St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-07-31
FERN s&&
@eeCOTTAGE.
A Nd Fern Cottage is leased for two
BY ANNA SHIELDS.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

New York, and supports herself by col
oring fashion plates for. a magazine
there -
This was the last statement my law
Yer made upon the long-winded recital
Of the state of my affairs when I re-
turned from a sseven-years' absence to
take up my abode in my own home.
lie had by my directions renovated and
put into good order the large, hand
SEINE house TINT was my Inheritance
from father, grandfather and great
grandfather, passing in each generation
through course. of undermining that
still left the stately, old-fashioned walls
and extensive grounds intact We Hill
tons were very fond of Hilton place
and had ample means wherewith to
maintain it's beauty.
But beside my own home I 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.
Itwas after twilight on warm April
evening that, passing the cottage, I saw
through open windows my new tenant.
She was bending over small table, ap-
Darently drawing, while the circle Of
light from student lamp fell full upon
her. I had fancied vulgar, common
place woman. This was what saw:
A figure slender and graceful, with
hands as white and perfect as if carved
in marble. A face purely oval, colorless
and fair, with regular features and
shaded by hair Of midnight black.
Twice while looked she lifted her eyes,
large, lfstrous and dark, full of sup
pressed pain. A face that covered
heart full of bitter anguish, a brain sen
ss;tive and cultivated.
lam physician, though have prac-
ticed little, preferring to write for the
use of younger students; but love my
profession, and cannot quite keep its in
stincts quiet when study new face.
And all these instincts warned me that
here was woman burning candle al
ready Pickering at both ends.
I had quite forgotten that mine was
not strictly honorable position, thus
spying on solitary woman's privacy,
when an elderly woman, seemingly an
upper servant of better days, came into
the room.
"Will you never cease working?" she
said, fretfully. "When the daylight is
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 belong to
that face. full, rich, melodious, but
freighted with sadness, answered her:
"Rest! You know I cannot resti"
"Piay, then. Do anything but fttrain
your eyes any longer over thai fine
work"
The widow rose then, sweeping her
heavy, black draperies across the room
to the piano, swhere she played. Surely,
if this was recreation, it was pitiful
1nockery. Wailing, miaor music full of
sobbing pain. Heavy chords melting
into sud refrains A master touch, Ca
rare power in the long, slender fingers
only called out strains of heart
breaking pathos.
A soft rain drove me home, but |
unused long aud deeply over my tenant.
4 called several times, and received cour-
teous welcome, was entertained by
strictly conventional conversation,
heard the piano in some fashionable,
snowy music, and found the surface so
ciety of Mrs. Raynor, a gentle, refined
lady, attractive and agreeable-nom more.
Imight have accepted this for the real
woman, but / had d habit of lingering
about my garden, and as the drawing
room of Fern Cottage commanded no
other view, my neighbor seldom closed
the windows as the spring crept into
summer. Paler, more shadowy, with
added sadness in the great, dark eyes.
Mrs. Raynorbecame almost ethereal as
the warm ,Vea ather stole something each
day from her strength, and / was not.
surprised one morning TO see old Susan
coming hastily into my hallway.
''Oh, DIR. Wilton,' she said, "she hll
tainted over those horrid pictures! Will
you come?a
l went at once. finding my patient
prostratea at last, and gently submis-
sire to al my commands buh one, the
most imperative
81 must work" she said, "as long as
/ can hold a brush
But you will die" said, bluntly, IF
you do not take a few weeks of entire
rest
"Die!,. she said, quietly, not as if there
was any terror in the thought, but asif
it was new possibility in, some prob
lem of life. mo, must not die yetv
hen, you must oney mel an
sweretf II will send Il carriage every
afternoon, with a careful driver, and
you must go with Susan for drive.
You must be outdoors as n1lichas pos
sible, excepting during the heat of the
day, and then, If possible. sleep"
Her tireary smile confirmed my opin-
ion that sleep was a rare visitor at her
pillow, but She did not say so. Indeed,
she made no complaint, evidently allow
ing my visits solely out of regard for
Susan.
And to Susan turned at last for
counsel. She had come to my house
for some medicine / had brought from
Paris-an opiate not yet in use in this 1
country. And I pointed to seat, say
Ing: Susan, I am past 60 years old,
crippled, as you seee seldom leaving my
home except for foreign travel-no gos-
sip. If you think you can trust me with
Mrs Raynor's secret trouble, ] may be
Rhle to cure her.