The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-08-26
A BRAVE GIRL.

A BRAVE GIRL.
When that eccentric gentleman, Peter
Gilman, made will providing that his
house should be shut up, and all of hi:
property kept untouched till the young
est of his nephew Waldo's children came
of age, Gilmansville was growing fast
talking of new railroad and coal fields
and was ambitiously certain that the land
near it would command city prices fol
building lots in few years and he
thought he had thus made sure of leaving
his heirs q fortune.
Twenty years after his death, wher
Alice Gilman, Waldo's only child, arrived
with her widowed mother to take posses
sion of her inheritance, the coal field:
had been worked and abandoned, the ex.
pected railroad had passed by miles off
and the great, old-fashioned house, now
standing dark and desolate in its neglect
ed grounds and wood lots, was as worth
less piece of property as it was dreary
in appearance.
Even Alice's heart failed her, as the
two tired travellers stood alone on the
wind-swept porch in the darkness, while
the farmers wagon, which had brought
them from the distant station, splashed
away down the muddy avenue, bearing
with it the old woman who had been hir-
ed to light the fires and make some of
the rooms habitahle against their expect
ed coming.
Mrs Gilman began to sob behind her
veil.
Was there ever such horribly for
Iorn place ?" she lamented. Why did you
persuade me to come all the way out here
to Missouri to dieP"
Because we couldn't live on nothing
a year where we were, little mother" re-
turned practically minded Alice, who was
nearly head shorter than her parent,
and whose protecting manner at times
was absolutely delicious.
Here we'll at least have house rent
free, and can get all the firing We need
from the place, besides. And / mean TO
keep chickens, and perhaps a COW, and
certainly to start big kitchen garden in
the spring. Oh, you'll see how nicely
Wen manage, especially as soon as l can
get some scholars in music and embroid-
cry at Gilmansyilie. / talked to our dri-
yer about it coming here, and found l can
do it easily. Cheer up a bit, now, and
let us 90 into the house and ex-
plore."
She put an affectionate, energetic arm
around her mother, and Whirled her to q
waltzing step through the wide hall
where a neglected lamp smoked forlornly
on a table and into one Of the large
square rooms.
Here a glorious wood fire burned on
the stone hearth, under the massive pill
Jared mantle-piece of black walnut
here their baggage had been set down
here tie faded crimson window curtains
were drawn close, and it was light and
warm, and almost cheerful.
I'VE are monarehs Of all We survey.
Cur right there is none TO dispute
chanted Miss Gilman releasing her moth,
er, who had stopped crying to laugh al
her nonsense, and striking an attitude ol
critical inspection, she went on:
"What magnificent wealth Of spaet
it seems, after one 5oxed-up room in q
boarding-house This really won't be hal
50 bad place when We get it fixed up
mother mine. High ceilings, folding
doors, plenty of solid, old-fashioned fur
niture, picturesque abundance of blaci
walnut woodwork, and southwest win
dows-there are capabilities here for 1
most aesthetic parlor. The next room vii
do"
She had pushed back one Of the fold
ing doors, and was about to pass through
when Mrs. Gilman stopped further ex
plorations by catching herarm and hold
ing it fast.
For PHYS sake, child, don't 90 rush
ing around strange house like this a
night. You don't know what you might
stumble on"
"Well, l won't go in if you'd rather
wouldn't" obligingly returned Alice
"Let me leave the door open, though
that splsndidl FIRE makes this room 81
hot. III get the lamp from the hall anC
set it so that the light will fall inside,
she added, remembering Mrs. Gilmani
nervous terror of dark rooms.
Having done this, she helped her moth
er remove her many wraps, and then
while that lady settled dowr orlornly
in the slippery depths of a huge arm
chair, covered with black hair-cloth, tool
off her own neat cloth lovue and New
market, and turned her attention to the
cares of housekeeping.
"There's plenty of lunch left in the bas
ket, and can make some hot tea owe
the little alcohol pocket-stoye," she OBJ
served, as Sic tuIncO AcI SLEEVES Daci
from her plump white wrists, and girdeC
her trim, grey-gowned figure with larg'
housewives apron.
"I'm too tired TO hun up the kitcheI
till morning, so we1l just camp out here,
she went on, mindful Of her mother
nerves, which would certainly revolt
she were left alone tonight.
sThat old woman ought to have know
enough to have had supper ready for US
but she doesn't seem very bright. l otiei
ed Der good wages to stay few days t
help us through settling, but she woul'
not"
~She told me- depressedly said Mn