Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-12-14

"Have you any obiecti ons to my tax
ing wife"
ehe is the right sort of wife |" answered
the old gentleman.
"Father, I have fallen in love with
Judith Black" confessed Edward.
"Just exactly what I have feared all
along" said Mr. Stedhurst, with shrug
of his shoulders.
"Why do you use the word feared,
father2" questioned Edward.
because, my lad, she is almost a
stranger to u.s."
"Father, 1 would stake my life on
her truth and honesty" said the young
man.
"Because you are in love with her,
my son. Edward, have you spoken to
her YETI"
"Not yet, sir.
"Wil you do me favor9"
Edward smiled little.
",That depends upon what it is,
father"
"Wil you wait week before you ask
her to become your wifef Will you
wait week without asking any ques-
tions9"
elf you desire it, SIR"
"At the end of that time I will tell
you what I think upon the matter"
And Mr.. Stedhurst went out.
The next day he brought down an
armful of old coats, vests, etc., from the
garret.
"Judith," said he, "these things
are getting motheaten. They belonged
to an old uncle of mine, who died ten
years ago-an odd, miserly old fellow
who boarded everything up, and died in
cellar at last. I want them cut into
carpet rags"
Yes, sir" answered Judith Black,
in the soft, low voice which was habitual
to her. And when her days routine of
duty was done, she went to work dill
gently with Mrs. Stedhurst's large
shears.
She was all alone in the kitchen the
next afternoon just as the clock was
striking three. And as she worked she
sung softly to herself an old Scotch bal
lad, 4" Bonnie Dundee"
Picking up an old waistcoat Of ginger
colored cloth, she Clipped off the but
tons, and mechanically turned the pock-
cts inside out to cut them away. There
was piece OF folded brownish paper in
one of them. Judith took it out, with
out thinking much of it, and unfolded it.
To her surprise, she perceived that it
wss twenty-pound note.
In her first astonishment she uttered
little cry, all alone though she was.
And then she remembered what Mr..
Stedhurst had said about the miserly
old one who had "hoarded up his little
gains and died in cellar at last" This,
doubtless, was one of the old mans hid
ing places-and he died and made no
sign.
And this precious bit of paper-was it
cot hers by right of disoovery9
Her eyes cleaned and her fingers
Srembled convulsively as they frightened
upon it! She needed it so much! She
was so poor-so pinched for money.
Aud these Stedhursts, to whom it would
naturally revert, were rich and did not
Uecu II. 4uCJ "Oho AOSO2 hAoWs W.
body would know.
For minute the temptation battled
iercely with her better nature. For
r1inute only; and then she rose up and
went straight to the door of the tool.
room-went..with dropping eyelids and
d scarlet stain on either cheek.
"Come in," said Mr.. Stedhurst, as
she knocked at the door, and she ell
tered.
"Mr. Stedhurst," said she, in voice
that would falter little in spite of her
resolution to control it; "Lere is some
money-a twenty pound note. I have
found it in the pocket of one of those
old waistcoats.
"Ah," said MIR Stedhurst, putting
down his plane and taking the crumpled
bit of paper. "And why didn't you
keep it2 Did it not occur to you that I
would never know anything about it"
eyes," said Judith, slowly, sit did
occur to me, sir"
"Then why didn't you keep ita"
"It was not mine" Judith answered,
in low tone.
"Judith," said old Phineas, I put
that h.oney there"
"You did,"
"I did. To test you. To make sure
that the girl to whom my boy had given
his heart was worthy of him."
Judith's face glowed deep scarlet.
"I-I don't understand you, sir,"
said she.
"No, I suppose not. But you will in
a few days."
And she did when Edward Stedhurst
asked her to be his wife.
"My own love-" he said, "the house
has been like a different place since you
came into it. Will you promise to stay
here ALWAYS 2"