Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1871-07-14

return. And pray heaven II may DC sucn
coming home as shall delight his very
SOUL
I'm sure don't know what to say
The lord knows need help bad enuff but
it pears 20 me such slender little midget
as you couldn't airn your salt. What dye
say your name was?
Mary Smith And indeed if you'll try
me for only week, I'm sure you'll keep
me till the seasons over
Mrs. Clements looked out of the window
at the gray clouds that were piling gloom
lily up and then the wind gave d great
wailing shrek around the corners Of the
house.
sYou cant cook, ken you? OF shake up
feather beds-good big ones, frty pound
ers?' -se@'. ~
A gleeiul little laugh came up from Ma
rvs lips
Indeed [ can. may not cook to suit
you, but can learn
Mrs. Clements walked out to the huge
open fireplace in the kitchen, where the
Deacon was Smelling corn.
What dye say, Deacon Keep her, or
not ? I kind O like her looks, and the dear
knows it 'ud be good lift while we're Kill
lin, if she couldn't more'n set the table. or
make the mush for the bread
Take her, of course, Hammer. You are
hard driv', | know Let her stop week
OF so, any how a..jf.
So Mrs. Clements came slowly back and
sat down again.
You can't git away tonight any way.
Theirs snow storm brewin' these three
days, and it's onto us now, sure enough
See them ere fakes. fine and thick. That's
sure sign it'll last a good while. You
mays well take your things up stairs in the
west garrett, and then come down and help
me get supper
Then followed directions to the west gar
ret and when she had gone Mrs Clements
turned to the Deacon.
L never see a girl afore I'd trust up my
stairs alone. But such as her don't steal
l kin tell you that, if nothing else
Directly she came down in her neat pur-
pie print dress and big white apron her
hair brushed off her fac, into net; mar
row linen collar, fastened with a sailors
loop of narrow thick ribbon
It seemed as If she had lived at the farm
house all her life, so handily she fitted in
and out the big pantry, into the buttery,
and then down into the cellar.
Then after the meal she gathered the
dishes in neat, silent way, that was per.
feet bliss to Mrs. Clements eyes.
She's determined to earn her bread, any
how and like her turn, too
And the deacon knew his wife had taken
shine to Mary Smith
| One by one the days wor, on hog Kill
ling was over and done; long strings of
sausages hung in fantastic rings, arranged
by Mary's def fingers, sweet hams and
shoulders were piled away in true house
wifely order; and now Mary and Mrs
Clements were sitting in the great dining
room. darning patching and mending.
I don't know whatever am going to do
without you, Mary. I dread to see you
pack up your clothes
A blush of pleasure spread over the girls
| face.
i am so glad you have ben suited with
my work. Indeed I have tried
1T amt the work altogether, though,
goodness knows, you're the smartest gal
I've seen this many day. As say it amt
the work-its you, Mary p,e got to
hinkin' sight O you-me and the Dea-
con-
Mary's lips tremhled at the kindness in
the old lady's voice but she sewed rapidly
sT,,, boop ,,noovar,ov, Ionaco,no ELo s;,oo
the boy left the farm; but it's worse yet
since he got married It seems like desert
in us altogether
'ilave you got son You never men;
toned him.
No; George has gone his way, and we
mHst 60 ours. Yes be is married one of
them cracked headed boarding school peo-
pie, what can't tell the difference between
rolling pin and milk pan.
But, despite her scorn, Mrs. Clements
dashed off the tears with her brown fist.
is his wife pretty /? l suppose you love
her dearly
Il don't know nothin' about her, and new
er want TO know. He's left us for her, and
US old folks'll leave him for her too Mary
Just turn them cakes around seems they are
|
burning
Mary supposin' you stop on another
month yet anyhow :? The Deacon'll make
it all ri ht'
Itisn't the money care for, Mrs. Glenn
ents: 7 only wish | might stay always
You don't know how / love you
Love US do you? bless your heart If
poor George had only picked Joy out, what
a comfort It would be to US all But it can't
be helped now
She sighed YEARLY, then glanced out of
the window, looked moment, then threw
down her work.
Bless my soul, if there amt our George
comm up the lauel Deacon, Deacon,
George is comm
And ali her mothers love rushing to her
heart, abe hurried out to meet him. Oh
the welcoming, the reproaches, the caresses,
the determination to love him still, aud still
despite dear little Marion, &L% ?
Then when the table in the next room
had been set by Mary's deft fingers, and
she had retired to her west garrett Mrs.
Clements opened her heart.
There's no use talkin' George. This
fine, fancy LADY O. YOURS never'll suit me-