The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-10-19

dreadful life, which she wondered
sometimes now to think had ever ex-
listed, and the new, pleasant life, which
had become so familiar to her. But to
go to Abbotsville, and spend six weeks
in Garments company, without any les
sons to learn, was the first real holiday
that Margaret had ever enjoyed, and
she was wild with delight at the an
ticipation.
1--WE will have on end of fun" ex-
claimed Carmen, who, at sixteen, was
developing into a handsome young
woman; "for Uncle Frederic scarcely
ever moves out of the library; so we
shall have the house to ourselves-and
there is such a beautiful garden, and
fields, and farmyard, and COWS and all
sorts of things you have never seen be-
fore"
To poor Margaret, indeed, whose Wis
ions of the beautiful had alternated be-
tween the paving stones of Covent Gar
den and the rocky arena of Miss Prism's
'park-like grounds" the change from
Blackheath to Abbotsville, fine old
building of red granite, dating from the
fifteenth century, was like a glimpse
into the fairy land she was so fond OF
reading about and specializing on. The
deep glades by which it was surrounded,
carpeted with ferns and wild flowers, in
the shadow of which the speckled deer
stood timidly to drink, were marvel
of beauty to the own-bred girl, and
the Monks Walk, said to be three hun
dred years old, where the box trees had
grown until they met and embraced
each other overhead, filled her with de-
licious terror without knowing the rea-
son why. 1t was on a glowing August
afternoon that the girls arrived at Alb
louisville, and a carriage met them at
the station and conveyed them in state
to the mansion Here, to Margaret's
surprise, they found luncheon spread
with all ceremony for themselves alone.
Glow funnyw she exclaimed; do
you live here all by yourself, Carmen
Is there nobody in the house but you
and me?"
ooh. there's uncle, of course, but he
never takes luncheon" replied Carmen,
with her mouth full of cold chicken;
1--WE shan't see him till dinner, and
there's Mrs. Webb, the housekeeper,
who orders everything, and will look
after our clothes and trot us off to
church on Sundays. But otherwise, as
told you at old Prisms, we shall have
the place to ourselves"
ct is delightful-en chantingw cried
Margaret, ''just as if we were two prin-
cesses shut up in magician's castle,
like Princess Floralia, in the Fairy
Ring How / wish there was a mys-
terry at Abbotsville-some dread secret
that no one ever discovered before, and
that should be left for us to find out for
ourselves! Don't you, Garment"
But Carmen did not answer, and as
Margaret glanced up at her, she fancied
she had grown red and looked annoyed.
What nonsense are you two little
ladies talking about?" exclaimed a
sharp voice, as there entered the dining
room, a small, withered-looking woman,
dressed in quaint, old-fashioned cos
tune.
"Ah, Webb, is that you?" replied Car
men, carelessly; there is my friend,
Miss O'Reilly-you must put up sec
ond bed in the south room for her.
You can't sleep in the south room,
Miss Carmen" interrupted the house
keeper, quickly.
"And why not, pray?-because it's
too good for us, suppose
ooh, no, miss! haven't you always
slept there? But still"
"Well, mean to continue to sleep
there, and so does Miss O'Reilly. We
intend to sleep together, but you know
can't stand anyone in my bed with
me-"
81 know you're as fond of your ease
as you are of your own way, Miss Car
men, and that's saying good deal for
it. But what was Miss O'Reilly saying
as l came into the room? We have no
secrets nor mysteries at Abbotsville.
thank heaven, and hope we never may
haver
81 was only saying how nice it would
be if there were one" said Margaret
in a low voice, for the little woman s
sharp way of speaking intimidated her.
The voice, low as it was, seemed to
strike Mrs. Webb's attention, for she
turned at once to look at the speaker.
God bless my soul!' she cried.
What for?" demanded Carmen.
That's just like your impudence,
Miss Carmen" replied Mrs. Webb; "but
this little lady has beautiful hair, just