Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-05-12

preparations TO go TO Greystone.
1 Rachel offered TO accompany me Ia
| my new residence and remain with
| me there. was delighted at the
prospect OF her company, but hesitat-
cd TO accept what could not but
regard as sacrifice on her part.
She smiled when put II In this way
to her.
"All places are alike 70 me, my
dear Helen can be contented any
where" she answered, am rs
years old. and have ceased TO care
for gaycties IL Is different with you, /"
had always suspected my cousin
OF having a story. but now felt sure
OF 1t no one could speak In that way
OF life, unless 1t had brought some
great disappointment. 1 wondered
how IL felt 20 be nearly 80 and TO have
given up everything, but / only
thanked Rachel for her offer and
kissed her. / could not persist In
my refusal, so she made her arrange
ments and we started as soon as the
necessary business had been attended
TO. There was another consideration
to which she called my attention,
though did not like her to think
about 1t; she would be glad OF a home
in return for her companionship, as
her income was quite small, especial
ly for person OF benevolent disposi-
ton.
1t was spring when we first went to
Greystone, aud the country was at its
loveliest. Solitude in such beauti-
full spot seemed very pleasant, aud
summer was upon us before we real
lied it. 1 had two or three intimate
friends to visit me. and the season
passed quickly and agreeably enough.
Then autumn came with its own pc
culiar charm, and we enjoyed explor-
ing the country under its new aspect.
Even the long, quiet winter did not
prove uncomfortable, though 1, at
least, drew a little breath OF relief
when 1t ended. Rachel did not mind
the stiffness and the loneliness; in
fact, / think she rather preferred
them. She seemed to have found
peace which stood her instead Of hap
piness and was not q contemplate
substitute for it. 1 sometimes en-
WED her.
Spring, summer and autumn again
went by. My year OF mourning was
over, and was able during the last
two seasons to fiji the house with
people, so that had little opportu-
nifty to be lonely. When winter came,
however, 1 found il difficult TO retain
my guests; indeed, impossible.
Americans, as q rule, do not care to
be in the country during the cold
months, and my friends either could
not or would not come, so we were
by ourselves all through January and
February.
Our life went on so quietly that any
unusual incident which served to
break its monotony awoke our inter-
est to "a degree disproportionate to
the magnitude Of the event. Perhaps
that was why l specialized a great
deal over an adventure which besell
me in January. 1 was taking my
daily walk alone-Rachel, who always
accompanied me, being detained in
doors by u bad attack OF neuralgia.
had done all could to make her COM
Portable, and she had dropped into n
doze before / started. / have said /
was alone; but 1 should not have
used that expression, for had COM
panion whose society was great
comfort to me. 1 forgot to mention
one very agreeable adjunct OF the es-
tablishmept at Greystone, which
had found there on my arrival; it
was beautiful greyhound, Jupiter
by name. He had been the pet dog
OF Mr. Laurence's cousin, who had
made his home with my husbands
mother until her death, five years
previously. This young man, Wayne
Goodwin by name, had been abroad
ever since, 80 / had never seen him.
He had sent me letter of coincidence
when informed.by the lawyer of my
husbands death and the will making
him u possible legatee. 1 had no
particular interest i'll Mr.. Goodwin,
but l had become very much at
tached 10 his dog; in which respect
was different from Rachel, who never
took any notice Of Jupiter.
" Aren't you fond Of dogs ?" 1
asked her.
. Yes, but don't care for grey
hounds, she answered.
On this particular morning, warmly
wrapped up in furs, / walked along,
Jupiter bounding at my side, until
we reached wood, whose tall trees,
their topmost branches swaying in |
the wind, looked like giant skeletons
waving alott their skinny arms.
AS we passed, 1 noticed the animal
gave start as il alarmed. 1 laid my
hand tenderly on his long nose, while |
/ looked down at him reassuringly. |
Then glanced about to see whether
1 could detect any reason for his |
fright, and noticed a stranger COM
ing toward us. He was cookbook !
ing man, well dressed, aud new-com-
ers were not an everyday occurrence |
in our vicinity; but should probably |
not have given him a second thought |
had it not been for Jupiter's strange |
conduct. The animal gazed at the |
figure few moments.
long and earnestly, then made two or
three leaps forward, and, before / |
could recover from my astonishment,
was licking'his hand, barking, and,
In canine fashion, expressing unmis-
taxable pleasure at the meeting.
was completely puzzled; for the |
stranger, after returning Jupiter's az
fectlonate greeting with interest,
gave me q rapid glance, lifted his hat,
and went on his way without Il word |
OF explanation. With some difficulty |
/ restrained the dog from following |
him, and, burning with indignation |
at the mans behavior, which seemed |
to me as peculiar as the four-footed |
creatures, 1 continued my walk. l
cut my promenade short, however. as
soon as 1 thought it was compatible |
with my dignity to do 80, and has
tened to see Rachel. found her |
much improved, SO I poured out my |
curious narrative without pause. |
When I had finished she merely |
smiled and made no comment. Al |
most the only irritating thing about |
Rachel was her lack OF curiosity,
CT oannof i,naoripa Who IL waa - 7 |