The Red Cloud chief., 1897-09-17

y" statement my law
yer made upon the long-winded recital
of the state of my affairs, when l re-
turned from a seven-years' absence 10
take up my abode in my W nome.
He had by my directions renovated ana
put into good order the large. hand
some house that was my inheritance
from father, grandfather and great
grandfather, passing In each genera
ton through a course OF m~oderniz'hg
that still left the stately. old-fashiened
walls and extensive grounds intact. we
Hiltons were very fond Of Hilton place.
and had ample means wherewith to
maintain its beauty.
But beside my own home. also pos
sessed several houses In the village OF
Crawford and one cottage just at the
boundary line OF my garden, a pretty
place that my mother had christened
Fern Cottage. from the number OF rare
ferns that nestled In the little garden
under fanciful miniature grottos and
piles of rock placed there.
confess to a feeling Of decided an
noyance when | heard that this little
gem Of "A country home had been leased
to a workingwoman. IL had been "A
summer resort for some of our W In
innate friends, who preferred an indie
pendent home to the Inequalities Of
others. and It annoyed me to think of
any one living there who would not
preserve its dainty furniture and pref
ty surroundings with cultured taste.
| n,,t 4 Lant ,,y ,ntntnp En- s,uuaIf md
indeed. for many days. was so crowd
ed with business calls that | quite for
got the matter.
1t was after twilight on a warm APP
ril evening that, passing the cottage,
saw through open windows my new
tenant. She was bending over a small
table, apparently drawing, while the cir
Gle OF light from a student lamp fell
full upon her. I had fancied a vul-
gar, commonplace woman. This was
what I aw:
A figure slender and graceful, with
hands as white and perfect as II cary
ed in marble. A face purely oval. col
orless and fair. with regular features.
and shaded by hair Of midnight black.
Twice, while I looked. she lifted her
eyes. large, lustrous and dark, full of
suppressed pain. A face that covered
a heart full Of bitter anguish, a brain
sensitive and cultivated.
am a physician. though I have prac-
ticed little, preferring to write for the
use Of younger students; but I love my
profession. and cannot quite keep Its
instincts quiet. when I study a new
face. And all these instincts warned
me that here was a oma burning
candle already Pickering at both ends
;. I had quite forgotten that mine wa,
not a strictly honorable position. thu
|, spying on a solitary woman's privacy
|, when an elderly woman, seemingly ar
|, upper servant Of better days, came into
|, the room
"Will you never cease working?" sh'
said, fretfully. when the daylight II
gone, and you cannot sort your colors
you take up that drawing that is ruin
ing your eyes. Rest. child"
Then the voice ! knew must belonf
to that face, full, rich, melodious. ,buI
freighted with sadness. answered her:
Rest! You know I cannot rest"
, play then! Do anything but strair
, your eyes any longer over that fine
> work"
J The widow rose then, sweeping hel
heavy, black draperies across the room
to the piano, where she played. Surel,
II this was recreation. II was a pitifu
mockery. Wailing. minor music full
: OF sobbing pain. Heavy chords melt
. - l.xN .aA ,NHratno pnoatav SA,,l.
I a rare power in the long. slender fin
4 gers only called out strains Of heart,
breaking pathos.
The old servant took out her knit
ting, seemingly satisfied to have driv
, en- her mistress from actual work, ant
. the darkness fell around me. making
still clearer the bright circle OF ligh
upon the table. and the soft. shadow,
gloom of the corner where Mrs. Ray
. nor, with her deep, sad eyes and break
Ing heart, poured out something OF he
pain in music.
A soft rain drove me home. but
unused long and deeply over my ten
= ant. I called several times. and re
. . ceived courteous welcome. was enter
. tanned by strictly conventional CONVEX
sation, heard the piano In some fash
ionable, snowy music, and found tn
9 surface society Of Mrs. Raynor. a gen
. tie, refined lady. attractive and agree
able-no more.
might have accepted this for tn
real woman. but had a habit of lin
gering about my garden, and as tn
{ drawing room of Fern Cottage com
manded no other view. my neighbo
seldom closed the windows as tn
+. spring crept into summer. Paler, NOR
0 ~shadowy, with added sadness in tn
4 great. dark eyes. Mrs. Raynor becam
0 almost ethereal as the warm weathe
I stole something each day from he
!. strength, and / was not surprised on
morning to see old Susan coming has
tily into my hallway.
"Oh, Doctor Wilton" she said, "sh
has tainted over those horrid pictures
viii you conner"
uaut NJ nnca Anding NV natien