The record-union., 1891-07-18
HIGHTOWERS.
Written for the RECoD-UNIoN by Gaie Braith
(Alice RobertSon)1.


and warm that afternoon, lighting up the
diamond shaped window panes of High
towers with million brilliant colors CLINT
ing upon the long, low iron ratings of
the balustrade. The stonewalks and
white marble Corinthian columns, which
support the portico, are binding TO the
eye, so glaring IN their whiteness. Away
off inthe distance you can see st. Joseph's,
with its tall steeple reaching and seeming
TO pierce far into the sky.
1t was very quiet around the tower
that afternoon. with an occasional laugh
from the distant reapers, or, perhaps, you
may hear bird twitter. Then chirping
and caroling as if the scene wholly and
rightfully belonged to themselves. Most
surely it was this ceaseless clamoring and
| singing that deadened the distant echoes
of the highways and byways.
To the left Slants the wide, green lawn
like an enrolled emerald carpet, ending
at q thick clump of weeping willows
trailing and dipping their slender leaves
into the cooling waters of q miniature
| lake, which.bears upon its placid bosom
n couple Of graceful, snowy swans raising
! their long necks and sending forth, from
! their bills, a crescent-shaped silver spray.
a light breeze is beginning 10 rise, and
sends million tiny ripples crumbling
toward the edge of the. bank, gently
| rocking Rosamund's little white boat
which is loosely tied to a laurel bush,
with its dainty, smoothly polished oars
| crossed carelesSly in the bottom The
breeze becomes stronger, and a shower of
sweet dead leaves hutter from the tree
! tops.
| [ will not weary you by conducting
|
of the interior. From a passing glance
you may perceive that there seems to be
q decided taste for Oriental things. See
here are number OF Turkish and Per-
sian carpets and rugs. Behold the painted
walls, clerstories, ceilings with dark, rich
| bold designs. You observe the Oriental
| hangings. Please note the variety and
profusion; almost bewildering. is it not?
! But come, ! will lead you quickly and
quietly through the servants hall where,
as we pass, Il lady's maid in coauettish
cap and apron, is seated in an old-fash-
! ioned oaken chair fitting and balancing
! herself dangerously far backward, look
| ing up with laughing, Saucy eyes at q tall
! young footman who is lazily leaning
across the table and proGering her glass
! of ruby wine.
Past these [ hurry you until we reach
| the hOusekeeper'S cosy sitting-room
| Comfort is marked upon every article.
| plain but substantial, as becoming the
abode OF a long and well-tried servant
! The sun is pouring in through the half
/ drawn crimson curtains, lighting up the
! little copper kettle singing so meYriIy
upon the hearth; dancing i'll fitful shad-
oWs upon the solid silver spoons and su-
! gar tongs; sparkling upon the long steel
! knitting needles which slip so quickly
through the housekeeper's plump, white
hands; careSsing her goldrimmed specta-
cles; kissing and resting as with bless
! ing upon her snowy cap and silver hair
One long sunbeam lays across Rosa
mund's fair hand; warm, bright strip of
! sunlight blue, crimson and gold, which
moves, trembles and quivers amongst her
| shining hair.
Suddenly the girl springs to her feet.
letting the book, she had just been read
| ing, fall to the floor.
ooh, bother the sun, nurse. / cannot
see to read another word. My eyes are
! positively dancing jigs."
She stands and stretches her long arms
far above her head. A very lovely girl
| is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS by far than | can
describe or you imagine. Tall, remarka-
bly, tall, with firm, straight body mod
! eled like a statue. But it is her face
which would be hard to surpass in love
illness. A small, queenly head, around
which is twisted numerous strands OF
golden-bronze hair, falling and ripplinp
away from low, broad forehead, beneath
which shines pair of dark, gray ewes
| shadoWed by narrow, straight brows and
tringed with black, curling lashes, q
small Grecian nose and adorable mouth
and chin. Yes, a beautiful, thoughtful,
| though sad face, has Rosamund High
| towers. And the old housekeeper signs
| softly as she gazes with admiring eyes
upon her beloved young mistress.
why do you sigh, nursie?" asked the
| girl, seating herself at the old woman's
feet and gently taking the knitting from
| her hands.
"Ah, dearie it's for your future 1 am
signing. Forgive me; but stubbornness
never brought happiness yet"
The girls face tiushes family.
Then you think the fault is mine?"
Not entirely, perhaps; but you,
think, are the most to blame, therefore
you should be the first to forgive"
With sob Rosamund laws her head
upon the housekeeper's knee.
Perhaps it is. But l will never ask
forgiveness. My pride will hold me
| back"
| Pride, my dear, is our worst enemy at
! times. Will you let me tell you story?"
asked the old woman, smoothing the
| girls bright hair with tender, loving
fingers. "a story that you have often
| begged for but which ! never cared 10
repeat until now."
You mean my mother?n
| She mods assent, and, with interested
/ eyes, Rosamund listens to the nurses
| story.
st was a great many years ago that
| first came as nurse to the Towers. That
was when Master Bertram, your papa,
was baby; therefore / remember your
| grandparents distinctly, and l do know
your grandfather had most violent
temper. 1t was he who arranged the
| marriage between your mother and his
| son. Your grandma was delicate,
/ nervous woman, never daring to have an
| opinion of her own. And when your
grandfather announced his intention of
making the match between his son and
orphan niece, she did not venture Il
word against it, though she knew full
well her son loved, and had long loved,
| another woman-a beautiful creature
who came, no one knew from where, and
was living, with her brother, in one of
the cottages on the estate. Your mother
! Miss Judith, was very handsome and
proud, but could not, for a moment
compare with Miss Arbuthnot-that, my
dear, was the lady's name. It was no Sc
cret that your father, Master Bertram, was
quite wild about the woman. 1t is even
said he went to his father, and, upon his
knees, begged to be allowed to chose his
own wife, but the old man nearly died
| from rage, and threatened his son with
his curse, and disinheritance, ana good
ness knows what else besides, if he
should breath word TO Miss Judith
The old woman paused and laid q
hand upon the knitting which her mis-
tress was unconsciously unraveling.
| well, after that, Master Bertram went
around sad and sullen-like. 1t would
have been strange that Miss Judith
| beg your pardon; / meant to say your