The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-08-04
FERN COTTAGE.

"And Fern Cottage is leased for two
years to widow lady, Mrs. Raynor.
She brought good letters from New
York, aud supports herself by color
ing fashion plates for magazine
there"
This was the last statement my
lawyer made upon the long -winded
recital of the state of my affairs, when
l returned from a seven-years' alb
sence, to take up my abode in my own
home. He had by my directions
renovated and put into good order
the large, handsome house that was
my inheritance from father. grand
father and great-grandfather, passing
in each generation through a course
of undermining that still left the
stately, old-fnshioned walls and extern
sive grounds intact. We Hiltons were
very fond of Hilton Place, and had
ample means wberewith to maintain
its beauty.
But beside my own home, I also
possessed several houses in the village
of Crawford and one cottage just at
the boundary line of my garden, q
pretty place that my mother had chris
tened Fern Cottage, from the number
of rare ferns that nestled in the little
garden under fanciful miniature grot-
tos and piles of rocks placed there.
confess to feeling of decided an
noyance when heard that this little
gem Of country home had been
leased to workingwoman. II had
been summer resort for some of our
own intimate friends, who preferred
an independent home to the hospitali-
ties of others, and it annoyed me to
think of any one living there who
would not preserve its dainty furni-
ture and pretty surroundings with
cultured taste. But 1 kept my opinion
to myself, and, indeed, for many days,
was 80 crowded with business calls
that quite forgot the matter.
1t was after twilight, on warm
April evening, that, passing the cot
tage, saw through open windows my
new tenant. She was bending over a
small table, apparently drawing, while
the circle of light from student lamp
fell full upon her. 1 had fancied q
vulgar, commonplace 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, color
less and fair, with regular features,
and shaded by hair of midnight black.
Twice, while / looked, she lifted hei
eyes, large, lustrous and dark, full OF
suppressed pain. "A face that covered
a heart full of bitter anguish, brain
sensitive and cultivated.
am a physician, though 1 have
practiced little, preferring to write fol
the use Of younger students but
love my profession and cannot quite
keep its instincts quiet, when I study
o new face. And all these instincts
warned me that here was woman
burning candle already Aickering at
both ends.
I had quite forgotten mine was moi
Q strictly honorable position, thus
spying on solitary woman's privacy
when an eldery woman, seemingly al
upper servant of better days, came
into the room.
"Will you never cease your work
ing ?" she said, fretfully. "When the
daylight is gone, and you cannot sort
your colors, you take up that drawing
that is running your eyes. Rest
child"
Then the voice 1 knew must belong
to that face, full, rich, melodious, ba
freighted with sadness, answered
her:
Crest! You know I cannot rest!'
"Play then! Do anything but strait
your eyes any longer over that fin,
work"
The widow rose then, sweeping hel
heavy, black draperies across the room
to the piano, where she played. Surel,
if this was recreation, it was a pitifu
mOckery. Wailing, minor music full
of sobbing pain. Heavy chords melt
ing into sad refrains. A master toucl
a rare power in the long, slende
fingers only called out strains O
heart-breaking pathos.
The old servant took out her knit
ting, seemingly satisfied to hav,
driven her mistress from actual work
and the darkness fell around me, max
ing still clearer the bright circle o
light upon the table, and the soft,
shadowy gloom of the corner where
Mrs. Raynor, with her deep, sad eye.
and breaking heart, poured out some
thing of her pain in music.
A soft rain drove me home, but
mused long and deeply over my ten
ant. called several times, and re
ceived courteous welcome, was enter
tanned by strictly conventional conver
sstion, heard the piano in some fash
ionable, snowy music, and found tn,
surface society of Mrs. Raynor,
gentle, refined lady, attractive An,
agreeable--no more.
! might have accepted this for tn
real woman. but ! had a habit Of lin
gering about my garden, - the draw
iug'room Of Fern Cottage commando,