Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1897-05-08
FROM THE GRAVE.
ny ANNA SHIELDS.

| l'll, kllON INK L nave llpA many way :
left of this earth's weary pilgrimage,
! write out the experience that has
made me a poor man and "A lonely one,
though, | humbly trust, not a useless
enc.
Nearly 25 years ago | settled in
Gresham, a 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
all my expenses as a student, that he
would give me a cottage in the village
and $500 in money, but after that | must
make my own way.
The offer was a generous continue
ance of kindness shown to me from boy
hood, when | was left an orphan and
penniless. l gladly accepted it, and
went at once to Gresham, where my
only rival was a practitioner nearly 50
years old, DR.. Farnell, who occupied
a cottage directly opposite to mine.
Being in easy circumstances and very
feeble, DIR. Farnell was more than will
ing to send me patients, until, gradual
", | 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
Inc 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 a book, Leonie Farnell, his grand
daughter and housekeeper, would touch
the piano keys to accompany her sweet,
clear voice in my fayorite 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
that first year of my love for her. My
love, | 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 ard 4 gentle, refined modesty.
She had been carefully educated, but
had no brilliant accomplishments, UNI
less a gift of making home al altogeth-
er charming place may rank in that cat
cgory. Orphaned in infancy, she had
been the darling of her grandfather's
heart, but, dearly as he loved her, he
was never averse 10 my suit. He read
my hearts secret even before | guessed
lis 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 l pre-
pared to speak to Leonie of my love.
| had waited until | felt secure of my
position at Gresham, and l hoped t.
waken some warmer token of love or
Leonie's part. For even then | guessed
dimly, what | know, and soon knew GER.
tainly, that l had o only a calm, sis.
terly affection in return for the absorb
ing devotion of my heart.
l have said nothing yet of my inter
course with my Uncle Gresham, tht
gTandee Of the little village, whose
large, handsome house was the center
of attraction to all strangers, and who's,
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,
life in the village he had started, my
intercourse with my uncle was as pleas
ant as all other parts of my life, an,
l was a frequent and welcome visito.
at his house.
But in one brief sentence | may &c
cord the event that wrought a chang
in all-my love, my friendships, IN.
welcome at Gresham Place. My cousin
Sidney, Uncle Gresham's only child
came home from Europe, where he ha'
been travelling for five years.
From the moment when he crosse
Az +b,aeholJ ~ III, fofbor,c bn,,co M.
found me waiting beside that father t,
give him welcome, Sidney Gresham
hated me. l cannot tell what demol
of jealousy and distrust whispered il
his heart, but l read in his chilly greet
iEg that l was an unwelcome third
Though l had come only upon my un
cle's urgent request, aud l took my dc
rarture early.
From that time l marked u chang
in my reception at the house, wher
l 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 Their
was a far mor bitter cup soon to b
placed at my reluctant lips.
Sidney came to DR.. Farnell's as
guest sure of q welcome, to renew
friendship only interrupted since boy
hood by his travels. And the first tim
l saw him with Leonie l knew why m,
love had failed to meet its return. 4
childish friendship had grown by tina
long separation into n life love. TIL
eyes that had ever met mine with tn
frankness of friendship dropped shyl,
beneath Sidney's gaze, while the cheel
that had never changed color for me
flushed at his coming, ever before b
spoke.
Yet I would not quite despair unit
meeting them together, on a hazy jun
evening, walking slowly, as lovers wall;
I heard O soft, signing voice whisper
II have always loved you, Sidney!"
; In their happiness they never guesse,
my presence, and / shrank back behint
a friendly tree till they passed me by
and were lost to my sight.
Then I threw myself into my profes
sional duties, trying so to feed my starv
ing heart, studying diligently, and civ
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