Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-31
BLESSEDNESS.
single. Double. and Triple.

single. Double. and Triple.
Twill never marry, never" sail Will
liam Blake to his father, a patient, weary
looking old man, with thin gray hair
streaking across his bowed head. He
answered. refectively, "Well, | think
you're right; there are men that can
manage women, but your mother has
been too much for me-"
at seems half selfish in me to 90 off
and leave you alone with her; but what
can one do, with work that wants plan
ming, and that continual scolding in ones
earsW
ITS the crying fits that masters me,
though" said Mr.. Blake, "when she sits
snilRng into her apron; looking at me
that reproachful, till I'm half brought to
believe that | have committed murder,
or something, in my sleep"
Il sometimes think, do you know,
father, that in those times it is that she
is sorry for her temper; is, in fact, re-
penting."
ITS an awfully unpleasant, unfair
kind of penitence, then; but | don't
know: she's been buzzing in my ears so
long that | get fairly bothered some
times, and don't feel clear about any
thing"
"rll tell you what you must do when
she gets past bearing-iust come OFF to
me: it won't be far, you know"
so | will my boy; 80 | will"
Accordingly, the next morning, when
Mrs. Blake began the day with prophetic
indications of what she called "upset,"
her husband prepared to escape, greatly
to her displeasure. She had resented
Wills removal and "setting up for him
self" but then, as Mr.. Blake remarked,
"she coldn't he any crosser than she was
before" so he departed in comparative
comfort.
Wills room was poor little place.
He was not earning much as yet, and he
said, Anything docs for ones self" with
q desolatc air that somewhat COntradlctcd
his philosophy of loneliness; still his
work improved wonderfully, and in that
he was always happy. Will was de
signer of holdings.
Turned tailor, Will:'
"Tisn't work enough for tailor, and
am afraid my bungling would not pass
for one, either. | tried glue, but some
how it wouldn't answer, and one must
keep ones self decent looking. | am
going after orders by-and-by."
"Womcn are of some use, arter all, II
they wasn't such unreasonable Great
urcS," said the father, with an invOlun-
tary look ut the table, which looked
rather like the wreck of kitchen,
heaped up as it was with little Of every
thing.
Will was accustomed to have all his
tools round him in his work, and so had
gradually gathered the household implc-
ments together in the same fashion.
"We will have breakfast presently"
he said "It would have been ready
before, only while | was going for loaf
the kettle boiled over"
at won't do that this time," said Mr..
Blake, lifting the tilted vessel from the
fire.
"Whyg
"Seew
Then they both laughed; Will had
forgotten to put in the water. But the
blunders were soon remedied; there was
no one to scold over them.
Father and son were chatting pleas
antly over the end of their meal when
brig ght young voice was heard outside
calling, Willie! Willie"
Made friends already" asked Mr..
Blake, looking up surprised.
"No, it is somebody that lodges over
head; her brother has run off down
stairs. He seems to give her deal of
trouble, but she never speaks any sharper
than that"
Don't she now? It's wonderful
pleasant. sounding voice"
Bv-and-by it seems that the culprit
was hunted upstairs home again; a
merry hunt, with much laughing on both
sides, and as they passed Wills door a
quieter Willie, Willie"
Mr. Blake looked strangely reflective.
81 havnt heard any body say Willie
in Just that cooling, careful way, not since
my sister that died she was just like a
sister to me; it's terrible long while
ago"
"These two are much the same; they
live alone; she minds him and keeps
him, and sends him to school,"
"You seem to know all about her,
Will"
"All am likely to know. have not
seen her. There are no strangers like
fellow-lodgers, and she is not the kind of
a girl to meet one on the stairs accident
ally, for purpose"
THAT was how your mother and l
got acquainted"
q did not know that, father"
Will spoke with an air of dreadful
apology that was understood and ac-
cepted, but silently.
Dreamily, in the hush OF old memories,
tie father walked away to his work.
Will sat down before the window to
finish some drawings, but the thick,
square pencil made idle marks, while the
eyes that should have guided it sought
the only bit of nature within sight-the
strip of changing sky between the house
tops. Many bold design had come
from those sweeping cloud kaieidoscopes.
None came now. Will was musing.
How could a man work with that sweet,
imperious "Willie, Willie" ringing in
his ears? 1t was worse distraction
than his mothers scolding, for he could
mot be sure that he really wanted to for
get this. =,
al am glad have never seen her." ne
\ said, with q long breath that did not
sound like content. Then he tried to
sly" Willie" in her tones, and, as look