Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-03-22
CHAPTER MI.

4 farm house. 1t was Il tWO-StOry red
brick house, with a slated roof, and
small square windows. 1t had a liStle
formal garden in front and farrlyard,
and stlbling, and barns. and granaiies
in the rear. 1t was unpicturesqNe. THY
and dull. There was mO1otnnons
series of wire-fenced fields all around 1t,
and the only relief to the eye in all the
landscape within range Of vision, was a
little tangled wood. full Of nut trees,
and brambles, and gnarled old haw-
therns, and elders now laden with
lunches of dark berries.
The inside of the house was unscru-
pulously clean. Yet, nevertheless, its
atmosphere was not agreeable to nose
or lungs, for the occupants of it had
a mortal aversion to fresh lir within
their dwelling, and only enjoyed-cr
partook of without cnjoyins-that lux
ury under the open sky. Only ole Win
dow in all the house was open through
out the warm autumn day. 1t was
window Oh the second floor, and
wlite curtain fi,lttered backward and
forward there, and pot Of flowers
broke the .monotony of the series of
square glass eyes which blinked at
the sunshine all along the front Of the
house. This was Mrs. ia eks chamber
window. Here she had installed her
self with Popsy for month, lodging
with the farmers family, who were
relatives of Mr. Mills, the compoSitor.
Mrs. Jack had been dissuaded from
removing her few goods and chattels
her pianoforte, her work table. Pop
sy's little sleeping cot-Out to Beck's
Heath Farm, until she should have tried
the life there for few weeks. Mrs.
Petherick and. Barney having carried
this point felt little doubt Of Mrs.
Jacks return to Old street. She would
certainly be very dull and lonely at
Beck's Heath, and would be glad, by
and by, to return to her old quarters
and her old friends. Mrs. Lilly, of Per-
ciyal House, when she learned that the
arrangement with the faSAer's people
was but temporary, came to the same
conclusion. Depend upon it" said she.
in the bosom of her family, Eve shall
have Bell back here very soon. The
place will he too quiet for hac altogeth-
er."
''It will be terribly dull for n person
with so few spiritual resources as poor
Bell" said Rebecca. "ScaD,ly any one
to speak to-"
''Or to flirt WITH added E,n,1a,
spitefully.
81 do not think you SHOULD say that,
Emma returned her sister, 81 did nat
like your saying something Of the kind
to Mrs. Boddington. Bell IS frivolous,
but she is not false. And flirt must
act lies if she speaks none.'
''Bel is awfully avair, Rebecca. She
is ravenouS for admiration
r rs
any one so pretty SO free from vanity.
She has none Of the little tricks of dis
play, which vain people can no more
help than a patient with st. Vitus
dance car help twitching."
This was a telling hit AZ Miss
Emma Lilly, who could never keep
her eyes off a looking glass
if there was one within sight,
and who was .perpetually contemplate
ing her hands and her feet and her curls
and her figure after the manner COM
mon to persons afflicted with the NAL
ady of vanity in excess.
1t will be seen that the Lilly family
was not quite at one with regard to
Mrs. Jack. Rebecca had begun to feel
that the poor young widow had not
been treated fairly. And she even went
so far as to say that many things
might have gone better, if they had
used little more kindness and good
deal less GOODNESS in their behavior to
Bell. The others dissenting from this
view. But they all concurred in be-
lieving that Bell would not remain
many days at Beck's Heath.
In this however, they were mistaken.
A fortnight passed over, during which
the second-foor window in the ugly
brick house stood open, and the white
curtain fiuttered, and the pot of flowers
was to be seen on the sill. Mrs. Jack
remained in her solitude. The place
was very cheap. She found that by con-
tinuing to board and lodge ut the farm
she could pay what she owed in Cod
lington, and have wherewithal to live
on for the remainder of the year. Pop
sy was quite content. A good deal to
her mothers surprises she took the part
ing from Biddy very coolly, just as
Barney had prophsied. The child was
not more unfeeling than most young
human animals Of her age. But the
new impression quickly etfaced the old
in her lnalleable little brain. She made
acquaintance with all the live stock on
the farm, and grew fatter, browner
and roster day by day.
The same wholesome result did not
accrue to Mrs. Jack from her rural
residence. Rebecca Lilly drove out to
see her sister-in-law when the latter
had been three weeks at the farm.
Tho visit was made against the advice
Of the others, who opined that the more
completely Bell was left to herself the
sooner she would return to reason and
Codlington. However, Kebecca carried
her point, and returned to PercivaI
House, bringing very poor account OF
Bells looks and spirits.
''She never was Stout said Kebecca
.b1t now she is miserably thin" I'm.
ma glanced at the reflection Of her OWL
well-rounded figure in the glass. "And
she Is losing her color, and there arc
dark circles round FER eyes, which look
rs IL she cried a good deal. l really
do not think she is well at all; but the
child is hourishing."
Henrietta inherits altog ether tho
constitution Of her fathers family
observed Mrs. Lilly, with much dignity
and an air OF taking great credit to her
self for the circumstance.
" a. a