Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1903 — Sunny Bank Farm [ARTICLE]

Sunny Bank Farm

BY FLOYD LIVINGSTON

' CHAPTER till. —Whether Dn Clayton cared, for me or not he exerted hia influence in my behalf, plainly telling John Thompson that , he ought to be ashamed to annoy me as MAM; and dropping a few Uinta to Kira. I Thompson, who now tried to restrain her •on, so that after the party hostilities In that quarter nearly ceased. But the ball waa in motion, and could not well be stopped; for what the Thompsons bow lacked the rest of the district made up<lt was the general impression, I Relieve, that the scholars had learned nothing •are a few piecea of poetry, and that 1 had done nothing but whip, scold and cry. To 'all these accusations I plead guilty; and when Mr. Randall one day proposed to me to bring my labors to a close, I replied that “nothing could please me better,” though there was a tremor in my voice as I thought how the people of Sunny Bank would laugh. Mr. Randall probably divined my thoughts, for he quickly rejoined, “The weather is gettin’ •o hot that the youngsters need a vacation. Mebby, in the fall, when it is cooler, we shall have you back." And so it was settled that school should close the next week on Saturday- When the time came around Dr. .Clayton came to say good-by, and when jha left me he placed on my hand at parting a little gold ring, on which was inscribed simply, “Rosa.” “It was the gift of friendship,” he •aid, “nothing moreand lie wished me to wear it “for the sake of the fewpleasant hours we had spent together.” - T wtrppoae it was wrong in me to accept it. I thought so then, but I tould not refuse it; and remembering the fate of the one sent by Herbert Langley to Anna, I resolved upon keeping it a secret, and wearing it when I was alon?. For a long time I sat in the deserted school room, while the damp air came through the open window; nor was I reminded of the lapse of time until it began to grow dark around me; then hastily throwing on my things, I startl'd for Mr. Ranwetting my feet, for I had no rubbers with me. As the result of this, when I awoke next inorning 1 ‘was conscious of a pain in.my. head, .a soreness in my throat, and au aching of my back, quite unexpected as it was disagreeable. I had taken a violent cold. At night, when my father came for me, I was almost too weak to stand alone; but the excitement of riding imparted to me an artificial strength, which wholly deserted me the moment I reached home, and , for many days 1 kept my bed, attended by Dr. Clayton, who accidentally heard of my illness, and who came daily to I •ee me. Grandma asked Idin how htK accounted for my rapid pulse and flushed cheeks, and he very gravely replied that “possibly my heart might be affected—the symptom seemed much like it,” adding, as he saw the look Of concern on grandma’s face, “but I think I can cure that, don’t you. Rosa?” turning to me, and taking my haud to see how fast my pulbe did beat. ■ “ After this grandma made no further objections to his visits. “If Rosa had the heart disease, and he could cure it, ire ought to do so.” . But alas! for the heart disease which feeds upon the smile of one who, when sure that he holds it in his grasp, casts it from him, as children do a long-covet-ed toy of which they have grown weary.’ • ••••*•

Alas, for thee, Rosn! A few miles to the southward, and the same son which now shines softly on you, looks in through a richly curtained window, and its golden rays fall on the queenly form of your rival, who, with a’ look of exultation on her finely cast features, listens to the words she has long waited to hear, and which have now been spoken; while he, of whom you dream, bends gently over her, his own—his betrothed! And still, i In the very moment of his triumph, there I comes up before him a pale, childish face, which, with its dreamy eyes of bine, looks reproachfully upon him. But pride and ambition weave together a veil which hides the image from his view, bidding him forget that any other save the peerless Dell e'er stirred the fountain of his love. Would it I»e well for us always to know what is passing in the minds of our friends, whether present or absent? Could Rosa Lee have known what had transpired she would not have darted away so quickly as she did, when told that Dr. Clayton was coming through the , gate one afternoon. Taking from its hiding place the ring—his gift—she placed it upon her finger, nnd with heightened color went down to greet the doctor, who had come to make his farewell visit —for four weeks from that night Dell Thompson would be lus wife. Long had he debated the propriety of seeing Rosa again, conscience bidding him leave her alone, while inclination clamored loudly for one more quiet talk with her, one more walk by moonlight, one more look into her childish face, and then he would \ leave tier forever; never again suffering : a thought of her to come between him aud the bride of his choice. And for this purpose he had come; but when he saw how joyfully Rosa met him, and how the bloom deepened on her usually pale cheeks, his heart misgave him. and for tlie first time he began to realize the wrong be had done her. But it was now too late to remedy it, he thought; and as if bent upon making matters worse, he asked her to accompanyhim |n a walk down the green lane, to the haunts he knew she loved the best. Oh, that walk! how long it lingered in the memory of Rosa, for never before had the doctor’s manner been so marked, or his words so kind as when together they sat upon the moss-grown bank, beneath the spreading vine, while he talked to her •f the past, of the happiness he had ex- . perienccd in her society, and which he said would be one of the few green spots, to which, in the years to come, he should ' look back with pleasure. Th n n drawing her so closely to him that her head almost rested upon his Shoulder, he asked of her the privilege of "once kissing her before they parted"—he did not say forever, but the rustling leaves and the murmuring brook whispered it In her •ar as she granted hlb request, shuddering the while, sad Wondering at the strangeness of his manner. Feasibly be

had it in his'mind to tell her, but if so, he found himself unequal to the task, and he left }ier without a word of the coming events, of which she had not the slightest- suspicion, CHAPTER IX. Although Sunny Bank and Pine District were distant from each other only four or five milep, there was between the two neighborhoods but little communication; and this, added to the fact that Aunt Sally Wright was confined to her bed, was undoubtedly the reason why the news of the approaching nuptials did not reach us until the week before the time appointed for them to take place. It was a warm, suitry day in July that Aunt Sally, who was now convalescent, - sent us word that she would visit us that afternoon; the little girl who brought the message adding that “Miss Wright said Miss Lee needn’t put herself out an atom, as she wasn’t a bit particular what she ett.” About one o’clock she came, talkative and full of news as ever. I was suffering from a severe headache, which during the morning had kept me confined to the bed; but knowing how much Aunt Sally would have to tell, and feeling curious to hear it all, I went down to the sitting room, where her first exclamation was, “Now do tell, what makes you look so down in the mouth? But law; it’s no wonder, serin’ you’ve lost the doctor slick ■imd iW 5. ■ _ A dim foreshadowing of the truth came orer me; LuL.gith a strong effort I controlled my feelings, and in a very~lS-' different manner asked her what she meant. ■ - ... "Now I'll give up,” said she, “if you hain’t heerd on’t. Why, it’s in every--body's mouth. They are to be married next Thursday night at nine o’clock; and the, dress is white satin, with a veil that comes most to the floor.” “Who is to be married?” asked Anna, eagerly, her interest all awakened by the mention of white satin and lace veils. “Why, Dr. Clayton and Dell Thompson,” returned Aunt Sally. “They was published last Sunday; Andy Slossou see it himself and told me. They are goto’ first out to York State, to see them great Falls, and ttren they .are goto’ to live- to Boston, boardin’ at some o’ them big taverns; and Dell has got six bran’-new gowns a-purpose to wear to breakfast. But goodness alive! look at Rosa'” she continued, pointing toward me, who, weary and faint, had lain my head upon the window stool. “She's got the sick headache,” said Anna, while Lizzie, with a delicate tact, for which in my heart 1 blessed her, came up to me, saying, “I don’t believe you are able to sit up; I’d go to bod," Glad of any excuse to be alone, I left the room, going to my chamber, where I wept myself to sleep.. When I, awoke the sun had set, but I heard the voices of the family below, mid once,’ when I thought I caught the souml'of'Dr.’Clayton's name, I involuntarily stopped my ears to shut out the sound. A.moment, after, the door of my room was softly opened, and Carrie eame stealing in on tiptoe. Learning that I was awake, she"” advanced toward me, holding to view a note, which she said had been left there for me by Captain Thompson’s hired man, and was an invitation to the wedding! It was still suffleienaly light for me to see, and leaning upon my elbow, I read on a card that Mrs. Thompson would be “at home” from eight to eleven on the evening of the 25th, while in the corner were the names of “Dr. Clayton and Dell Thompson.” There was no longer a shadow of hope —it was all true, and he had insulted me with an invitation to witness bis marriage with another! I did not know then, as I afterward did, that the invitation was purposely sent by Dell to annoy me. For a moment I forgot my headache my anger, but ere long it returned in nil its force, and if the next day my headache continued with unabated severity, it was not without a sufficient cause, for sleepless nights are seldom conducive to one’s health. Of course I did not attend the wedding, which was said to have been a brilliant affair, the bride and the table lookipg beautifully, while the bridegroom, it was rumored, was pale and nervous, making the responses in a scarcely audible tone of voice.

The’hcxt morning, between eight ami nine o’clock, as I was on my way to school, I met the traveling carriage of Captain Thompson, which was taking the newly married couple to the John was driving, while on the back seat, with hirarm partly around his bride, was the doctor. My first impulse was not ho look at them, but this act pride forbid, and very civilly I returned the nod of Dell nnd the polite bow of the doctor, whose face turned crimson when he saw me. A moment more, nnd a turn of the road hid them from my view; then seating myself upon a large flat stone beneath i a tr ?, where were the remains of n I play house built by my own hands only the nutumn before, I cried out loud, I thinking myself the most wretched of beI ings. nnd wondering if ever any one before bad such trouble ns I! As nearly as I nnt able to judge. I was takttig my flnt lesson in lovesickness! a kind of disease which is seldom dangerous, but, like the toothache, very disagreenble while it lists. At least I found it so, and for weeks I pined away with a kind of sentimental melancholy, which now appears to me wholly foolish and ridiculous. Somehow I got the impression that my heart waji all broken to pieces; aud thia fact satisfactorily settled, I began to take a melancholy pleasure in brooding over my early death, %nd thinking how Dr. Clayton would feel when he heard the sad news. Almost every week I was weighed, feeling each time a good deal chagrined to find that I was not losing flesh as -fast as a person in a decline would naturally do. Tn this state of affairs, I one <lnr came across a little eketclt More, in which her early disappointment was described, nnd forthwith I likened myself to her, and taking courage from her example, I finally concluded that If I could not have the doctor 1 could at least' write for the

newspapers, adld some da Al might perhaps belpble to make a b£ok. The bridal -party returned from the Falls, and after spending a week or more at Captain Thompson’s, the doctor took down his sign, boxed up his books, pills, powders A n( l skeleton, which some called his “’natoffiy,” while Dell packed up her six morning gowns with hosts of other finery, and thetr one day in August ' they started for Boston, where the doctor hoped for a wider field of labor, fully expecting to be aided by the powerful influence of Mr. Marshall, his wile’c ancle/ whose high station to the city he never once* doubted. ' For this opinion he had, as the world goes, some wellfounded reasons; for not only did Dell often quote “my aunt Marshall of Boston,” but the lady herself also, managed to impress the people of Pine Distinct with hes superiority over them, and her great importance at home. It was a dark, rainy njght when they arrived, and as it was cold: sos j|»e »eason, their rooms seemed cheerless and dreary, while, to crown all, the brido of six weeks wqs undeniably and decidedly onf.of ten\pct; finding fault with everything, even to her handsome husband, who fidgeted and fussed, brought her the bottle of hair oil instead of cologne, stepped on her linen traveling dress with his muddy boot, thought of Rosa Lee and wondered if she were ever cross, and asked Dell how old her grandmother was, received for an answer, “I don’t know and I don’t care;” after which he went

downstairs until informed that supper was ready. Eat all alone, Dell refusing to go down—found her in tears bn returning to his room, was told that she was “homesick, and wished she’d never come.” lie began to wish so, too, but said “she’d feel better by and by.” Sat for an-hour or more cross-legged, listening to the rain, and wondering if there was a cure for nervousness; finally went to bed and dreamed of Rosa Lee and the moonlit night when they sat under the old oak tree and of the little gold ring. The next inorning Mrs. Dr. Clayton was all smiles, and when, with her handsome eyes, shining hair, and tasteful wrapper, she descended to the breakfast room, she attracted much attention. Nothing of this escaped the doctor, nr-d with a glow of pride he forgot the vexations of the night previous, for well he knew that the little plain-faced Rosa could not compare with the splendid woman at his side. Breakfast being over, he ventured to suggest the possibility of their soon receiving a call from her aunt; but Dell hastily replied that such a thing was hardly probable, as her aunt had her own affairs to attend to, and would not trouble herself about them. “I don’t know where you got the idea that Uncle Marshall is such a great man —ifot from me, certainly,” said. “But got it you have, and it’s time you know the truth. He is a good, honest man, I dare say, and respectable, too; but he is not one of the ton, by any means. Why, he's nothing more nor TeSF than a tailor, and earns his bread from day to day.” “But his wife,” interrupted the doctor, “how happens it that she suports such style?”

"Oh, that’s easily accounted for," returned Dell. "They have no children—she is fond of dress, and spqnds all she can get for that purpose. She was an apprentice girl and learned her trade in iny-ueele’s shop, and it is said sometimes helps him new when he is pressed hard.” "Why did you never tell me this before?" asked the doctor, his brow grownot for my relations.” “Andwhy should I tell you?" answered Dell. "What did I suppose you cared whether he were a prince or a tailor? You married me. I hope, for myself, and not for my relntions.fi” The doctor thought of the ton thousand dollars just in time to force down the answer which sprung to his lips, and which was far better to be unuttered; so, in its place, he asked, "Where do they live?” • ■ “On a back street, some distance from here,” said Dell; adding that their house, though small, was pleasant and nearly furnished. “It is well enough in the country to have a city aunt on which to plume one’s self," she continued, laughingly; “but here, where she is known, 1 do not intend having much intercourse with her, for a physician and a .tailor will, of course, occupy entirely different positions. However, I must treat her, at first, with a show of politeness, t,nd if you are so disposed, we’ll go round there and call this morning." The doctor made no objections. The house, at which they finally stopperl, a pleasant little cottage, with a 'nicely kept yard in front, while the parlor was quite tastefully furnished. Mrs. Marshall herself answered their ring, appearing greatly surprised when she sgw them, but not more so than Dr. Clayton, who would never have reeoguiz.ed the dashing lady of Pine District in the plqjnlooking woman who, in a cheap calico wrapper, unbrnshed hair and checked ■apron, now sat before him—his aunt. Aud yet he could not help thinking her far more agreeable than he had ever seen her before. The truth was that Mr* Marshall was one of those weak-minded women who, being nothing at home, strove to make amends by “making believe” abroad.” After the first flutter of meeting the doctor was over, she sot about entertaining them to the best of her ability, inviting them to stay with -her to dinner, and urging as nn indnee.ment that she was goiug to have "peaches and cream for dessert.” But Dell rather haughtily declined, whereupon her aunt asked, “When she would come round nnd spend the day?” saying, “she must do so before long, or they might not be In that house.”

“Not be in this house! Why not?" naked Dell; and Mrs. Marshal) replledF “Why, you know, we have always rented it of Mr. Lee, and he talks of selling it. He has a brother in Sunny B.lnk whom you may know.” “Ta he wealthy?" asked the doctor. “Why, ye-es, 1 suppose so,” said Mrs. Marshall, hesitatingly, as if unwilling to admit what she eould not deny. “He lives in n big house on Beaqon street- — keeps his carriage—and they say the curtains In the front parlor cost a thousand dollars, and there are only two windows, either." Here she cast a deprecating glance toward her own very prettily embroitlerod muslin curtains, which probably coat about a hundredth part of that sum. Roon lifter, the newly married pair arose to go. the doctor feeling,Mn spite of himself, a little nnoomfortable, though st what he hardly knew; for he would not acknowledge to himself that he was at all disappointed because Deli’s uncle was * tailor instead of a millionaire, or be-

Rosa’s Mtofe lived 4>n • Beacon •treat, and sported curtaihrtwhich co* a fhfcupand dollars. This did not to tM letfsr affect Deft She was his with, ‘and as such he would love and cherish her, ministering as far as possible to her wants, and overlooking the faults which he she. possessed. Tims reasoned his better nature as he rode home, unconscious that the object of bis thoughts was at that very moment misconstruing his silence jnto and writing agatosrtijm bitter thlrfgs in her iheart. It was a peculiarity of Dell's to get angry when people least expected it, nnd then to sulk until such time as She fit to be gracious; so when they reached the hotel her pent-up wrath exploded; and, in angry tones, she accused him of feeling sorry that he had married her, because her nncle didn’t prove to be a great man as he had supposed. , (To be continued.)