Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-05-12
CHAPTER VV

The house which Mrs. Lansing termed
her country residence-for she always
spoke of her brothers possessions as her
own-was large double log building,
containing nothing very elegant in fine
way of furniture, but still presenting an
air of neatness and comfort; for Aunt
Dinah, who had charge of it, prided her
self upon keeping it neat and clean, as
her master was likely to come upon her
at any time without warning. and she
liked to impress him with her rare quail
ficatiCls as housekeeper. With Mrs. Lam
sing. however, she was less pleased; but
still, as the sister of 'Mars'r Richard"
she was entitled TO consideration. and in
high turbau and all the dignity of her
position. the old lady hustled about from
room to room. jiRz-,,s.fg her keys, kick
ing the dogs, cuffi2sg the woolly pate of
any luckless wight who CHANGED to be in
her way. and occasionally STOPPING down
to kiss little Jessie. who, being of rather
domestic turn. followed her from place
to place. herself assisting in spreading
the supper table, which. with its snowy
cloth. corn cake. iced milk hot coffee and
smoking steaks. soon presented u most
inviting aspect.
Relieved of their fears and thinking
themselves beyond the reach of danger.
Mrs Lansing and Ada gave themselves
up to the enjoyment of the hour. talking
and laughing gayly. without a thought of
the sick girl they had left behind, and
who that night was to have been bride.
Once, indeed. when after sunset they
were assembled upon the rude piazza,
Ada spoke of her, wondering if she were
dead, and how long it would be ere DR..
| Clayton would marry another Such is
the world to which Ada formed no ex-
ception, for how often do we hear the
| future companion of a broken-hearted
man selected even before the wife of his
bosom is removed forever from his sight.
For long time Mrs. Lansing sat there
with Ada and her children. talking On in
| different subjects and occasionally con-
graduating herself that they were beyond
reach of the fever unless, indeed Jessie
| had contracted it by her foolish careless
ness. On her lap rested the little golden
| head of the child. who was humming
snatches of 'The Happy Land" a favor
| lite song which her uncle had taught her,
and which she had often sung with her
| teacher, asking numerous questions con-
corning the better world.
| Very naturally now her thoughts re-
verted to her governess, and as she list
ened to the whispering wind signing
through the trees, she fancied it was the
voice of Rosa bidding her come to the
| happy land" Sweet little Jessie, it was
the voices of angel children which you
heard thus calling through the pines; for
| from their shining ranks one beateous
form was missing. and they would fain
allure it back to its natl e sky.
Come | now to the saddest part of my
story. Beneath the eyergreens of the
| sunny South is little mound. over which
the shining stars keep watch, and the
| cypress spreads its long green boughs,
| while the children Of the plantation.
dark browed though they are. tread soft
| ly near that grave. which they daily
strew with flowers. speaking in low tones
| of 1.-THE Angel of The Pines" as they
term the fair young girl who passed so
suddenly from their midst. 1t was Low
nearly FIVE weeks since Mrs. Lansing had
| fled from the pestilence which walked at
monday, and though it had in a meas
ure abated in the village. there were
still frequent cases. and she would not
| have deemed it safe to return, even if
| typhoid fever, which she feared nearly
as much, had not been in bar own house.
So there was no alternative but to stay,
uncomfortable though she was. for the
weather was intensely hotb and she miss
ed many of the Injuries of her home.
Still, it was healthy there. and this in
measure reconciled her to remain. Occa-
sonally, it is true. she heard rumors of
| the cholera on some distant plantation,
but it seldom visited the pine regions
it would not come there; she was sure of
| that: and secure in this belief, she rested
in comparative quiet, while each day the
heat became more and more intense. The
sun came up red. fiery, and heated like
a furnace; the clouds gave forth no rain;
the brooks were dried up; the leaves
withered upon the trees. while the air
was full of humming insects, which at
night fed upon their helpless. sleeping
victims.