The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-01-21

yellow cnlls, and the rose color had died
out of her face, and Rhoda was no long,
er the village beauty. But she was
fair, pleasing woman, sanity with long
walking III the paths of duty, and ifmen
and women found her tcold,'' as they
complained OF doing, little children never
did. She brought up her little orphans
with gentieness and love. She buried
her father with such prostration and
grief that a long sickness followed. Lot
was left a wi,lower. He went to his
fathers house TO live, and again the
house across the road was shut up.
Rhoda Daniels was now thirty-fve
years. The little girls were grown, and
launched. into life for themselves Que
had a trade the other was schoolteacla-
ing. Rhss,ia lived alone at tie Black
thorns, as the the old place was called
She had prospered she kept man and
maid. TO avoid being solitary per-
haps, she extended much hospitality to
her friends and neighbors. But only
part of the great farmhouse was in use.
The south side, looking toward the
house that was once to have been hers,
was kept shut up.
One night strange sound awoke the
quiet village. 1t was the cry of fire.
Rhoda sprang from her bed. Lot
Lambert house was on fire. The flames
lighted up her chamber SO she could see
to pick up a pin. Indeed, she was sepa-
rated by but few rods from Il Q burn
ing building.
The village was all aroused, and on
the spot. At first only one side OF the
house was on fire, and willing hands
brought out the furniture. Sideboards,
bedsteads, tables, chairs, were placed
by the roadside until morning, when, the
house lying IN ashes, anc his fathers
house being out of the village, Lot came
to Rhoda's door aud asked leave to
place his furniture in her unoccupied
south rooms until he con d remove them
to another place of storage.
1t was the first time the two had
spoken to each other in twenty wears.
Rhoda was pale, but she gave quiet ready
consent. Lot aud his men brought the
things in and went home for the night.
1t was June weather. III the morning
! Rhoda went into the south rooms and
| opened the windows aud blinds. The
sunlight fell upon the household goods
of Lot Lambert, every article of which
she 50 well remembered.
There was the little sewing chair he
/ had bought her; there was the dining
table which Lot had laughingly said
must be proportional tor large family
there was Lots desk, and the bedstead
| upon which she had never rested.
The drawer of bureau had beer
broken open in the removal, aid Rhoda
glanced in this. She saw silk dress
ashes of roses in cclor, lying still unmade
iii its wrapper.
The color erept out of her lips. She
stood with her hand to her brow in be
wilderment and pain, when step came
Lot Lambert stood beside her. and hi.
eyes, too, sought the silk dress in the
bureau drawer
a tight feeling came about Rhoda',
heart. She looked up into Lots face
aud he was looking at her.
81 am sorry," she fattered, hard J
knowing what she was going to say.
"And | have been sorry every day fol
twenty years. said Lot; sis it too lat
to forgive each other now 20
In a moment her arms were abou
his neck, and he was kissing her as h'
had never kissed Mercy Ray.
! Soon they were married. And Rhod.
would be married in no other but th,
aShes-of-roses silk, which she had ono,
sem back to him, and this strip which
have in my hand is bit lett from tn,
making.