The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-12-08

| nuuu IIuIu lhto ouWGb. III I'm not
pretty careful, tho Pyle will marry me
by main force, A man might have q
worse wife than Paulina too, although
abe has some little peculiArties that are
unpleasant 10 me. How unlike abe II
% MetellA-deaF little Metellai l Wonl
der what has become Of hei1 So,
1nvoluntArily his hand sought the
pendant Of his wntoh chain, where o
tiny, scented bankot hung, with key,
seals and all the other appendaRes Of q
gentleman'a watch-A toy whose spicy
Oriental fragrance brought back the
woods, and the red lines Of nunseE,
and Metella's face, like o half-iorgollon
dream. .,..-.' NJ. IITrI-I =
he was Blanulng on the steps next
day with swarm Of little repheWu
and nlecea ollnRine demonitTatiyely
around him, when Q sturdy old farmer,
with face brown and ruddy aB an
autumn leaf, drove up 10 the door.
Good morning, Square, cried the
countryman, ina voice that was blum
aud hearty 10 gale Of wind In the pine
Good morning, air. returned our
'I'ye brought that there peck o.
S cheat ' tho misses ordered last
Peck Of chestnutsF' el3 h.l.
'Oh, yes, Uncle Ralphl' chlmed In
half dozen small voices; I'VE are 70
have 0 chestnut roasting for Penis
birthday. Ips all right ~ [T7
And accordingly the basket OF brown
shining treasures were brought In, es-
corted by full procession OF children,
and transferred 10 D big wooden tray
on the kitchen table, Uncle Ralph, pre-.
Gliding In q very bewlldered sort OF q
way. N----...... II
As the farmer poured the cheBtnuts
ont with cheerful. rattllng sound,
something clicked agalnst the side OF
the tray that was neither pFickly bnrr,
Vanished leaf, nor brown cleaning
nut. 49,. - = -
'Hallo!' cried Master Pemford, the
hero Of the birthday occasion. Ar (
'Oh, Unclel' RqneAked little Peggy,
'lps iAtry's cup 30 little and 30 Ira.
iFairy's fddleslickp cried Tom. 1ra
. cherry stone that the squirrels have
nlbbled the kernel out OIL
Mr.. Midway took It In bis hand, II
was tiny basket carved from sandal
wood, the match 10 the toy hanging Rt
his watch chaInl - .
MstOllA'a basket Was II the sum,
mons they had talked Of In that dreamy
way, years and years agoH t-.I.'.
he turned 10 The stout old farmer,
who was complacently counting his
money previous 10 deposltlng It In a
very greasy old portmonlae.
won FaINuH haoar haaR, nntNn
trlous 70 gather all these n1tap he said,
automatically,
Nor
THE children, they're handy, and I
aplays lets 'em have the money; and
old Mrs. Hayes daughter, she picked
lot. They're dretful poor folks, and l
like TO do 'em good turn when l can't
Hayes, Hayes y repealed Midway
nerVoualy. Il thlnk-l am quite sure
they must sold acquAintanceso Of mine,
The daughter 10 married p
mo, Metella amt married, though
she's . proper, nice looking gal, and
Are you going back p
Straight as . string. Ha'n't got
nOLhin' else TO sell, Want lIftH
i would BIO willing to pay you well
H. I. ~ m I -" : -
Don't want no pay for friendly
Jog. Jump In, Square
Il was not far from the great metro
polIs-close on one OF those railroads
whose iron veins forn'part OF ita giant
system OF vitality, where Farmer
DodEe's dwelling reared Ito stack Of
antique ehlmneys, with steep wood
ed hill rlsing up behind, all gorgeous
In its late autumnAl dyes. 7f'Tii'
Dye see that little one story house,
half way up the hltlH There ant bat
one there, 30 You can't miss H.
yes, ] see L. .-.r.
wal; that's where the widow Hayes
and her daughter live. I'de drive Won
up there, but TIA mortal steep hill,
and the old horas 10 pretty well tired
OUT ,... 80
Thanks, there Ia no necessity. I can
And tossing toward Farmer Dodge q
bill which made that honest agrioul-
turiOt open wide. his eyes, our hero sci
on on brisk walk up the hill.
A little low-eaved, wooden cottage,
with border OF bright blossom In
front, and blackblrd's cage hanging In
the aunshlne-lt was but sorry casket
for his Jewel to sparkle In.
Metella was sitting 10 the doorway
sewing, her fair head bent, and one
loosened curl hanging on the cheek
whose bloom was rich and delicate as
ever. She looked up Us he advanced
toward the cottage,
Mr.. MedwAyl'
He drew from his breast the carved
bit OF wood, and held II toward her,
I have come, MeLellAI
Then ensued explanations, under
atandlngs, renewed words OF earnest
Import. Mettie told him how her faith.
er'H death had plunged them into pow
erty; how the toll OF her fragile fingers
supplied the little home with daily
bread; how she picked chestnuta daily
for the New York market; and how,
but day or two aimee, she Lost from
the bit OF ribbon that now circled her
slender throat In lieu OF gold chain,
q tiny relic Of oIden times. :
ooh, Ralph, It was ~ II had lost the
one link that bound me to the sunny
past. searched through the wood
paths. l wearled my eyes seeking
among the rustlIng drifts OF dead
leaves, but all In vain. And now you
have brought 1t back TO met f'-I Z.
And what has become OF your en-
gagsment to the old bachelor cousln7'
i was never engaged TO any one, and
Mrs. Pyle knew thai she was speaking
q ialsehood.' 30 i'H '
my poor little MetIle, and that one
false breath OF gossip has bllghted both
our livesl But It 10 all past now, and
the future lies before uB bright as our
brightest dreams.' ~"
When Ralph Midway returned to
his metropolitan home, he brought
Metella Hayes with him ~ his wife,
and Mrs. Paulina Pyle was sore dis