Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-03
| SAINT |
|ELIzAbE:: TIL
BY ANNA =. PATTEN.


1t was a steady downpour of rain.
such as taxed the resources even Of
our merry house party. that sent mo
to seek amusement in the portrait
gallery at Redfern hall. From the
time of my arrival, week before, |
had loved to stroll there daily. specu
lating over the probable history of
those knights in armor and beruffled
danes of the past. My special favor
lite, however, was the portrait of a
lovely young girl kneeling before her
prize dieu telling her rosary. She was
not strictly beautiful, but her face
wore such sweetly pensive express
SIGN. with SO rapt and tender a look
in the eyes, that she seemed to lack
only the halo to become a saint.
1t was before this picture that
stood, absorbed in admiration, when
the housekeeper passed through, on
her way to her quarters. | took the
opportunity of gratifying my curiosity.
That picture? Oh, that is Saint
Elizabeth" she announced, in reply
TO my inquiry. Poor thing" brush
ing her apron across her eyes, its a
sad story-the tragedy of the house.
you know"
/ did not know, but was so anxious
20 learn that Mrs Fairbanks was finally
prevailed upon to return with her sew
ing and relate the history of my favor
ite portrait. And a long story il is"
she preluded, as we settled ourselves
in coy alcove where we could be
free from Interruptions, yet within
sight of Saint Elizabeth at her devo-
tons. "A long story, though her life
was short enough, poor dear! There's
very few people as knows of ii but
me. My mother was housekeeper at
the time, and she told me all the
facts of the case"
After a brief silence. during which
Mrs. Fairbanks dropped her work
and gazed pensively at the Madonna
like face. as If questioning whether
she should divulge its hGllowed his
tory. she continued:
1T was in Master Rupert's time.
He was a queer piece, | should Judge,
from what mother saba sort of
mixture. His mother was a Spaniard,
and he got his quick temper from that
side of the house, but he was cold
and self-contained on the surface, like
all the Redferns; so, you see, when
he did give way TO his anger, IL was
something fearful. Mother said that
at such times everybody got out of
the way who could possibly do So
Still he was battered and made much
OF, for he was rich and titled and the
young ladies they smiled on him. and
! their mammas entertained him, but IL
was all of no use. He cared nothing
for any of them. He just buried him
self in the library with his books, or
up in the studio with his pictures, for
he was a fine artist and could have
made a fortune with his brush If he
had minded to, which only goes to
prove that the Bible tells the truth
when 1t says: To him that hath shall
be given. Mrs. Fairbanks paused
tural philosophy.
so you see, after awhile the gentry
folks they sort of gave him up. They
all came to the conclusion that there
never would be a mistress at the hall
but, bless me, they made a mistake,
One summer Master Rupert flew off
on a sketching triple was always
doing that way, starting off without
a moments notice, and expecting his
things TO be all packed up and ready
Well, he met her by accident. in some
out-of-the-way place in the mountains,
and II was all up with him. He made
up his mind TO marry her on the spot
Every one wondered afterward at his
choice To be sure she had a lovely
face, but then she was only q slim
bit of girl, with shy, shrinking ways:
not at all the grand lady you'd think
he'd have picked out for the mistress
of this great house.
"As for the girl. poor little thing,
living there In the wilds, she had moth
ing to say in the matter except her
yes" at the altar. 1t was ali fixed
up between Sir Rupert and her moth
er; she simply obeyed her mother
now, as she had done every hour of
her life. Il probably never occurred
to her that she could do anything else
"Ah, but il was a gala day, they say,
when the master brought his wife
home! The bells were rung, bonfires
were built. and fiower.girls strewed
blossoms In their path. She seemed
awed by all the splendor. and a little
frightened at being the center OF so
much attention. She shrank closer to
her husband and glanced up at him
timidly, but, instead OF cheering her
by a sweet word OF announcement.
he just spoke stern like to her. as IL
to remind her of her duty. Oh, yes.
he was fond of her; you could see
that by the way his eyes followed her
from place to place, but, like all the
Redferns. he didn't believe in show.
ing II.
We'll, there were gay goings-on for
time. The house was full of guests.
and my lady was made much of. and
some OF her timidity was beginning to
wear away; but now IL was the
/