Evening journal., 1897-04-28
FROM THE GRAVE.
ny ANNA SHIELDS.

n1dut ult IL pcOI Aldib anu a. iJhciJ ohSs
though. l humbly trust, not a useless
one.
Nearly 25 years ago settled in
Gresham, village then, and taking its
name from the founder, who was also
my uncle. Peter Gresham. He had
written TO me, when | graduated from
the medical college. where he had paid
oil my expenses as a student, that he
would give me cottage in the village
and $500 in money, but after that l must
make my own way.
The offer was a generous continu-
ance Of kindness shown TO me from boy
hood. when 1 was left an orphan and
penniless. l gladly accepted il. and
went at once 10 Gresham. where my
only rival was a practitioner nearly so
years old. DR.. Farnell, who occupied
a cottage directly opposite TO mine.
Being in easy circumstances and very
feeble, DR.. Farnell was more than will
ing TO send me patients, until, gradual
ly, found he had transferred the whole
practice of the village TO my care.
He took from the first a friendly in
terest in my welfare, and gave me much
useful advice and information, his long
experience rendering all he impaired
of great value TO a young physician.
Scarcely an evening passed but found
me at his cottage TO discuss the cases
of the day, in each and all of which he
took keen professional interest,
But, before / had been a year in
Gresham, found my professional talks
formed but a secondary interest in
my visits TO DR.. Farnell's cottage.
When these were over, and the aged
doctor dozed in his chair, or nodded
over book, Leonie Farnell, his grand
laughter and housekeeper, would touch
the piano keys to accompany her sweet,
clear voice in my favorite songs, or
would talk to me in her womanly way
Of the patients, who were all friends
Of her own. many of them her pension
ers. Let me try, looking through the
clouds that rolled soon between us. to
picture Leonie Farnell as she was in
that first year of my love for her. My
love, l say, for it sprang into my heart
strong and undying the first time her
soft, brown eyes met mine in shy greet
ing.
She was pretty. but no wonder Of
beauty. her great charm lying in her
grace Of movements, her low, sweet
voice and a gentle, refined modesty.
She had been carefully educated, but
had no brilliant accomplishments, un-
less gift of making home an altogeth-
er charming place may rank in that cat
egory. Orphaned in infancy, she had
been the darling of her grandfather's
heart. but, dearly as he loved her. he
was never averse to my suit. lie read
my hearts secret even before guessed
it's depth. and in his quiet way favored
the friendship between Leonie and my
self.
A year. the one bright year in my
solitary life, passed away, and pre-.
! pared to speak to Ieonie of my love
/ had waited until / felt secure of my
position at Gresham, and hoped tc
waken some warmer token of love or
Leonie's part. For even then ! guessed
dimly, what know, and soon knew GER
I tainly, that had won only calm, sis
terly affection in return for the absorb
ing devotion of my heart.
have said nothing yet of my inter
course with my Uncle Gresham, Tho
, grandee of the little village, whose
. large, handsome house was the center
OF attraction to all strangers, and whos'
income was supposed to be something
of almost fabulous extent, and really
was that of a very wealthy man.
During that first bright year of m,
O. life in the village he had started, IN,
y intercourse with my uncle was as pleas
= ant as all other parts of my life, ant
o | was a frequent and welcome visito
at his house.
But in one brief sentence l may re
, cord the event that wrought chang
in all-my love, my friendships, IN.
welcome at Gresham Place. My cousin
r, Sidney, Uncle Gresham's only child
J. came home from Europe, where he hai
I been travelling for five years.
z, From that time l marked chang
i in my reception at the house, wher
had been assured of most cordial wei
; come, and my visits soon became thos
exacted by my gratitude only 1t hur
me cruelty to see that my uncle's atfec
( ton was being won from me, but ther
< was far more bitter cup soon to b
placed at my reluctant lips.
? Sidney came TO DR.. Farnells as
7 guest sure of a welcome, to renew
friendship only interrupted since boy
/, hood by his travels. And the first tim
5 saw him with Leonie knew why m.
E love had failed to meet its return.
childish friendship had grown by tina
: long separation into life love. Tn
a eyes that had ever met mine with tn
+ frankness of friendship drooped shyl
I beneath Sidney's gaze, while the chee
a that had never changed color for mt
y flushed at his coming, even before h
Z spoke.
5 Yet / would not quite despair unit
meeting them together. on n hazy Jun
evening, walking slowly, as lovers wall
e l heard a soft, signing voice whisper
g 81 have always loved you, Sidneyl"
n In their happiness they never guesse
= my presence. and l shrank back benin
S a friendly tree till they passed me b.