The Press., 1891-11-19

considered by the townspeople One had sickly husband. and the: other do nothing. idle one -an amateur musician, who cared more for his fiddle bow than for his wife, 50 if was said, but withal a pleasant. feather brained. light hearted fellow, who was popular and made many friends Both families had colonized on the Oakwood estate, and were at present iiTing in cottages built for them by their father-in-law. and for number of years had drawn on ..papa's' purse for the family supplies. But things were sadly changed now. and there was moan ing and weeping where heretofore had been heard the pleasant sound of musical instruments. laughter and the trip of light feet.
 There were two Ransom ..boys," but neither of them had ever done anything for livelihood. having had implicit confidence in the governors. ability to carry them gayiy through life without personal exertion The elder was mar ried, with wife and child, and being bis mothers favorite had always lived at home with his sincumbrances under hev.wing. The younger son, Will. had distinguished himself as polo player, a leader of the cotillon in city drawing rooms; he was. moreover. a good cross country rider in pursuit of the anise seed bag or the mangy fox. but unfortunately none of these were paying occupations for an impecunious young man. The whole town agreed that it was g case of marrying on" in the Ransom family enough to distract any man even ten times . millionaire, and it was voted not strange that Edgar P. Ransom had killed himself tprovided he had, considering the way the Ransom girls had turned out and the utter helplessness of the boys.
 The executors of the estate and Mir Ransom's creditors, pending a settle ment and liquidation, had permitted Mrs. Ransom to remain in the great house and to enjoy the benefit of the grounds and garden She had closed all the state apartments. the big drawing room. dining room. picture gallery, i- brary and conservatory, all were dark ened. swathed in brown hollands and deserted She and her troop of family dependents lived in the back part of the great mansion. principally in Mrs. Ran som's sitting room. At the very moment that Miss Dawson and Mrs. Purse were holding their little confab under the trees on High street, several members of the Ransom family were assembled in mothers" room. Frank Haydock, the musical son-in-law, was sitting in a low chair, his long iegs wide apart. twanging away on a banjo and whistling merry accompaniment. A young lady of eight cen or twenty knelt on the floor with her back toward him pressing some clothes down in a large packing trunk and scattered about her on the carpet was . great varietysof articles. includ ing htchenware and table napery. Will Ransom, the younger son, was stroiling about the room with his hands in his trousers' pockets and stopping every now and then to gaze out of the window into the extensive grounds, where clearing sky after three days of rain winked in nocently through budding trees and was reflected across the lawn now wildly green.
 The door opened and Mrs. Ransom entered the room with a cloud on her brow and firmly compressed lips. She was a tall woman and stately in her way, who could carry of rather grandly any amount of fne clothes and had some times, because of her air and bearing been called the duchess. Her face, with its dark eyes and rich coloring. was still handsome in spite of whitening locks She paused in her firm tread in the mid dle of the room and clinched her strong white hands
 Frank" she cred. with sudden inn performances to her son-in-law, .'do stop that everlasting thrumming on the banjo It sounds 50 trifing, so indifferent, so unfeeling under the circumstances for you to be jigging away at negro melodies when this house Is full of trouble and disaster It reminds me of Nero who 6ddled when Rome was burning"
 "Why.. mother said the amiable young man looking up in surprise, "what have done that you should give me such q swipeY
 ''You haven't done anything and you never will do anything, and it is just that that is driving me distracted. You fancy can pick up money out of the street, or you expect to be fed by ravens like the prophet Elijah. There's Lily in mysteries up stairs because she is forced to send away her nursernaid and take care of her own baby; and just look at Wilt You would never suppose he had a care or thought as to where the next meal is coming from.
 ''Confound 1t all. what can fellow dor said Will. over his shoulder. sup pressing a, soft whistle for which his lips were puckered. These scenes were so frequent now that Win had become hardened to them. and he felt called upon to exercise forbearance since his