New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-24

drawing again, those days so long gone by
just as they had done in the morning, only
with such a strange tenderness added III
their touch Miss Marigold closed her eyes
and leaned her head upon her chair, as II
she felt caress. Aud so, "a the twilight
deepened, the present hour still more grew
dim, and as if the Years between now anu
then were blotted out, Miss Marigold
seemed to herself a girl again. How SOIL
and delicate her check was; how rounded
every outline of her form; how long anu sou
and golden her hair and how lightly she
breathed as some one bent over her ana
whispered many things.
Jack Jack a Pinch ~ she said, and
stretched out her hands into the dim light.
into shape again with little spat.
"Why, this will never dol" she exclaimed;
''to get a light, Miss Marigold, and find out
the longitude of Zanzibar. So unintelll-
gent -
But just as she was taking the match in
her hand. there came another knock at the
shop door, and Miss Marigold was startled
again.
"A second time r. she said. $50 unusual
on such day"
Nevertheless, seeing there was still little
glow Of sunset on that side of the way, she
ventured to step to the door and open it.
Not the tight-waisted calico this time, but
a tall stranger, his face much concealed be-
tween his hat and handsome curling beard
OF iron gray.
Il beg your pardon he said, as he
raised his hat slightly; Il don't know that
you attend to sales to day; l don't know
that ought to ask you
ooh, yes, sir" said Miss Marigold, with
her own smile, eff there is anything really
required" and between that moment and
taking her place behind the counter she had
arranged in her own mind the whole account
OF how he had come in town with his wife
tor Thanksg living. and how they either lived
where they could not make purchases, or
how some accident had befailen her hat
since she came in.
The stranger hesitated a moment; but
Miss Marigod was accustomed to see men
do that when they forgot the name OF the
article they were sent for.
Handsome eyes" thought Miss Mari
gold, very but what strange thrill they
gave her. and how steadily they gazed into
her own.
What is that in the window ?" he said.
Ribbon. That is what want
"Yes, sir" said Miss Marigold; "did she
send q sampler" and she reached her hand
over the counter to receive it.
nc" said the stranger: IN take it ALL"
Then, seeing startled look on her face,
and rejecting that she might not like so
sudden diminution OF her stock, he added,
Never mind. Give me any one of the
Miss Marigold silently placed the box on
the counter. Her little vision of the happy
Thanksgiving party had vanished.
"Oh dear, she said to herself, I'm afraid
he is going to masqre' ade"
''I'll take these" said the stranger. land
- He looked about for some further
purchases, and seeing nothing but rows of
boxes. whose contents were past his divin-
ing, he turned his eyes toward the bonnets |
OF these
The masquerade became a nullity in Miss |
mind. and the fearful thought of |
escape from the lunatic asylum was Just |
ready to take its place, when the hat was
suddenly lifted from over the eyes, the
hands stretched toward her, and the very
tones she had inst been listening to in the
Marisold Goldi Mary"
What Miss Marigoll felt or did then, she
never knew: only in an instant he had
pushed away the boxes, sprang across the
and lifted her over to the little
sofa III the back room. Then
'he did not know anything for a little while,
md when she opened her eyes the hand
'ome face was bending over her. She
cached out q hand and touched it, Jack
lack -at-a Pinch and smile such as
p:nkham Sisters had never seen spread
,vcr her face
That evening they were astomshed in
heir turn by a knock at their door, and
when they saw Miss Marig olu come in, lean
ng on the arm OF a tall, strong man, they
Experienced a shock that displaced Miss
'inkham p!um-colored bow so far as to re-
cal an edge of the thin spot, and Pinkie,
or the first time i'll her lite, was startled off
Ter relative breadth in the carpet
Dear friends. said Miss Marigold, II
ould not help coming to tell you. l knew
ou would like to hear that Jack was not
'st after all; ii was only. |: and how he has
ound me again. and my cup iunpeth over,
$ 1t always has. So wonderful the way i
IN always led SO many mercies :" And
'as ever anything so Fortunate she whis-
erred Ill Plnkham 5 ear. as the way was
reserved from eating that onion today