The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1875-10-08
Miscellaneous.
A MILLION A MINUTE.
BY WILLIAM SAWYER.

The money came to me under the will of
old Rodney Gauntlet. Everybody in the
city knew him in his lifetme-knew him as
a shrewd, active, hot-tempered man, and
called him ''old," while he was yet in his
prime. AS far as memory goes back, he
justified the epithet He looked old, with
cred, dried up, vet there was plenty of life
in him, Us those found who crossed his path,
or tried to overreach him in the business
transactions that took him every day into
the chief places of resort in the city.
l was only, as knew quite soon enough,
the child Of an old f7iend-one Col. Antho-
ny Wyvcrn he had adopted out of
charity.
Having so adopted me he did his duty by
me. All admitted that; the praise of him
in that particular rang as Il ceaseless pPau
in his cars-and in mine. And was daily
hidden to take note how good lie was, how
loving and how generous and what infinite
return, by the way of goodness, gratitude, do,
cility, perseverance, and | know not what
other virtues, all this demanded at my
hands.
Ours was not very lively home. Our
house was an old one that had held its owl
in the city when the city had even its pala.
ces. But in the long course of time it haC
yielded foot by foot, to cncroachments Oh
all sides, until it was fairly bricked in, and
utterly lost to public gaze, 1t could only
be reached by means Of passage through
another house, which had planted its grea
broad back right in front Of our windows
and so obstructed our view and shut out on
light.
Old Rodney Gauntletts own rooms wer,
on the ground floor; they were like dun
year round he brealiiistcd and dined by
candle light; yellow wax-lights, in ole
plated candeabra, red us copper, were al
ways lit for him night and morning. Tha
was his fancy, and like all his other habits
had taken firm root in him
Bridget and lived upstairs. Bridget, b,
the way, was our one domcstc-houscbeep
er nurse, and general servant in one Sh
was as old as her master. Bridget was m.
good friend and almost sole companion
If could have wished her other than sh
was, it would have been in respect of he
sense Of Rodney Gauptletts goodness t,
me, and Of the hard measure of gratitud
| she thought proper to exact from my I'm
happy self in return,
As ] was saying, our rooms were up stair,
they were three in number, and formed tn
whole Of the second floor. My share con-
priscd very large bedroom, that had beel
n reception room in the old times, and
smaller apartment opening out Of it. Bridg
cts chamber was outside mine, her doc
close to the top of the great stairca;e; 5
that sleeping there she, in manner, kel
watch and ward over me.
The smaller room, in which lived, VIZ
like II room borrowed from the last centur,
The furniture was in keeping; tables wit
curved legs and brass handles and fitting.
chairs with oval backs and striped moreo
cushions cscritoires with draws, and Ind
an iars-all these were conspicuous. BI
most conspicuous of all was japanese cal
met, very large and cumbrous, black
ebony, with quaint figures in gold and deG
colors, in slight relief. 1t must once ha,
been very costly; but was now out of +
pair, and was only used as a receptacle f
papers.
never recall my room without a thOugI
of this cabinet. 1t is especially associate
with the first visit of friend of Rodn
Gauntlctts, who aiterward came often
the old house-iar oftener than ! cared
see him. | recall that visit like dreal
| seem to see myself, a pale, slim girl, wi
! Il hair of reddish hue, so thick that it W
+ never keep its place in any knot into viii
e | twist it, but is always hanging about Il
B shoulders, studded with hair pins. u
, evening, and ! am close to the wndo
straining my eyes over book in the fall
light. The book touches me deeply, aud
am conscious that my cyelids are red, a
: that there are tears on my checks. VIII
| am thus absorbed, the door opens, a
Bridget enters, bearing in one hand one
the old plated candelabra with wax ligl