Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-11-17

man 10 Senu 10 town, " NAht aui t"'"o
There's men enough. zyWfl you sleep
down here tonight, or 10 one OF the rooms up
stairs?"
"Down here, in tie roop.neSt 10 yours.
"It's all ready gill 60 up now and make
Mr.. Franklin comfortable. for the night.
Comfortable" said Margaret, shirerins.
But the next morning, after putting tempt
ing breakfast before the invalid, Margaret
selected the vacant bedroom she meant 10
bcautily for his use. II was large, with four
windows, ligh, aud cheerful, and well suited
for ber purpose. In the intervals Of directing
Jane. sending the man to town viii. her or
ders, and giving her own dainty touch to
everything, Margaret. 'visiiedi- the invalid,
reading to him, chatting with him and making
the long hours ny by.~It was late n The al
ternoon when she came in 10 say,
"Mr. Franklin, the room across the. hall las
a southern exposure, and think..yOu will find
it more comfortable than this one.i tWill you
try 70 get there il Aunt Jane and. ] helpyou -
] am very well here"
But you will be better there Please
come"
So he Yielded, but once fairly in the room,
could not repress cry of amazsment Soit-
ly carpeied, white curiained,..a bright fire
cracking in the stove, a'dainty supper spread
upon the table, the room cosy and CHEEKY e.
noueh TO coax a smile from the grimmest lips.
Yet when James Franklin sank into the bright
chintz covered easy chair and looked around
him. everything seemed strangely familiar
That was tie plrlor carpet, taken from the
never opened room below; those were the par
lor curtains freshly iroued aud starchcd, and
held back with knots Of broad pink :ibbin.--
The bed bureau, wardrobe. ..'chairs, all were
his own, polished ill they sbonc again. Tho
snowy bed linen, the white counterpane. the
bureau covers with their knotted fringe, were
ali his sisters work.. stored away. in chests
since she died, long, long years ago. Even the
chintz on the chair was part OF seme old cur
tains be had stuffed away iu long forgotten
corner Of a closet.
"It Is very comfortable. aud you.are good
thoughtful girl" lie said, looking around with
a keen appreciation Of the added comfort
81 wonder we never.'thousht Ct usiug.thes'
things"
Now let me read tie rest Of your book. TO
you. /. have some new periodicals,gin my
trunk if you ~ill look al them
The days few by, cold weather strengthen
ing, till Robert wrote he was coming home one
chill January day. Margaret had been busy
for fortnight before in the lower part Of the
house, but Mr. Franklin asked no questions,
He had been very i'll, but was recovering. so
that he had hoped to welcome Robert 10 the
sitting room. How be shrank'from returning
to its dreariness and sending Margaret away,
be told no one ill he had bis ncphew's hand
fast clasped in bis own.
81 can never tell you, Robert" he said
then, "what Margaret has been tome. No
daughter could have attended me more patient
ly aud faithfully, and when ! could. listen, che
read to me and talked as pleasantly as if
were a companion to her, instead ola grumpy
old bachelor past sixty"
l am glad you have been well cared for
Robert said, tuning Lis head q hide
twinkle n his eyes you look very fine here
But when lie carefully led the old man -
the sitting room, both stood amazed. Was
the handsomely carpotcj, chcerfully furnished
room the drcary old place 10 which they bad
been 50 conten,cd? While they wondered,
new sound greeted thcm-the tones Of lpiaro
touched by skiliful fingers, and yoice''swcet
and clear singing song of praise.
Throwing open door lo disclose bcauii-
fully furnished parlor, Rotert saw also little
figure on the piano stool, clad in shining
black silk, with lace and jewcly to adorn it
Margaret" Uncle james cried.
But Robert said softly:
Margaret franklin, Uncle James. Daisy,
my wife"
Then she lme.forward with 'shioing eyes.
81 wanted to make You love me" sbc said,
in a low, tender voice, "ior Robert's..sako.'
And for your own" be answered "bnt
am bewildered, my dear. Where did these
things come from?'
From my old home. They are all mite,
AMI you will let them stay here, will you not,
for our new home ?" she added, slyly slipping
her hand into 1obcrts. Il don't want to
take Robert from you, Uncle James, when no
is all you have 70 love, but you will givemo
a place here, too, will try TO be good daugh-
ter TO you"
"Give you a place here y the old man
cried 81 think no greater grief could come to
me now, Margaret, than the thought Of losing
you. God ever bless, you. child for few a.
your age would have cared to so kindly over
come so obstinate an old man's stupid
prejudces."
Thank you" she whispered, touching her
lips to his for the first time "you have made
me very happy"
And as she presided over The carefully ap-
pointed table in a costly furnished dining
room Uncle James had used FOR spare harness
and bags Of grain, but which was transformed
beyond recognition, there was no cloud on the
brightness Of the face Of Roberts wife"