Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1897-09-15


ff1T This was the last
wv 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, to
take up my abode in my own home.
He had by my directions renovated and
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 undermining
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 it's beauty.
But beside my own home, l 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 grottcs and
piles of rock placed there.
l confess to feeling of decided an
noyance when heard that this little
gem of country home had been leased
to a workingwoman. 1t had been
summer resort for some of our own in
innate friends, who preferred an indie
pendent home to the Inequalities of
others, and 1t annoyed me to think of
any one living there who would not
preserve its dainty furniture and pref
ty surroundings with cultured taste.
But kept my opinion to myself, and,
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, l
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 vul
gar, commonplace woman. This was
what / saw:
A figure slender and graceful, with
hands as white and perfect as If carv-
ed in marble. A face purely oval, col
orless and fair, with regular features,
and shaded by hair of midnight black.
Twice. while looked she lifted her
eyes, large, lustrous and dark, full of
suppressed pain. A face that covered
a heart full of bitter anguish, brain
sensitive and cultivated.
am physician, though have prac-
ticed little. preferring to write for the
use of younger students; but love my
profession, and cannot quite keep its
instincts quiet, when study a new
face And all these instincts warned
me that here was a woman burning a
candle already 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 l knew must belong
to that face. full. rich, melodious. but
"Rest, Won know cannot rastt,,
"plov tbcni 10 onvthing In, stro;,
your eyes any longer over that fine
work"
heavy hlack draneries across .tbe roon,
10 no niono wbere sbe pIayad crraI,,
r. tbis was recrastion n yos n,t,f,,
ooclerv wai,lnr minor r,,,sto f,,i,
~ sobhiro nain Heavy cborSs roo,t AZ
,rg into sad refroins rostor +nrob
roro newer IN he ,onr s,endor a.
aors or,v called ont strei,s - hoant
hraol,ing natbos ' - lS'''
Tha ola serva,+ too,, cu4 hor ,.,+
t,ng seemingly sotisfied 10 bava dr,y
an her mistress fron, actns1 tror,, and
~ darlrneas fe,, around no ~, y, I IN :,