The Potter journal and news item. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1872-1874, 1873-07-30
Grandmanma Kirke's Gift.

GLOW do you like it!" said Char
ley Clare to Millicent Kirke, as he
pointed to the villa he had selected
for them to commence housekeeping
in when they should be married in a
few weeks.
"Oh, it is beautiful" she whisper
ed. "But, Charley, don't you think
it is rather small?"
"Well-yes-perhaps so; but what
do we want with anything larger?
The bedroom upstairs is really
good size, and"
But is there a bedroom on the
ground fioor?" asked Millicent. anx-
iously.
''No; why?''
"For grandnramma, you know"
Mr.. Clare's countenahce fell slight
ly at the reference to "graudInamma."
II have made no arrangements for
your grandmamma, Millie.1'
"But, Charley, she brought me up.
Oh, Charley, We cannot settle down
without her."
"We can't settle down with her,
you mean." said Clare, imperatively.
"When man marries girl he don't
contract to support all the relatives
she happens to have
u am all that grandmamma has"
said Millie, her face all aglow, her
eyes darkly coruscating. "Grand-
mamma has loved and cherished me
more years than you have and l will
not leave her to neglect and suffering
in her Old age"
Every well, then," said Mr.. Clare,
quietly, lit is settled"
"Yes," said Millicent, in a firm
voice, sit Is settled
And grandmamma Kirke, sitting
alone by her fire, was astonished
some five or ten minutes later by the
sudden apparition Of little Millie,
fiinging herself upon her shoulder
and sobbing most bitterly.
Grandmamma Kirke listened to
the poor girls story with an odd
working of her venerable features.
II don't ask this sacrifice of you,
child" said old Mrs. Kirke, stroking
down the lustrous masses of dishev-
eled brown hair. Il dare say | shall
do well enough"
Millie looked up, loving and indig-
nant at the same time.
"Do you suppose l could leave
you, grandmamma?"
Mr.. Charles Clare was a little sur
prised at the turn events had taken:
it had never for an instant occurred
to his mind that any girl in her sober
senses could prefer the society of
crooked old woman to that of him.
self.
"She'll come to her senses after a
while, was the reflection with which
he was consoled. "All girls indulge
in heroics now ard then, but it won't
last long"
Mr.. Clare was destined to disap-
pointment.
Engaged to Frank Blakesley."
he cried about six months subse-
quently. 'Why, he has been court
ing her this long time-sending her
flowers. books, music and all that
sort of things. And the old Witch
of Endor is to live with them, sup
pose. l wouldn't have stood it,"
went on Clare, growing more heated
and angry as he talked; but Frank
Blakesley never had any mind Of his
own. Well, / wish them joy, that's
ALL"
But the tone of voice in Which Mr..
Clare spoke indicated anything but
the benevolent aspirations shadowed
forth by his words.
Frank Blakesley and Millie Kirke
had not been married more than a
year when sad messenger came to
the door Of their humble. yet inf
nitely-contented home-Asrael, the
mighty and relentless angel Of death!
you've been very kind to me,
Frank and Millie;' said grandmamma
Kirke, ''but it's well-nigh over now:
l only wanted to live long enough
10 see my little girl confided to the
care of some good man who would
value her as she deserves, and | have
got my wish?"
And grandmamma Kirke, whose
old eyes were growing dim, fumbled
under her pillow for the old work
bag with the outlavish little pocket
which, with its paraphernalia of an
tique housewives, bodkins, scissors