The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1895-07-20

lduSu11S dC
AT your curiosity, my dear"
'"Then I won't ask another question:"
But she fully atoned for that depri-
walton by sketching on tablets of her
own fancy an endless variety Of Gothic
erections, with bay-windows and trel-
lises, while Uncle Benedict watched
her behind the screen of his newspaper,
with the queerest expression on his old
brown face.
I'm almost sorry I commenced the
thing" he said to himself. '*If should
be disappointed in her! But, pooh! its.
the only way to find out if she is worth
my boys lover
Presently the odd numbering country
conveyance came to a standstillsbut.
to Rachels surprise, in front OF no fairy
cot or low-eaved edifce surrounded By
verandas and f1ower-paterres.
A tumble-down, unpainted farm house
stood a little back from the road, with
! its shutters hanging loosely by one
hinge, and one or two scrubby bushes
forlornly tossing in the wind! A we'll
sweep, mute witness of by-gone days,
lowered up in rear, and a cat darted un-
! der the cellar widow.
"FHow 'dreary it <looks!'' thought
! Rachel, with little 'shudder, as she
/ glanced round .to see whether the fat
woman opposite or the lank young gen.
tleman by her side was going to alight.
But neither stirred.
| Uncle Ben seized his carpet-bag and
umbrella
| "Come my DEAR he said to Rachel;
She started instinctively forward.
| lis this the placer"
'"This is the ,place.''
Poor Rachel! What were her sensa-
tions as she looked blankly around the
neglected. dismal spot which was the
sole realization Of her fairy dreams?
This is the home Uncle Ben had given
| them! And for an instant she felt as
If SHE could 'repel the unWelcome gift,
! and tell Uncle Benjamin plainly that
| she could not spend her days in hovel
| like this.
But then came sober second thoughts.
Uncle Ben had meant kindly; they were
poor, and could not afford to dispense
with even the meanest of roofs over
their heads. No, she must accept the
present in the spirit in which it was
given, and check in the bud all her re-
'bellious and unamiable repinings.
| Il told you it was cottage, you
know" said Uncle Ben, keenly scrutin-
lzing her face.
Yes, know" said Rachel, glancing
round with frightening eyes. "That is
a very choice climbing rose over the
window, if it was only properly
trained"
| Its rather lonesome" said Uncle
Ben. .z.-s....,u,. .... ...
! 81 like the country" Rachel answer
| ed, hopefully.
| AS she spoke slipshod old woman
appeared to let them in, and led the
| way to the best room, a green-paper-
curtained apartment with fire in the
| Fireplace that emitted considerably
more smoke than caloric.
| Smoke chimneys, eh?" said Uncle
| Ben.
'The draught seems to be poor" said
| Rachel; "but I dare say it can be fixed"
Il hadn't any idea the ceilings were
| so low," grumbled the old gentleman.
Its partly the effect of the wall
paper" said Rachel. "A narrow striped
pattern will improve it,
What queer little cupboards over the
| mantel!' said Uncle Ben.
"Oh, they will be nice for our china"
said Rachel.
my DEAR" said the old gentleman,
pleased. Do you really think that you
! shall like this place?'
II shall like any place where Hugh
is. said Rachel. brightly.
She went all over the house with the
old gentleman, planning improvements,
suggesting and contriving, until he
i really began to think she would make
! an Arcadia out of the worn-down old
j farm. And if she shed, a few tears on
her pillow when she went to rest, un-
der the caves of the roof, Uncle Ben
| never mistrusted it.
i There was a buggy at the door when
4 Rachel rose from her breakfast of rye
\ bread and corn coffee the next morn
! ing.
! ";Cone, my 1ass,'' said the old gentle
i man. II Want to show you a place far
! ffer up the road which has been leased
by a friend caf mine" :
The drive and the delicious air were
| like inVigorating tonic to the wearied
little bride; and a picture after the
| style Of Watteau awaited them in the
exquisite cottage, with its deep piazzas,
| bay-WdDdows, and picturesquely-slop-
| ing roo9. Rustic chairs stood under the
| branches of the 1@lnns OH the lawn, and
a marble Cupid, holding up carved
shell, scattered bright rain into a tiny
basin directly in front of the gates.
''Oh. how beautiful" cried Rachel.
"Corne in my dear, and see how you
like the interior said the old man,
serenely. :, So .>,,s: >.. =. 49,. :.
1t was perfect, from the drawing.
rooms to the chambers, all in white and
pink, like the inside Of a roses heart.
and the fairy conservatory.
ut is like fairyland!" cried Rachel;
enthusiastically. Do, tell ice, UncIe:
Ben, who is to live here?''
Uncle Ben turned round and faced
! her. 49,. =
"You. my DEAR" :...~- .:~,-:.sf - ~ :.
'I!
| "And Hugh. Of course!" y; :..:-, -.
But" gasped Rachel, quite aover7
whelmed, ''the other house." - =
That's only little, joke Of mine!
This is the real home, and I give it to
you with all the more pleasure that you
We're disposed to make the best Of
bad bargain you thought you were in
| FOR "a. -: ,Thr, x'SsA.!, 49,