The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-05-29
THE STORY or ALErrER.


the denouement occurred, so i must be
gin at the very first to make the last par
plain. The place is the small village o
Nj in Florida. The most tconspicuou
building in this town, in fact the onl!
one with any pretensiOn to beauty o
comfort, is Villa Rosa, the home of Rev
Samuel Richard Earle, his wife, con
firmed but cheerful invalid, and thel
one daughter, Mildred Emeline, Away
called Ina. The reverend gentlemen
came to the village to spend one winter
but the location proving desirable, anC
his own health and that of his wife beint
much improved, he had decided to maxi
Florida his home. So he built a larg'
lrOomy house, and adorned the premises
to make it seem home like to his wife
and daughter.
Everything was done for Ina's happi
ness that could be done, for she was al
only child now. Her two brothers hav
ing died, the love and care which they
would have received was all lavished on
the one remaining child, and she seemed
deserving of it all. With her father SHE
spent many hours pOring over dull books
that she might be the educated woman
he desired her to be. He gave her, III
return, the best advantages in her favor
ite studies, music and art, in both OF
which she had become very proficient
Her mother was not slighted, however.
| With her Ina spent many pleasant hours
in reading or driving, or rowing on the
charming little lake near the grounds
of Villa Rosa. Her mother sought tC
lead her in ways of wisdom and pleas
antness, and strove to make her charact'
er as spotless as the fair, white gowns
in which Ina always dressed, and Ina
well repaid her mothers watchful care.
She was beautiful as a child, and now
the age of eighteen found her more
beautiful as woman. Her velvety
cheeks wore the bloom of health, her
eyes flashed truth and constancy from
their blue depths, and her red lips
showed strength of character in theiI
curves. Her tiny hands, somewhat
Drowned by exposure to the Florida sun,
were strong and well shaped-eager,
helpful hands, ready to nurse the invalid
mother, to draw sweet strains from the
old piano or to depict upon canvas the
beauty of a rare flower found during
some boat ride with her mother or long
evening ramble with her father. A com
panion of her own age she had never
known, and until the winter in which
my story begins, had never desired.
But at this time a change came to the
happy family group, Ross FELTON,,
young, handsome and clever, had just
graduated from an eastern college, and
his constitution, never vigorous, had
given way under the strain of the last
years studies. SO he had been ordered
by the family physician to spend the
winter at the South. Ross demurred to
the plan, for he wished to take a post
graduate course of study, and it seemed
to him that he must give this all up in a
land so desolate as Florida. He confded
this to good old DR.. H., who expressed
no opinion on the matter at the time, al
though he went away with a plan all
formed.
. $50, sop he said to himself, that
boy is made of good stuff, if he'd give
up a trip to the South just on account of
those musty old books. He shall have
trip and books, too. My old friend,
Earle of M, Florida, shall tutor the
boy SPELL
Accordingly Rev. Mr.. Earle was in
formed that young friend OF the doc
tors would be down there III two weeks
TO board with him and study under his
tutelage. In due time the doctor re-
ceived answer that the boy Gor the old
doctor had led Mr.. Earle to expect a
youth of, perhaps, sixteen summers)
might come and welcome.
The doctor carried the news to Ross
FELTON,, who, making hasty preparations,
left the next day for the South. He ar
rived at Mr.. Earle's late on Saturday
night, greatly fatigued from the effects
of the journey. Mr.. Earle was some-
what surprised at the appearance of the
boy, but expressed no surprise and en-
deavored to made everything pleasant
for him. Overcome with WEAKNESS, Ross
retired as soon as possible, and the next
morning found himself too weak and ill
to leave his room. Making hurried
toilet, he threw himself upon the lounge
in his sitting room, clad in dressing
gown and slippers, which, be it said,
lifted him perfectly and were decidedly
becoming. He breakfasted i'll his room,
and shortly after, saw the family carriage
roll down the long avenue, so he took up
the "Great Argument and several other
oft read books and prepared to spend a
lonely morning.
He was just in the midst of long
paragraph, which he had already read
four times, when he heard a light knock
upon the door. Supposing it to be a
servant, he called "COme!" and then be-
gan to read the paragraph the sixth
time, but suddenly stopped upon observ-
ing a figure in white, clinging gown
timidly approaching his divan. Then he
sat up, stared, blushed and tried to apollo
gize for his indifference.
so, do not apologize, she said, papa
has gone to church, but as mamma has
one of her dreadful headaches l stayed
at home with her. She is sleeping now,
so came to see if l could help you in
any way; but l will go, for | see l am
intruding." -
so, do not go" he implored. "If You
do | shall think you do not pardon me
for your cold reception. / will try to
make myself agreeable now. Shall L"
YOU'RE not to exert yourself, if |
stay" she said; ''you are to promise to
lie on the sofa and rest quietly, while !
read until you are tired of the sound of
my voice, when you may tell me of your
home and friends"
Thinking that if she read until he
tired of hearing her musical voice, she
would never be allowed the privilege OF
moments rest, he threw himself back
upon the sofa. Every one seemed tC
obey her from instinct. After an hours
pleasant reading and chat she left him
and going to her little parlor on the othel
side of the long, cool hall, she sat dow
before her piano, and listening to the
sweet melody she played, Ross sank int
slumber. How long he slept he coulC
not tell, but when he awoke, his pleasan
aaN N
his side waving over him an immens'
fan.
''Now that you have finished you
nap" she said, II hope you will fee
much refreshed"
In answer to bell, servant appeare,
bearing a tray, on which was placed
tempting luncheon. When he had don
Justice to this, Ina returned with bas
ket of oranges. "These are from m
own trees" she explained. And Ros
replied, as he felt, that he had neve
tasted anything more delicious.
In this way several days passed by bC
fore he was considered sufficiently cor
valescent to open his neglected book
begin study. II was found that he wa
but little further advanced in Frenc
than Ina, and so Mr.. Earle decided tha
they should study this together. As til
winter advanced Mr.. Earle had MOI
calls upon his time, and that no tim
should be taken from the study hour
he was forced to give the time formerl
used in rambling about the woods wit
his daughter to other pursuits of a nj
ture less agreeable to him. Thus In
was thrown much into the company ,
Mr.. FELTON,. The doctor insisted upo
his taking a certain amount of exercis
i'm the air each day. Mr.. Earle expecte
the same of Ina. What more natur
than that shey should take their col
stitutionals together2 Often Mrs. Ear
accompanied them in driving or rowing
but when she was too ill, as was ofte
the case, they went alone. A friendshi