Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-11-17
ROBERTS WIFE.
:, ,s., so-rv .hout Uncle James ~

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rous Fuckers to suit the occasion.
Because, you see" continued Robert, "he
fancies because you have twenty thousand
dollars that you are a fine lady, affected and
useless, not the wife for poor farmer J"
"We must show him his mistake" was the
reply.
" Bot he will rot see you. lie positively
forbids your coming over TO the farm"
Does-does he know that we are married 2
al have not dared to tell him. Cowardly,
is i, not? But he is my only relative. and !
love him dearly. 1t is not because he owns
the farm. and can leave little money, Daisy"
"Hush, love. know" Daisy answered,
putting soft, white hand over her husbands
lips.
Il have had no other father or mother
either for that matter, in all my life," con-
tinued Robert, "aud if the farm is drearyl i.
is home"
And you do not like to be banshed. Well,
If you will keep your promise and send Jane
over to see me you shall not be. Now talk OF
something else. Oh, how can let you go for
two long monIhs?'
For Rober, Franklin had undertaken TO go
in person to rec abolt come Western lands IN
which hi. uncle had invested, and which
threatened to involve him in loss. Daisy
could not well take the long journey, and be-
sides Daisy had other schemes 10 her wise little
head. Loving Robert well, she resolved TO
remove the only shadow from his life-the
re.olu,e opposition Of his uncle to fac laiy
wife.
Robert Franklin had been gone from the
farm three days when his uncle James yielded
most reluctantly 10 the pangs of his oil enemy,
chronic rheumatism, and told Jane, his old
servant, that be must remain in his room. The
old woman answered promptly
"If you are going to be laid up, Mr.. Frank
lin, must have some help. ] am getting
old, too, sir, and ,rctting up and down stairs
isn't so easy as it was twenty years ago 4"
4" But who will come, Jane? Girls are not
plenty here, as you know
"Pve niece, sir, would come to me, though
she's never lived out"
Send for her, then. and-oh-rub my leg.
will your"
Late in the afternoon. little hustle below
stairs told the invalid Of the arrival Of the
niece
She came with one trunk, in a wagon, from
the railway station, and standing 10 the wide,
ary-looking kitchen, looked picture ol
heathful beauty Soft brown curls gathered
in rich knot, left little crnkey ringle,s on
her forehead and caressing the round white
throat large brown eyes lighted sweet fair
face. and the neat dress Of blue woolen cover
ed dainty figure.
"Wnl you 90 up stairs, Miss" Jane
hesita,ed.
Margaret said the new conner; "don't
call your Liece Miss, whatever you do. BY
name is Mirgaret. Has Mr. franklin had his
supper.
Not yet. There's lis dinner, you see,
scarcely tasted"
Margaret looked at her biz tray, the blue
plate with food heaped upon it, the two
pronged fork and half-soiled napkin aud did
not wonder at the neglected food.
"Show me where things are aud will get
the supper" she said.
Jane led her from closet t. closet. 10 one
was a set Of gil;-elged china, some fac table
linen, table silver and glass.
Those were bought thirty years ago, -
whispered Jane, "when Mr.. Ffanklin expect
ed to be msrriel. She died and they have
never been used.
With her pretty face sadlened by the hid
den tragedy Of those few words, Margaret
took small tray from tie shelf, and covering
it with snowy napkin, selected what she
wanted from the closet, and went again 10 the
kitchen.
James franklin, weary with The efforts TO
hold book in his aching hands, was now sit
ting 10 a deep armchair musiog, when Mar
garet tapped at the door.
Come in -
But lie started as she obeyei Such sweet,
bright face was new in the dismal old farm
house. strongly 10 contrast with the bare, mea-
gre room and desolote air surrounding her.
al have brought your supper" she said,
drawing little table near the armchair, and
covering it with white cloth. Then going to
the door she entered again with tray. Upon
a white china dish was half chicken deli
cately Drowned, a potato roasted 10 the ashes,
aud slice Of buttered toast: aud besides this
a cup full Of fragrant tea.
&" You must not scold if have anything
wrong" said clear, sweet voice, because
Aunt Jane is too busy TO look after Inc. ]
cleaned tie fork and spoon. for silver gets
dreadlully black"-tben more tenderly as she
marked the painful effort to move the tortured
fngers-"Let me cut the chicken, sir"
Grmly wondering. the old man suffered
himself to be fed, finding appetite as the well
prepared food was eaten, aud listening well
pleased TO the cherry voice so unfamiliar to
bis lonely life.
Jane" Margaret sail, settiog down the
tray in the kitchen again. ] don't wonder
he is sick. No carpet, no curtains, that great
hearse Of a bed, aud nothing pretty near