Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-06-27

| A tumble-down, implanted farm house
stood a little back from the road, with
It's 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 cat darted I'M
der the cellar widow.
How dreary 1t looks" thought
Rachel, with a little shudder, as she
glanced round to see whether the rat
woman opposite or the lank young gem
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 lnstinctively forward
rs this the placer"
This is the place"
Poor Rachell What were her sensa-
lions as she looked blankly around the
neglected, dismal spot which was the
sole realization Of her fairy dreamsT
This is the home Uncle Ben had given
them And for an instant she felt as
If she could repel the unwelcome gllt,
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 1t was
given, and check in the bud all her re-
belllous and unamiable replnlngs.
II told you 1t was cottage, you
know" said Uncle Ben, keenly scrutin-
izing her face.
Eyes, ] know" said Rachel, glancing
round with Frightening eyes. THAT Is
a very choice climbing rose over the
window, If 1t was only properly
trained"
TITS rather lonesome" said Uncle
Ben.
II like the country" Rachel answer
ed, hopefully,
AS she spoke a 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 chlmneys, eh?" said Uncle
Ben.
"The draught seems to be poor" said
Rachel; but dare say 1t 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
IT believe you are determined to be
pleased. Do you really think that you
shall like this placer"
81 shall like any place where Hugh
Is" said Rachel, brightly.
She went all over the house with the
old gentleman, planning improvements,
suggesting and continuing, until he
really began to think she would make
an Arcadia out of the worn-down old
farm. And If she shed few tears on
her pillow when she went to rest, UNI
der the caves of the roof, Uncle Ben
never mistrusted 1t.
There was buggy at the door when
Rachel rose from her breakfast Of rye
bread and corn coffee the next morn
ing.
Come, my lass" said the old gentle
man. II want to show you place far
Their up the road which has been leased
by a friend Of mine"
The drive and the delicious air were
like invigoratlng tonic to the wearied
little bride; and a picture after the
style Of Vatican awaited them, in the
exquisite cottage, with it's deep piazzas,
bay-windows, and picturesquely-slop-
ing roof. Rustic chairs stood under the
branches of the elms on the lawn, and
marble Cupid, holding up carved
shell, scattered bright rain into a tiny
basin directly in front of the gates.
ooh, how beautiful" cried Rachel.
Come in, my dear, and see how you
like the interior" said the old man.
serenely.
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 me, Uncle
Ben, who is to live here?"
Uncle Ben turned round and faced
her.
You, my dear"
"I!'
And Hugh, of course!
But" gasped Rachel, quite over
whelmed, "the other house"
That's only a little joke Of minel
This is the real home, and give 1t to
you with all the more pleasure that you
were disposed to make the best Of a
bad bargain you thought you were in
for"
And Rachel felt something warm and
wet upon her cheek like tear, as the
old gentleman stopped to kiss her.
When Hugh came home, to find his
little wife upon the veranda, all well
coming smiles to greet him, he ex-
claimed:
"Why, Uncle Ben, this is perfect
caslset.'
"But none too good for the jewel that
inhablts it," Uncle Ben answered.
Kleptomania Among Women.
It has been announced from high
medical authority that kleptomania is
mara rravalent among women than +ha