Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-02-07

He spoke to her, but / fancied he meant
that reproachful look for me. No doubt
was the one to blame.
at was very wrong" stammered; "but
we were talking and did not notice.
want Miss Cheriton to hurry to Wheeler's
Farm"
ooh. nonsenser' he said, abruptly; but
1t was such a pleasant abruptness; THE
Red Farm is mile nearer. Give the lit
tie girl to me. Miss Fenton. aud then you
can walk on quickly. / will soon have
her under shelter"
There was no dispUting this sensible ad
vice, and as soon as Peter was trOtting Oh
with his double burden l followed as
quickly as possible with Reggie. We
were only just in time, after all. AS J
wheeled Reggie under the the porch OF
the Red Farm the first heavy drops pat
tered down.
was in such haste that / only stole q
quick glance at the low red house, with
it's curious muIliOned windows and stone
porch. had noticed, as we came up the
gravel walk, thick privet hedge, aud
yew walk, and grand old walnut tree in
the center of the small lawn, with a cir.
cular seat. There were seats, too, in the
porch, and a sweet smell of jasmine and
cIematis. Then the door opened, and
there stood Mr.. Hawtry, with beam
ing face, and Joyce beside him, evidently
pleased to welcome US all to the Red
Farm,
/ lifted Reggie out Of the perambulatoG
and carried him into the hall. 1t had
some handsome oak furniture in it; heavy
carved cabinets and chairs, and tall
clock. There was tiger skin lying be
fore the fireplace. An open glass door
led into u charming old-fashioned garden,
with bowlng-green and rustic arbor
and a long, straight walk, bordered with
standard rOsc-trees.
A tail, thin woman, with a placid face
and gray hair shook hands with Gay. Mr..
Hawtry introduced her to me as Mrs.
Cornish. my worthy hOusekeeDer-" and
then babe her, with good-humOred per
emptOrines3. ito get tea ready as soon as
possible in the oak room"
al am afraid the drawing-room has
rather a chilly aspect" he continued,
throwing open door. should you not
prefer sitting in my den, Miss Gay, until
Mrs Cornish tells us tea is readyY"
| was sorry when Miss CheritOn pro-
nounced in favor of the den. | liked the
look of that drawing room, with its three
long. narrow windows opening on to the
bowIing-green. it had faint, yellowish
paneled walls and an old fashioned blue
couch, and there was some beautiful china
on an Indian cabinet. No doubt that was
where his mother and Miss Agnes used to
sit. Perhaps the room held sad memories
for him, and he was glad TO close the door
upon them.
Mr.. Hawtry's den was a small front
room, with "A view of the privet hedge and
the walnut tree, and was plainly furnish
ed with It round table, and well-WOrn
leather chairs the walls lined with ma
hpguny book-sheiycs, his gun and Il pair
OF andsomely mounted pistols occupying
the place of honor over the mantel-peCe.
.Ipscc called 1t an ugly room, but | thought
# looked comfortable and homc-Iike, with
its pleasant litter of magazines and papers;
and Gay said ut once:
Il do like this old den of yours, Mr..
Hawtry; it is such II snug room, especially
in winter, when father and | have come
in after long, cold ride"
"You do not come as often now, Miss
Gay" he said, 10 king at her little keen
ly.
She colored, as though the remark en-
barrassed her, and seemed bent on eXcus-
ing herself
81 am such busy person, you see, and
now spend all my leisure time with the
children. Am l not n devoted aunt,
Merlcp
You are very good to give us so much
your company" / returned, for | saw
she wanted me to speak; but just then
flash of lightning frightened Joyce away
from the window, and she came to me
for protection. Reggie, too, began to cry,
and had some trouble in pacifying him.
Gay gOod-naturedly came to my assist
ance.
suppose we Ike the children into the
other room and show them the shells; it
would distract their attention from the
storm. We will leave you to read your
paper in peace, Mr.. Hawtry." But he in
sisted on going with us. The cabinet had
II curious lock, he assured us, and no one
could open il but himself
The children were delighted with the
shells, and little green Indian idol per-
fectly fascinated Reggie. He kissed the
grinning countcnance with intense affec-
ton, and murmurcd, pretty. pretty"
My attention was attracted TO minia-
ture in a velvet frame. 1t was a por-
trait of a rouudfaced, happy-loOking girl,
with brown eyes, rather like Mr.. Haw-
try's
"rhat was my sister Agnes" he said,
with sigh, and for a moment his face
cluuded over. "She died two years ago,
after years of intense suffering That
miniature was painted when she was
eighteen. She was a bright, healthy crea-
ture then. Look, that was her couch,
where she spent her days There is mys-
terry in some lives, Miss Fenton. l never
understood why she was permitted to suf-
fer all these years"
mo, indeed" observed Gay, who heard
this Violet and | were so fond of her.
she could he so merry, in spite of her pain.
! think some of my pleaSantest hours have
been spent in this room. How pleased she
used to be when ! had anything new to
tell her or show her. l do not wonder you
miss her, Mr.. Hawtry; l have always been
sorry for you"
| thought he seemed sorry for himself
for | had never seen him look so sad
wished then that Gay had not brought us
back TO this room; it was evidently full OF
relics of the past when womanly hands
had busted themselves for the comfort of
the dearly loved son and brother.
The little round table beside the couch.
with its iul3iu work-bOx and stand of
favOUite books. must have been Miss Ag
nes', but the netting case and faded silk
bag on the other side of the fireplace,
with the spectacles lying on the closed
Bible, must have belonged to the mother.
How sorely must he have missed theml
Few men would have cared to have pre-
served these little hOmely treasures; they
would have swept them away with the
dead past. But now and then a strong
manly character has this element of femi
nine tenderness.
think my look must have expressed
sympathy. for Mr. Hawtry came up to me
rs l stood alone by the window Qor Gay
was still showing the shells to the chill
dren) and said, little abruptly:
1t is good of yOu to be sorry for me.
but time heals all wounds, and. in spite of
pain and loneliness, one would not call
them back to suffer" Aud then his voice
changed to n lower key. Il wish Agnes
could have known you, Miss Fenton; how
she would have sympathized with your
work! All good women are fond OF little
children. but she dotted on them, There
were so many children in the church-yard
on the dav she was buried.n
was too much touched 10 answer, our
vent on as though he did not notice my
ice.
You seem very happy in your works'
Every happy"
zone can see that; YOU have q most con-
tented expression; is almost makes one