Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-09-17

SAVANNAH, Ga, May q
MY DEAR BRoTHER-l have at last deter
mined to write to you again. OF course, can
not imagine why you have not answered any
of my letters. Certainly filed each one of
them with sisterly affection. Lately | have
been nursing fear that, since | sent small
remittance in the first one, five years ago, it
may have been stolen, and the same thief may
have purloined the valueless ones with the
hope of obtaining further booty. Be this
true OF no, write to you now to say that arm
coming to look for you, and to see for myself
how you are getting along. General Forbes,
your old commander, was here with US for a
day or two, three years ago, and he told US
that he had heard that you were ruined, finan-
cially, by the armies, but he could not tell us
what you were doing. / have tried, in every
way, to find out something about you, all in
vain. OF course, cannot rest content. You
are my own dear, only brother, and must not,
cannot, let you get entirely away from me,
never to see you or hear from you any more.
hope this will reach you all right. | shall fol-
| low it in the course of q week or two So you
may expect me. Mr.. Roosevelt will come with
me- He will be the better for the mountain
air, poor man Lately his railroad schemes
| have caused him q world of vexation. Some
English and Dutch capitalists have combined
! to try to thwart his Florida plans; but at last
| he has formed an alliance with some Chicago
| and New York men, and the worst seems
over. His health is hurt, however, and have
made him promise to come with me into your
| delightful mountain region.
| AS | write, | grow childishly impatient to
| sec you and Sue and Adelaide. What is your
youngest daughters name? You know have
| never seen her If she is at all like Adelaide.
| / shall love her dearly. ] hope Sues health
is good | used to fear it would entirely fail.
! You need not answer this letter, as we shall
| go at once to Augusta, where Mr.. Roosevelt
has some affairs to arrange thence to At
lanta for a few days, and then to you. Mr..
Roosevelt will go to Catoosa Springs, but
shall remain with you for some weeks an
ticipate happy time, and hope some good
| may come of my visit.
As ever. your affectionate sister,
| MARGUERITE CHENIER ROOSEVELT
Colonel Chenier lifted his head Rs he
finished reading, and for a space he
turned the letter idly in his fingers, gaz-
ing at the distant mountain tops as If
trying to see beyond them into the flow
country" where, in the heart of lovely
old Savannah, his only sister lived, rich,
childless, exclusive-an aristocrat of the
most ultra southern type. He was look
ing in his memory at the grand man
sion, the shady streets, the fanciful
clumps of old palmetto trees, the spa
cious halls and parlors, the heavy old
time furniture, the lace, the damask, the
tapestry, the curious bric-a-brac treas
ures, the paintings, the statuettes.
Mrs. Chenier and Adelaide looked at
each other mutely, despairingly, as wo-
men do when suddenly overtaken by
some extreme exigency, Then with a
common thought they turned inquiring-
ly toward the old mill as if to say to it.
"What can be done with Marguerite
Chenier Roosevelt"
"Where can we put her to sleep" ex-
claimed Adelaide.
Mrs. Chenier made an impatient ges
ture as her only response.
"a small remittance, said the colonel
glancing back over part of the letter
There was just the slightest ring of dis
dain in his voice.
"For several years we never SO much
as inquired at the postoffice or dreamed
Of letter" he presently added ina softer
tone, land the mail service has been quite
as demoralized in the south as polite:
and finances"
"Well, we must begin to prepare al
once" said Mrs. Chenier, lacing the fin
gers of both her hands together, anG
glancing from her husband to Adelaide
"we shall have no time to lose.'
"But, mamma, what can we do? How
can we prepare?" cried Adelaide EN-
phatically
"Oh, Marguerite is plain, sensible
woman, after all, )" said Colonel Chenier
trying to speak lightly, land | dom
doubt that we shall get along all right.
"But, Wilton, interposed Mrs. Che
nier, "you know we have no room, an(
not even spare bed for her"
"I1l give Aunt Marguerite my room
and bed," said Rosalie quickly Th
women looked at each other,
"Bless my little girl" cried the father
pulling Rosalie down upon his knee AM
kissing her cheek. She seemed mer
child to him.
Colonel Cnenier, for the moment, ha'
forgotten all his troubles in a sudde1
realization of Rosalies beauty and sweet
ness. His wooden leg had vanished. e.
had not lost his fortune The old mil
was castle in Spain.
Mrs. Chenier and Adelaide began a
once to plan certain rearrangements c
the household furniture and to talk owe
possible additions to the pitifully scan
supply of necessary comforts.
Rosalie was entirely free from the en-
; barrassments of the situation. She ha
; never known better state and her SUI
roundings had never distressed her. Th
) birds of those fragrant mountain grove
were not more free and happy than 81
in the ignorance and innocence Of ht
healthy and fervid youth. The simp
t food, the pure water, the mountain a
! and the variegated scenery had mac
r her growth perfect. She had come {
as a flower. She had developed, as q
the wild things of the forests, to the syn
metry Of natures model.
4 While the family was thus groupe
r and intently busted with the matter
$ hand, tall, angular youth came shar
: bling up the road, bearing to the mill
heavy bag Of corn.
'I Rosalie went into the mill to make
ready for grinding the corn,
Inside the mill the boy set the bs
it down, united the string at its mout
> then lifted it and poured the brig
golden grain into the hopper, smooth
+ groovedby the friction Of long usage.