Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-06-06

was one. Richard could always got
along with her, even if others couldn't.
What she'd have been if he'd lived.
and she'd had Il prosperous home. and
a family. there's no telling. That
would have made her like folks, if any
thing would. Twas an awful blow
to her-his death. She was just the
kind to depend on one. and that one
gone, all was gone"
Father. was she willing he should
go to the warp
| well. she was a high-spirited girl
In her way; don't know all how it
was between 'em about that, but /
know she'd never havo held him back.
Tho more he was to her the less she d
hold on to him. Mother used to say
that was her pride. Mother fretted at
first because Adeline wouldn't use her
influence the other way"
Rachel thought this over in silence.
Presently she repeated: Il want to
go and see her.
She won't let you in. She won t
see any of us if she can help it,
why not? How came she to shut
herself up sop
well, part of it was this: You see
there was the south pasture that has
that bit of old woodland. and the
brook in one corner of it. 1t seems
Richard and Adeline used to be fond
of walking and sitting there Sunday
afternoons. Your great-uncle John
owned the land then. and he'd always
said it should be Richards. So Rich
ard wrote him letter just before the
battle in which he was killed.
He said if he died he'd nothing to
leave Adeline. OF course she would
not be in want. because she'd have
her mother farm. But she said she
was fond of that woodland. and he
wanted if he died that Uncle John
should leave that lot to Adeline rs a
token of remembrance from him,
Richard. But Uncle John was man
of his own mind. He did not like
Adeline. over and above. more than
the rest of us. He said that land had
come down in the family, and he
shouldn't will it out of the family.
He died only about year after Rich
ard. He didn't think Richard had
said any thing to Adeline about
the land, but I'm pretty sure he
had, for she came up to UAcle
Johns funeral and stayed to hear the
will read. She never said a word, but
we all saw there was kind of expect
ant look in her face. She had it when
she turned and looked at me after the
will was read. Then she went away
and she's never been in this house
since.'
1.-The land came to you, father?''
Yes I'd like TO have carried out
Dick wish. but didn't see my way
to going against Ulcle Johns feeling,
and deciding the land out of the fami-
" just when he'd lett me all he had. "
But she would have been in the
family if Uncle Richard lived.''
''Yes; but you see he didn't; that
made the diff,rence.'
That made the difference. It seemed
very mournful to Rachel that it should
have made the difference. There were
two lost from the family instead OF
one, it seemed, in Richards death.
after that" continued Mr. Guild,
''she staid more at home than ever
'Twasn't a healthy thing for young
woman like her: She took to
doing pretty nearly all the farm work
herself. so,,that she need not be bothered
with help. or else to take up her
mind. We used togo over there
sometimes but after her mother died
Adeline would never really let us
into the house. She'd stand with
the door ha:f open and hear
what we had to say, but never ask us
to walk in. OF course we stopped 60
ing by and by, and it got to be Just
so with the other neighbors. Bar ker
stops his wagon now and then to take
orders to the store for her, and the
mail drops her books and ncwsp apers,
but she never goes any where or sees
any body if she can help it. She's a
perfect hermit. The house is gcttin O
awfully out of repair I guess She 8
had to give up living in the front
rooms, that side of the roofs so leaky.
But shell IL never have it fixed. She's
lost all her ambition. She'll lust die
there alone some day. as sure rs the
world"
| Rachel shivered. o., how full OF
haunting sorrow this tale had filled
the spring evening! The fresh-leaved
willow in the yard dropped in infinite
grieving; the chanting of the frogs in
the pond. that she had thought one OF
the pleasantest of spring sounds,
seemed now the wailing of = me assure.
less regret. To think all the Joy and
promise of love and youth could end
in life blighted like this! To think
there should be a living grave like
yonder brown cottage, more mournful
a thousand times than the green
mound at Arlington! To think OF
the MANNED solitary life. sadder &
hundred-fold than any noble death
Was this. too. the work of the war;
Yes, in part. But Rachel knew tina,