The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-04-22
FROM THE GRAVE.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

but, knowing have not many DAYS
left of this earth's weary pilgrimage,
write out the experience that has
made me poor man and lonely one,
though, l humbly trust, not a useless
one.
Nearly Is years ago 1 settled in
Gresham. village then, and taking it's
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 q cottage in the village
and $500 in money. but after that must
make my own way.
The offer was generous continu-
ance of kindness shown to me from boy
hood, when l was left an orphan and
penniless. I gladly accepted it, and
went at once to Gresham, where my
only rival was a practitioner nearly 80
years old, DR.. Farnell, who occupied
. cottage directly opposite to mine.
Being in easy circumstances and very
feeble, DR.. Farnell was more than will
ing to send me patients, until, gradual
1y, 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 young physician.
Scarcely an evening passed but found
me at his cottage to discuss the cases
of the day, in each and all of which he
took keen professional interest.
But. before l had been year in
Gresham, 1 found my professional talks
formed but secondary interest in
my visits to DR.. Farhell'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 favorite 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
picture Leonie Farnell as she was in
that first year of my love for her. My
love, I 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 and a gentle, refined modesty.
She had been carefully educated, but
had no brilliant accomplishments, un-
less a gift of MAILING home an altogeth-
er charming place may rank in that cat
egory. Orphaned I'M infancy, she had
been the darling of her grandfather's
heart, but. dearly as he loved her. he
was never averse to my suit. He read
my hearts secret even before guessed
it's 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 pre-
pared to speak to Leonie of my love.
had waited until l felt secure of my
position at Gresham, and l hoped to
waken some warmer token of love on
Leonie's part. For even then guessed
dimly, what know, and soon knew GER
tainly, that had won only calm, SIS
terly affection in return for the absorb
ing devotion of my heart.
! have said nothing yet of my inter-
course with my Uncle Gresham, the
grandee of the little village, whose
large, handsome house was the center
OF attraction to all strangers, and whose
income was supposed to be something
of almost fabulous extent, and really
was that of very wealthy man.
n,,r;po that 3irct hr;rb% voor <f ,,,1
life in the village he had started, my
intercourse with my uncle was as pleas
ant as all other parts of my life, and
was frequent and welcome visitor
at his house.
But in one brief sentence l may re-
cord the event that wrought change
in all-my love, my friendships, my
welcome at Gresham Place. My cousin,
Sidney, Uncle Gresham's only child,
came home from Europe, where he had
been travelling for five years.
From that time l marked change
in my reception at the house, where
had been assured OF most cordial well
come, and my visits soon became those
exacted by my gratitude only. 1t hurt
me cruelty to see that my uncle's affec-
tion was being won from me, but there
was far more bitter cup soon to be
placed at my reluctant lips.
Sidney came to DR.. Farnelrs as q
guest sure of welcome, to renew a
friendship only interrupted since boy
hood by his travels. And the first time
saw him with Leonie knew why my
love had failed to meet its return. A
childish friendship had grown by that
long separation into life love. The
eyes that had ever met mine with the
frankness of friendship dropped shyly
beneath Sidney's gaze. while the cheek
that had never changed color for me,
flushed at his coming, even before he
spoke.