River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-09-10
A LONG
WAITING
By SUSAN ARCHER WEISS

1T WAS a charming little oldfash-
toned cottage of which we-my sis
tiers and myself-took possession rather
late in the season at the seaside village
of Onanoke. 1t was the property, the
agent told us, of Miss Hester Place, who
being on a prolonged visit to an invalid
sister, had authorized him to let it for
the summer to mice, responsible peo-
pie"
1.-The rents low" he said, "for seeing
she's well off, she cares less for that than
keeping away the mice and moths. She
was born in this house and has lived here
nigh upon so years, and is as nice a lady
as ever I saw. That's her portrait there,
over the mantelpiece," he added, with
a careless wave of his hand.
The picture thus referred to repre-
sented young girl with fair, sweet
face, and laughing blue eyes, looking
straight at the beholder.
eff she was as pretty as that" said
my youngest sister, Louise, i wonder
that she never married"
lizard to please, reckon" he replied,
indifferently, ''for they say she's had
plenty of offers. Well, ladies, I'm glad
that you like the house and the furni-
ture AS you see, there's nothing to be
done but little sweeping and busting,
and to fix that loose mantelpiece, which
I'll attend to tomorrow"
AS it happened, was passing through
the room when this bit of repairing was
in progress, and noticing amid the
eI, az h I'M I o1,
like letter, took it up and examined
it. 1t was much discolored, and saw to
my surprise that the seal had never been
broken. Evidently it had many years
since slipped between the wall and the
mantelpiece, and so been lost The ink
was faded to a dull yellowish tint, but l
made out the direction, Miss Hester
Place." and decided to send it to her so
soon as could ascertain her present adj
dress. Meanwhile, | slipped it into a
drawer of cabinet and in time forgot
all about it.
We found our new abode delightful,
and we're careful to make no change ex-
cept to arrange some of the furniture
TO suit our own convenience l fitted
up a little nook in a parlor window,
where with my books or work, could
enjoy a glimpse of the sea and watch
the summer visitors who passed that
way
Among the daily passers-by l soon
observed an old gentleman whose ap-
pearance interested me from the first.
He was TALL thin figure, attired in
somewhat old-fashioned garb, worn, but
scrupulously neat. With one gloved
hand grasping q cane and the other be-
hind his back, he would pass slowly.
always alone and never exchanging
greetings with any whom he met.
One very warm day he appeared as
usual, but instead of passing, stopped
and rested his arms on our garden
fence, and l heard him ASS Jane, our
servant, for a drink of water from the
we'll. He looked tired and oppressed by
the heat, and FASTENED to the door and
invited him to come in and rest while
the girl drew fresh water. He replied
with just the old-fashioned courtesy |
had expected thanking me and accom-
panying me into the cool parlor Seated
in an armchair and refreshed by the
sparkling draft from the well, he chatted
easily. while we listened, interested.
We learned that he was Mr. Arthur
Groby, brother of the late Judge Groby.
whose fine old mansion overlooked the