly creeI
under it, and Uncle Hugh rubbed his
hands when it was done.
"'There!' he said'"I think that viii
puzzle them. l defy them to pull il
down and they can hardly burn il
without Weakening some of US. Think
we are safe at last"
Our arrival at the gate of Mount
Graham brought my memories
to an abrupt conclusion. Twilight
had already fallen when we drove up
the long avenue. The door stood
Hospitality open, and Uncle Hugh
awaited me upon the steps.
Welcome to Mount Graham,
Elinor, my child" he said, as he led
me into the parlor. "It was good OF
you to come. The place has few
charms for a young thing like you,
but / felt strangely lonely, andlonged
for the sight of n fair young face.
All! the old man is failing, my dear"
Hooked up, surprised at his tone.
As the light fell upon my face Uncle
Hugh started. Then he glanced at a
portrait which since my earliest re-
memberance had hung over the high
narrow mantel-piece.
"You have grown strangely like"
he said and paused abruptly.
/ know what he meant. The por-
trait was that of my own ~great-aunt
Elinor, whose sudden death, Just one
year after her marriage to Hugh
Graham, had left him u broken and
shattered man. Ihad often been told
of the likeness, and it was with relief
that / now saw that it's recognition
was pleasure rather than q grief to
him.
The next day | renewed my ac-
quaintance with h egarden, and with
Andrew, the old gardner. Apparent
ly not a plant had been added and
not one removed since my former
visit. The box borders were as trim
and glossy as ever. Darkspurs, jas
mine, marigolds, all grew just where
| remembered them. There was the
row of hollyhocks, trim and straight
against the garden wall, and there
was the summer-house. | laughed
out as [ saw it.
ANDREW" | said, "the summer
house is standing yet. I see."
"Lord love you, yes, miss. That'H
stand there until Master Hugh and
ME both turn our toes up. 1t was a
queer thing to put it there; but Mas
ter hugh wantedit, andthat'senough
for l."
at is curious that this spot should
never have been cultivated" said |.
at seems as fit should have been
the prettiest spot in the garden"
Andrew scratched his head thought
fully. $50 it do SEEM, miss, and so
it was once" he said. "The beauti-
fullest bed of lilies, all white and gold.
That war many a long year ago,
though, before ever youwas born; be-
fore Miss Elinor, Master Hugh's wife,
died. Beg pardonm miss! butIknowed
her first as Miss Elinor and Miss Eli
nor, she always was to me, bless her
sweet heart! 1t was her lilly-bed.
Mornin' and evnin' she used to come
out and watch the lilies a-blowin'
and a-swingin' on their green stalks.
Said it minded her of Heaven, it did,
with the white robes a-gleamin' and
the golden harp a ringin,' and the
praises goin' up like fragrance forever
and forever. Oh, she vas q lovely
young lady! After she died Master
Hugh seemed to go just wild like
clean distraught. Said he'd no call
to I've now, and might as well get
ready for death. SO out he goes and
buys his coffin, Andrew says he, L
want to lie right here, among the Ill
lies she loved says he, and to make
sure, I'm going to make my bed
now So then he began, and he dug
and he dug and he dug, right smack
in the middle of the lily bed. Oh,
but they are beautiful lilies! He dug
and he dug, and at last, after awhile,
he seemed to forget what he was
diggin' for, and just kept On. He
got SO deep that They do say,
miss, some does, that the-the fire,
you know, is down there, and [ was
mortal afraid he'd come to it. Day
in and day out he dug and he dug.
So at last he made boldt to send
word to his brother, Master Philip;
young Master Philips father h ewas.
So he came, and brought a friend
with him. | never had nc opinion
of that young fellow from the time [
saw him moonin' round the edge of
the hole, a-pokin and q pryin'.'
And when he goes down into it, and
comes up with q broad grin on his
face, why, [ makes up my mind
about him then and there. So then
he goes into the house post haste,
and presently out comes Master
Hugh in a towerin' rage, and Master
Philip with him, tryin' to quiet him
like, but Master Hugh wouldn't be
quoted, not ne. Fill up that hole,
Andrew says he. OR here! I'll do
it myself And with that he whops
down into the hole and digs away at
the sides till he buries himself nigh
up to the waist. SO then he hauls
him out, and I fills up the rest my
self, and glad enough to do it, so
long as he wasn't at the bottom of
it. Mind, Andrew he says, when
it's done, "a spade is never to be put
into that place while I'm above
ground So then they goes into the
house, and after a while Master
Philip and his friend they drives
away. So that's all [ know, miss;
and if you IAN make anything of it,
why. I'm free to confess | can't. But,
Oil thor- maS honntiEnl lilinS