The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1907-05-30

to return to the door when shadow
attracted his attention. Quickly he
turned around-there stood his broth
er's wife. Roger was greatly surprised
for they had been gone but two weeks.
Ere Roger could express his surprise
his brother entered the house, strange
look in his eyes, and went straight to
the mysterious room, produced key,
entered and locked the door. Rosaline
(which was her name) shot question
ing looks at Roger, but he turned and
left the house; for at last he saw that
his brother was drug fiend. He Won
dered if RosaIine guessed the truth, but
not having the heart, so to speak, to
shatter her girlish dreams of welded
happiness, he left the fantastical deco
rated mansion, and two days later was
aboard an ocean liner bound for his
native land. Arriving at his native
village he met, loved, and WOE my
mother
"The recollections of my early years
are compassed with sorrow. was an
only child and when but three years
of age the deadly plague claimed its
quota of victims in my native city,
among them were my parents. 1 was
then placed in charge of an old man
and his good wife. l had an ample
fortune left to me, but it was gold re-
posing in bank. When twelve years
of age a financial crash caused the
bank to suspend. was told that the
Mississippi Bubble had left me penni-
less and that [ was to be sent to an
uncle living far away in some town up
in some mountains.
"Great was my sorrow when I clam
bered aboard train which was to carry
} me to an ocean port-carry me away
FROM my native city, and from my
foster parents. AS the train started
the aged couple smiled, yet, tears were
/ coursing down their cheeks. They
had told me that L should be happy
: where 1 was going and had given me
} two small packages to be opened the
/; day became twenty-one years of age
3 not before.
"After long. tiresome journey across
: land, water, and land l found myself
: upon the depot platform at town
/ called GRANVILLE. The train was hours
: late and no one was there to meet me
Q However, the station agent was on the
lookout for me, and pointing to q
: mansion far up on the hillside in
s formed me that that was the home o1
l. my uncle, and that a servant would
e come after my luggage later.
d II soon arrived at small gate II
5, front of the mansion, but the grandeur
l. before my eyes disconnected me. Herr
r everything betokened wealth while
= was clothed in humble, homespul
e garments. Boyish fears kept me from
1t lifting the gate latch; l wondered if
D would be welcome, then decided t.
le run away from this place and max
r my own way in the world. How man
n. times since then have I wished that
re had! Alas! Ere I could move, tw
ly delicate, ivory arms encircled my nee
n- and sweet voice murmured: 'Cous
r in, you have come 1t was my uncle
le only child, Rosaline, named after he
rs mother.
lg "Rosaline and I were cousins; tt
e. gether we romped and played, O
b. hand in hand went from room t
lie room in the mansion, and strolle
ir around the ds-som etim e
IN strolled thru the city, or thru the wooG
b. near by. In fact, we grew up togethe
sr, There was something strange to m
rs about my uncle and his wife. Viii
On they lavished wealth on me, and taugl
ne me the knowledge of the world, still,
or vague, ~ominous feeling seemed to pc
~ wade the atmosphere when either WI
W, near me. Seldom if ever did they lea1
ch the house, and they kept but two ser
ed ants, both quite aged. Few person
hit ever called and then only on busine
ed matters. My uncle and his wife we
'rd usually in room at one end of Il
lily hallway, but no one else was permitt'
he to enter.
SO "As the years rolled by became q
to customed to the silence and stran
The feeling at the mansion. / remain'
,ut there until was nineteen years Of ag