Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-05-02
CHAPTER M.

NTAPTEk M.
The house which Mrs. Lansing termed
her country rcsidcncc--for she always
spoke of her brothers possessions as her
own-was n large double log building.
containing nothing very elegant IN the
way Of furniture. hut still presenting nm
mir of ncatncss and comfort; for Aunt
Dinah. who had charge of 1t. prdcd her
self upon keeping II neat and clean. us
Ter master was likely to come upon her
ut any time without warning, and she
liked to impress him with her rare quail
iications as housckcepcr. 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 turban and all the dignity Of her
position. the old lady hustled about from
room to room. jingling her keys, kick
ing the dogs. cutting the woolly pate OF
any luckless wight who Glanced to bc in
her way. aud 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 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 II she were
1 "a l..s... IA L.. 1As
Clayton would marry another. Such Ia
the world. to which Ada formed no en-
| ccption. for how often do We hear the
future companion Of brokcn-hcartcd
man selected even before the wife Of his
bosom Is removed forever from his sight.
For a long time Mrs. Lansing sat there
with Ada aud hcr children. talking Oh in
different subjects and occasionally con.
graduating herself that they were beyond
reach of the fever. unless. indeed, Jessie
had contracted 1t by her foolish careless
ness. On her lap rested the little golden
head of the child. who was humminy
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.
1
vertcd to her govcrness, aud as she list
cned to the Whispering wind signing
through the trees. she fancied II was the
voice of Rosa bidding hcr 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 bcatcous
form was missing. and they would fain
allure'it back to it's native sky.
Come now to the saddest part of my
story. Beneath the evcrgreens of tho
sunny South IL little mound. over which
the shining stars keep watch. and the
cypress spreads its long green boughs,
while the children Of the plantation.
dark -browcd though they are. tread soft.
" near that grave. which they sally
strrw with flowers. speaking In low tones
of "the Angel Of The Pines as tbey
term the fair young girl who passed ~
suddenly from their midst. 1t was ow
nearly five weeks since Mrs. Lansing had
fled from the pestilcnce which, walked ut
MONDAY. and though 1t had In a meas
ure abnted In the village. there were
still frequent cases. and she would not
have deemed 1t safe TO return, even IL
typhoid fever, which she feared nearly
as much. had not been In her own house.
so there was no alternative but to stay,
uncomfortable though she was, FOR the
weather was intensely hot. and she miss
al many of the luxuries of her home
Still. It was healthy there, and this in a
measure rcconcilcd her to remain. Occa-
sionnlly. It Is true, she heard runors Of
the cholera on some distant plantation,
hut 1t seldom visited the pine rgions--
| Ia 81, -