The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1870-12-22


has grown still older and wiser i
her domestic sphere. She is Aun
Hopes right hand IL deeds Of Low
and charity. A few days after m,
arrival she came in from q morninl
walk hurriedly, and said in sympa
thetic tones,
Il just heard that Major ed
wards youngest child was down with
dipthery, and the rest a takin' it,
You ought TO go and see 'em righ
away, Miss Hope. Eaey,a too young
to take care Of The little ones, and
it's a chance if the black woman
knows how. Poor motherless things
won't you 60 over?'
"NOt to-day" Mrs. Bond, "bu
you must, and see that they are
comfortable. I presume they are
though, and Alice, go along, if you
choose J you may give Lucy some
valuable hints"
Mrs. Bond evidently anticipated
the permission, for she had not re-
moved her bonnet. 1 afterward:
found that all such conversations
brought the same result. Glad for
an adventure, I accompanied the good
Samaritan, who beguiIed our little
Journey with eulogies Of the Major
and his dead wife how delicate she
always was, and how they gave up
housekeeping soon after his return
from the war, and went to the ocean.
side, where Death still followed, and
bafaed the health-giving sea-breeze.
We raped at the oaken door and
were admitted into a desolate hall
from thence to the sitting room,
which wore a dilapidated air
its carpet faded, each article of furni-
ture chosen in direct defiance of the
style Of every other, independent in
color and material, and in the midst
of this ineODgruity, MAJOR Edwards
received US with easy grace.
We found the children suffering
intensely, and my plan of giving
Lucy, the eldest, SOME 'valuable
hints" was for the present abandon,
ed, for she lay in an adjoining room,
quite i'll with fever. 1 sat down by
her bed, listened to her heavy breath
ing and admired the beauty of her
flushed face, while Mrs. Bond return
cd 10 the blazing fire. 1 could hear her
advising this and that, and prohibit
ing the other, with confident assur-
apce, feeling that to be heard was to
be obeyed.
"'Pears to me its awful lonesome
here, Major ~ she said, half interrog-
atively.
"Yes," he answered, "the room
needs Frightening"
"Sakes alive! I think so. Miss
Hope says there's nothing like har-
mony of.cOlors to keep ones spirits
up. Now, this carpets a sight on
earth to behold, and I'll wager you
paid the price O. two good ones for
itg'
I was sure the Major bad not
meant to be interpreted in SO literal
a sense and presently he said,
"I don't care so much for that. 1
gave up all attempts at tasty arrange
ment indoors long ago. That is
something mon enjoy, without capac-
ity to bring it about. But I do feel
a need at the hearth-stone."
"Who wouldn't9 Who ever see
such a hearth anyhow! Venetian
reds mighty good paint, and put
On once a week 'twould change things
powerful round here"
Mrs. Bonds uncomplimeutary as
aroused the Majors mirth,
and he laughed more immoderately,
thought, than the occasion demand
sd.
Aunt Hope inquired after the chill
1Fen, and sent the housekeeper to
spend part Of each day with them
till they were pronounced out of
danger.
Spring was far advanced when 1 |
received letter from home, telling
me I was needed there. I stood by
the open window in my room, think
Ing of new ties to be severed, when
Major Edwards appeared in sight,
not to pursue the road to the
village as usual, for be alighted from
his horse and came in. When he took
his leave, went to tell Aunt Hope Of
ny letter and its contents, but her
betrayed deep thought-a |
whole store-house Of memory seemed |
unlocked, and she, in soul, walking !
the long-deserted ehambtrs.
I paused, but my steps startled her,
md she came back to the present, to
ind me with an amazed expression,
1eside her.
nWeH, didn't 1 do rigbtg' she
asked.
"Aboht what ~
'In rejecting Major Edwards"
"Did be propose ?" was my salts !
factory reply.
"How else could 1 have rejected ?"
With a nervous little laugh, sadder
-hah a wall, sand yet, she continued. |
s'I don't feel like laughing. It is 3
little story, neither thrilling nor 70
commencing before you were
,,rn We v5era iovars than nave,