Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-04-11
Interlude


no speak to the landlord. She told
him that she was a widow, and had
been. residing in a large city, but thai
her health demanded country air. She
told him she had had great misfor
tunes: had lest her husband, her child
and her home; that she had just fifty
pounds left. and thought of finding a
little cottage at Shept0n.
She spoke In a calm, refined voice;
her words were graceful and well
chosen: but, somehow, as the honest
landlord listened 70 the voice, he said
10 himself. This wOman's heart is
broken" There was a quiet resigned
despair i'm IL. more eloquent Of sorrow
than any words could be
Did Mr.. Huntingdon think there
was a little house In the place that
would suit herr"
Then mine host" unequal 70 the oc-
occasion. called for his wife. She
knew Just such a cottage as would suit
The lady: it was on Farmer GraysOn's
land. Just at he entrance to GOrten
Lane. and was called WOOdbine Cot
rage. from the simple fact that IL was
covered with wOcdbine.
And the lady asked If she could
look at IL. because, If It suited her,
she would at once take il and order
some furniture. As her husband had
Teen before her. Mrs. Huntingdon was
struck by the quiet despair in her
voice.
she had known heavy trouble, poor
dear. am sure. said the kind-hearted
woman 20 herself. so heavy that II
has driven her TO bury her days here,
where no soul knows her"
The point was satisfactorily settled.
The lazy thought the cottage might
suit her II Il was quiet, retired. and
cheap. Then came another even more
important matter.
Z have had heavy troubles" said
the sad voice. Il nave lost all ! had
In the world. and from the wreck of
my fortune I have saved just fifty
rounds: that viii buy me little fur
usture and keep me until I get some
thing TO do"
They listened with kindly. sympa-
hiking faces.
DO you think" she asked, that
there Is any way i'm which can make
money here2 am willing 10 do any
thing" From beneath the Grape veil
they saw her face flush. as she said
the words. Il can teach or sew;
would gladly work in any way by
which could maintain myself"
The landlord and his wife looked
at each other; that was 4 far more
serious matter-theY verC al loss 10
zvow what 90 say. TLCTe was no
grOi school T.. the VINCE; perhaps, II
the sadly liked TO try. she might sue
coed. they. al any rate would do their
best for her and they had consider
able influence in the village.
The sad. soft voice thanked them
again. and Mrs. Huntingdon, more
touched than she cared t. own, asked
the lady to take a cup OF tea with
them. promising TO go down TO Wood
bine Cottage with her. She assented
YEARLY. and sat down &c the we'll
spread tea-table.
When she raised her veil they saw a
pale. fair face. unutterably sad and
woe-begone. looking as though all
hope and brightness. all youth and love
had been washed from il by bitter,
constant tears
Has yCur husband been long dead"
the IaudIady asked. and her quick eyes
noted the culver Of pain on the pale
face.
Not quite a year" she replied; and
they thought il only natural that she
should be so quiet aid sad
The cottage suited her, and Farmer
CravsCn was pleased 10 let il &c what
he called a lady tenant" In few
weeks time the lady was settled in her
new home. and had begun to teach a
little school.
II was a quiet place: so quiet as TO
seem ont OF the world The cottage
was built al the cad Of the lane. and
overlooked the green fields. Tall larch
and elm trees made a pleasant shade
near il. and the wind among the
branches made pheasant music toup'
ii. The quiet. the solitude the retired
lonely situation pleased the desolate
lady. Happy wives and mothers
whose homes were full Of love and sun.
shine. pitied her. and asked her il she
were not afraid 70 sleep there alone al
night. and she would answer. with the
saddest smile that ever played on .hu'
man lips. that "she had nothing 70
fear"
The bitterness Of death was past for
the lady who lived at WOOdbine Cot
tage. Gorten lane. She never varied
her simple habits; no one ever saw
her out for pleasure or amusement Al
first kind-hearted people used 10 ash
her out 10 their simple little entertain
ments. but she refused so constantly
they gave il up at last.
Every one liked and respected Mrs.
Rivers. as the lady called herself. She
was so sad. so sweet, so patient, and