River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-11-29

mother anu not included IN the VIII prop
erty. What had ever possessed Jonathan
Buell. 70 place such an unlimited trust in
the hands Of such a man as Russell Os-
rne IS still mystery; but in his unfort-
innate spite toward bis son he hal, as the
saying goes, bitten his own nose of, and
given his wealth to enrich one who had no
right TO il, and deprived his own family
Of even a decent living from the proceeds
Of his life Of toll, anu if the sleek and
venerable Mr.. Osborne was not haunted Oy
his accusing spirit, he certainly deserved
10 be.
Augustus Buell. came home when his
father died, and heard the unjust will read
with anger and d.sdain, aud had scOrnful-
~ received the pittance left for him, and
turned his back on the spot which had be-
come hateful TO him, and for twenty years
the sisters had heard no word from him,
whether he was dead or alive He had
parted from them in anger, believing that
they were satisfied with the will, and had
thoughts of bitterness toward them, as he
imagined them in the enjoyment of the
wealth which should have been shared
with him The money nd prOspeTed won
derfully in his hands, and the bov who
would not. and could not. make farmer,
had proved himself an immense success in
another branch of business of which his
pitiful inheritance had formed the nucleus,
and while the sisters are lowering over the
waning fire in the shabby room, the broth.
er, whom they are bewailing. occupies AN
elegant home in a Western city, Of which
he is thriving citizen
How shall we spend Thanksgiving this
year, my dearii said Mrs. Buell.
She was a large, portly woman, with a
pleasant face and honest. sympathetic eyes
The family were sitting in the family
sitting-roOm, soft with velvet rugs and
rich carpets, and luxuriously furnished;
evidently the Buell. love of economy had
not been transmitted to the son.
Il have not thought of the matter,
Martha" replied Augustus Buell., abstract
edly; he was fine-Iooking man OF forty
five now. Il had such strange dream
last night that it has kept me thinking of
the old home all day"
"Fie, father, to allow a dream to keep
you looking so solemn all the evening""
said Miss Kitty, sprightly girl of seven
teen.
Il was at home again, and yet not at
home" resumed the father. ''for all was
so changed that there was nothing home
like about it,
just sec how comical Fido plays with
this paper, papa" cried Rollo, golden
haired little fellow of ten, tossing I'D a
newspaper as he spoke. Fido, a snowy
pet dog Of the poodle species, caught it In
his teeth, throwing it up and catching it
again as a cat worries mouse.
II was an old newspaper, and had come
INTO the house around a package during
the day, and as the dog in his antics
dropped it near Mr.. BuelPs feet, he stopped
and picked it up, obeying an impulse for
which he could not account as he smcothed
IL out and laid it upon his knee.
why. Martha" he exclaimed. in ex-
cited tones, lit i a copy of our old home
paper. What strange chance has brought
it to my handl"
He looked it over. but strange names
alone met his eye until he turned it over,
when an obituary paragraph caught his
attention.
II was a notice Of his sister Electa's
death and a short sketch Of the Buell. sis
tiers, their loss fortune, a notice of him
sekf, and the mourning of the sisters for
their long lost brother.
so that rascal, Russell Osborne, has
contrived to scoop in their fortune, has
hep he said. wrathfully. Il have done
wrong Martha TO leave them so long TO
the mercy Of sucL a mau."
OF course you have replied Mrs.
Buell., regretfully. They were not to
blame because your father w-ronged you"
But fsncied they endured the wrong
too patiently at the time" replied Mr.
Buell. Though I can see now that il was
only their administrative ways which
seemed so cold and Indifferent. / have
more Of the iInptLsive Churchill blood in
ms veins while they are all Buell."
We'll, then. if there has been a wrong
done the first thing to do is TO right it,
said lively Kitty, with timely pract caiity.
And that means to give Eide his paper
again." said Rollo, as the LITTLE dog looked
up at his lost plaything with a beseeching
whine. Mr.. Buell. tore out the item and
tossed the paper back TO the dog as he re-
marked: "You are quite right, Kitty, and
what do you say to spending Thanksgiving
with your auntsF'
Obi that would be lovelyr' replied
Kitty. clapping her hands gleefully; poor,
lonely old ladies' Wen make them a
Thanksgiving surprise party and carry our
own dinner"
1t may be they are really needy, and, as
Kitty proposes. under the guise of a sur
prise we can carry all the materials for an
old -fashiOned dinuer,n assented Mrs.
Buell.. 'Of course, in their quiet life they
are not prepared for such an unexpected
influx into their family"
\ merry evening was spent by the
young people in planning fcr the coming
tourney, but Mr.. and Mrs. Buell. talked
over the matter with grave faces. Electa
had been the beauty Of the family, aud,
in one sense. his favorite sister. though
Amanda occupied more of mothers
place to him after his own mothers death,
and the thought that she would be missing
from the family circle was sad one, a,
well as the fear that she hal died in
privation and poverty, when, had he
known Of their loss Of fortune, he would
so gladly have supplied every need, and
he bitterly approached himself that he
had allowed himself TO remain ind inerent
TO their welfare so long His sisters in
possession OF the estate, q part OF which
he considered belonged 70 himself, he had
regarded with partial indifference, but
Mandy and Serena. old, poor. and alone in
their old age, touched very tender
chord in his heart, and be entered into the
idea Of the surprise heartily.
Il was the week before Thanksgiving,
and the sisters were washing up their lit
tie nan Of breakfast dishes The meal had
been scaut and the dishes in consequence
were few in number.
1t appears 10 me could eat a whole
ham If 1 mad il" sighed Miss Serena. as
she put q crust 20 soak for Thomas Jeffer-
son, but buying ham at twenty cents
pound Is quite different from going to ones
own smoke house for one. declare got
so hungry last night that dreamed about
it."
"Dou't, Serena said Miss Mandy. with
queer little tremble IN her voice q" Il has
been a bearing down on me all the morn
ing what is a going 70 become Of US in our
old age. You and me can't work always,
and the thought Of a BsIoJf being dependent
on charity is and here Miss Mandy's
voice became lost behind the pantry door
where she had gone, ostensibly 70 set up a
couple Of teacups and pitcher.
She was still there feebly rafting the
crOckery when a shock headed boy stuck
his head into the door.
say. hee'rd the news. Miss Buellm he
bawled out Nam told ne TO come
over'n tell yer that the 2;40 express
is all smashed up over 10 Lexington, an
old Russ Osborae's kilt Abs gone after