The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1871-01-14


"Miss Mabel" !" CALCULATED the surprised
lady maid, holding up both hands in
hopeless bewiIderment where can you
be going p
40 seek my fate, Mildred said Ma
bel, in tone that was a curious inter
mingling of jest and earnest. .'There-
now leave NE to myself"
Mrs. Beck ford, of BeckfordvilIc Villa,
at Richmond, was sitting alone in her
comfortable parlor-musing on her far-off
son, with a total abstraction from all out.
ward sights and sounds-and when all Of
a sudden she looked up, a pretty young
person, clad in quiet style, stood before
her.
"What is it % said Mrs. Beckford,
somewhat curtly.
eff you please, madam, / am anxious
to come as companion"
"Who sent you ?' demanded the lady,
surveying the large blue eyes and golden
bands of smoothly brushed hair rather
dstrustfully.
Il learnt from a lady of your acquaint-
ance that you wished companion, and
should like to take the situation"
Hum IN IN, said the lady. whats
your name 7"
edith Moore"
.Moore-Moore Got any relations
in town-ah! at Bayswater, / mean %
demanded the inquisiiiveness, sharply.
mo, ma am | am alone in the world.
81 am glad Of that murn.ured Mrs
Beck ford soto coce. Il couldn't stand
any one belonging to the guitar playing
girl who-but never mind that just now.
What are your references I!
Edith Moore drew letter from her
travelling bag.
so Mrs. Carter, of Clapham, knows
you, eh p
Yes, ma'am"
CIV ell, commented the matron, CLAN
cling over the notes, 'sthese recommen-
dations seem very satisfactory l-don't
-know-but that you may come and
stay. The only objection | can see is
that you are too pretty, and don't think
you are really to blame for that Take
off your things"
And the roses that glowcd into Edith 5
cheeks at this very plain expression of
the old lady's sentiments, did not max ke
her any the less lovely, as she united the
blue bonnet-strngs, and laid aside the
neat but simple shawl, to enter upon her
probation.
More than year had crept over the
daily current of life at Beck fordvile-
The trees were bare and leafess, the
snow lay white and deep in all the hol-
lows and dimples by the roadside, and a
sharp December wind was sweeping
along the Thames, as the sun glowed
with momentary redness, ere it sank
down out Of sight.
.Ilow soon it grows dark r. said Mrs.
Beck ford, with little sigh. That S
right. Edith-draw the curtains; now
we're comfortable =
Comfortable indeed, they were, with
the shaded lamp glowing softly on the
table, and the bright fire on the hearth,
hle Mrs BecktordIs spectacle glasses
shonc like twin orbs of flame, and her
knitting needles gIitt4red responsiyely.
Edith was sitting opposite to her, fash
iouiug narrow white ribbon into bows for
the old ladys new winter caps She
looked wonderfully pretty in Il dress OF
sober blue merino with blue ribbon
tangled somewh hat In the braids of her
FURNISHED hair, while the delicate check
was like the inside off IA ink shell.
,'W hats that you were saying a while
ago al out going back to London, my
dear 2" said the old lady, suddenly turn.
ing round to Edith. 81 just want you to
understand that you CANT go. l eau t
spare you"
She put one arm round Edith : neck,
and drew the round cheek down upon
her lap.
"Do you really love me, Mrs. Beck-
ford p asked the girl, earnestly.
Love you, darling l could no more
get on without you than [ could without
the sunshine 1t SEQ ems as though you
belonged to me- | don t know what you
have done to steal my old heart away, I'm
sure went on Mrs. Beckiord, n,using
ly; 'tbut you remind me somehow Of the
little daughter | once lost. You won't
leave me, Edith, dear p
There was something almost pathetic
in her pleading volca as she touched her
withered lips to the pure forehead of the
| beautiful girl.
you'll stay and be daughter to me
in my old age, Edith! What should i
do without the little feet that trip SC
lightly about the house, and the hands
that are forever busy in my behalf? Tel
me that you will stay, Edlth!'
dearest Mrs. Beckford,' whispered
Edith, with the hap Ppy crimson dyeine
! her cheek, ''Ill never leave you L will
stay with you always oh, L am so g lad
you have learned to love nle-more glad
than L cap tell. But, Mrs. Beckford-'
'.Well, dear I"
"1here is something [ want to tell you
something have Kept back from you,
fatered Edith, with her fingers nervously
twining themselves ro ound the old lady's
| slender, wrink led hand. "Mrs. Beckford
l am
But Mrs. Beck ford had started to hel
feet, with low, bali suppressed cry.
"Hush Did I not hear his footstep
! 1t was something more than the wine
among the evergreen sit was my boy s
foot upon the threshold! He has come
back to me y
She rushed to the door, and threw i
| NJ opan