Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-01-29

many years the Ransolns had been a so
cial center, around who revolved many
currents of fashion, curiosity and gossip.
People who had never spoken with them
talked Familiarity of Agnes and Edith and
Sophie as the Ransom girls" and were
deeply interested in their admirers, their
gowns, their entertainments, their go
ings and comings. Now that the Ran
som family had fallen in the world, their
fortune having toppled over like great
snowy image with feet of clay, people
looked at each other and said, with their
eyebrows if not with their tongues, 81
told you So"
Mr.. Ransom had been a victim of the
last Wall street furry, and his death
following soon after his ruin people had
spoken of suicide. Two Of the Ransom
girls had married, but not well it was
considered by the townspeople. One had
a sickly husband, and the other a do
nothing, idle one-an amateur musician,
who cared more for his fiddle bow than
for his wife, so it was said, but withal a
pleasant, feather Drained. light hearted
fellow who was popular and made many
friends. Both families had colonized
on the lakewood estate, and were at
present living in cottages built for them
by their father-in-law, and for a number
J 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 a livelihood, having had implicit
confidence in the governors" ability to
carry them gayly through life without
personal exertion. The elder was mar
ried, with wife and child, and being
his mothers favorite had always lived
at home with his membranes under
her wing The younger son, Wilt, had
distinguished himself as polo player, a
leader of the cotillon in city drawing
rooms; he was, moreover, q good cross
country rider in pursuit Of the anise seed
bag or the NANCY fox, but unfortunately
none Of these were paying occupations
for an impecunious young man. The
whole town agreed that it was 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 provided he had) considering
the way the Ransom girls had turned
out and the utter helplessness of the
boys.
The executors of the estate and Mr..
Ransom's creditors, pending a settle
ment and liquidation, had permitted
Mrs Ransom to remain in the great
nj 70 boDaGH 81 he
grounds and garden. She had closed all
the state apartments, the big drawing
room, dining room, picture gallery, IL
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
SONS 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 legs wide apart, twanging
away on 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 large packing trunk,
and scattered about her on the carpet
was a great variety Of articles, includ-
ing kitchenware and table napery. Will
Ransom, the younger son, was strolling
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 off rather grandly
any amount Of fine 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
die of the room and clinched her strong
white hands.
Frank" she cried, with sudden i'm
periousness to her son-in-law, "do stop
GAAGAL lila I'll S0C OcAAJO
1t sounds 30 trihing, so indifferent, SO
unfeeling under the circumstances for
you to be juggling 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 a swipe?''
"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 nursemaid and take
care of her own baby; and just look at
Wilt You would never suppose he had
A.eare or thought as to where the next