Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-04-07
Ooocoocc
CHAPTER XIII.-(Continned.l

SONu "ouiV 10 IN the world, ana now L
would honor the sisterhood. Very slow
~ the morning light came struggling in
through the windows, rousing the weary
passengers, who, rubbing their red-rim-
ned eyes, looked around to see who their
companions were So carefully had
kept my face hidden from view that Ada
mad no suspicion whatever of my pres
ence. At Canandaigua, stepping out up
on the platform in front of the depot, l
looked anxiously around for Herbert, but
he was not there. | found my way TO
the public parlor, which for a few mo-
ments | occupied alone. / had just re-
moved my dusty bonnet, and was brush
ing my tangled hair, when the door open
ed and l stood face to face with Ada
MOntrose. | simply nodded, as / would
to any stranger, and went on with my
toilet, while throwing herself upon the
soft, she exclaimed, Dear me, how tired
1 ami Do you live here?'
'Of course not" 1 answered; II am
CT my way to visit my sister Anna,
whom you perhaps remember"
She turned very red, and replied by
asking if | were in the train which had
just passed.
Yes" J answered, 81 occupied the
seat behind you and-your husbands
it not?"
Affecting to be a little embarrassed,
she said, Not my husband-yet. He
came on to Boston TO accompany NE
home, and wishing to see a friend of
his who lives here, we have stopped
over one train"
| was Oh the point Of asking her about
my aunt, when the door again opened
and there stood before us slovenly look
ing man. attired in a slouched hat, gray
coat, and huge cowhide boots. So COM
plete was the metamorphosis that neither
of us recognized him, until he had ex-
claimed: Ada! How came you here"
Then we knew it was Herbert Langley.
He was rather disconnected at being
seen by Ada in such plight, and after
a little he stammered out an apology,
saying he was farmer now, and lived
in the country, and Of course could not
be expected to dress as he used in the
city.
How is your wife. Mr.. Langley?'
asked Ada in a mockng. deferential tone.
Instantly the whole expression of Her
bert's face was changed, and there was
look Of tenderness and pride in his eyes
as he advanced toward Ada, and whis-
perer in her ear something which l did
not understand. Whatever it was, it
made her blush, as she replied, rather
sneeringly, "0f course l congratula,e
you"
1t was a cold, raw, autumnal day. The
roads were horrible; and as we plowed
through the thick mud | took my first
lesson in genuine inconsistencies, which,
in my opinion, is about as hard to bear
as love-sickness. 1t was in vain that
II
handsome farm houses which we passed,
expatiating upon the richness and fertil-
ity of the soil, and telling me how great
IL superior in everything New York was
TO New England. l scarcely heard him,
for even though in all Massachusetts
there was naught save the rocky hills
and sterile plains, it was my home, and
from that spot the heart cannot easily
be weaned
Rockland is a large, wealthy town,
while scattered through it are two or
three little villages, each bearing dis
tinet name, by which they are known
abroad. First, there was Laurel Hill,
famed as the residence of certain fami-
lies who were styled proud and aristo-
cratic. Next came the Center" with
its group Of red houses, and its single
HpiItf tdf, SlTdlSHl HAu squire. Lastly
came Fiattville by far the largest vii
lage in Rockland, and the home of all
the '.isms" in the known world To the
south. of Flattyille is a small lake, re-
nowned for its quiet beauty. and the pic
turesqlIe wildness of its shores. Bound
ed on three sides by high hills its waters
sleep calmly in the sunlight of summer,
or dash angrily upon the sandy beach,
when moved by the chill breath of win
ter.
On the brow of one of the high hills
stood the home of my sister. 1t was
hngs, wooden building containing rooms
innumerable, while even the basement
was large enough to accommodate one or
more families, Being the first frame
house erected in the town, it was of
course looked upon with considerable in
terest, and as il to make it still more no.
torious. it bore the reputation of being
haunted
Come this way, Rosa" said Herbert,
as l entered the narrow entry so com
mon in oid-fashioned houses; and follow
ing him, / was soon ushered into large
square room, where bright wood IRE
was blazing. In one corner OF the room
was bed, and on it lay Anna. who. the
moment she saw me, uttered a cry of 10Y.
Have you told her?" she asked of
Herbert, when the first pleasure of cur
meeting was over.
lie replied in. the negative, whereJpon
she brought up from under a pile of pill
lows, coverlids, blankets and sheets a lit
tie. tiny, red-faced, wrinkled thing 10
which she said l was aunt! / knew then
why Ada congratulated Herbert. AMI
mentally Gliding myself for my stupidity.
1 took the bundle of cambria and flannel
in my arms, while Anna said. 1--WE call
him Jamie Lee, and we think he looks
like YOU
Wearied with my ride. l asked per
mission 70 retire early; whereupon Dame
Matson. the nurse. volunteered TO show
me the way to my room. Up the mar
row stairs. which creaked at every step.
and on through one gloomy room after
another, she led me until. at last. we
came to a chamber. lighter and more
airy, which. she said. my sister had pa
pered. painted and hIed up for me.
Ii took but a few lays for me to dis
cover that Herbef. was exceedingly pep
ular ut Breeze HILL as the neighborhood
in which he lived was called. His free,
social manners h: wtn for him many
friends. and made him Almost too much
of favorite. AT least. used to think
so. during the long winter egenings when
Anna sat with her baby upon her lap.
listening for the footsteps of her hus-
band, who. al some neighbours hreside.
was cracking the merry Joke and quaf-
fng the sparkling cider. which, at Bre"xe
Hill, was considered essential to hospi-
tally. And all this time Herbert pro-
fessed 10 be strictly temperate; and
when, about the middle Of March, trav-
cling lecturer held forth in the old log
school house. laundering his anathemas
against the use of all spirituous liquors,
Herbert was the most jealous OF all his
listeners.
Knowing this, was greatly surprised.
ffter our retura home. 10 see the young
orator go up 20 the s.deboard and drink
of, At one .draugAt. goblet of the por-
Ter which had been ordered for Anna.