Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-25
one, but has wagged about it"

ef' w ell, sur, last night she died, an Snt
STINT for the owld-I name Miss Osborne
For she was frightened NV the other wo
men, they'd been so hard to her-bad cess
to 'em!-an' half of what they're comm
to-: an the owld-I name Miss Osborne,
whit
sOf course she did," interrupted his
master. s'Go on
An she prayed wild the poor thing, an
closed her eyes; an whin she came away
she fetched the young wun wild her, am
they do say she's agoin' to 'dopt it, an
they'll niver spake to her agin.''
(which would be very great pity!'
said the old bachelor, with emphasis, and
rather diabolical grin.
"Yis, sur. An now / suppose we'll be
afther movin', shure, for it only naded the
baby to make it complete; owld-I name
Miss Osborne, cats. dogs an ba bies.''
''Get me MY great coat was the only
reply he received. ssI'll answer the note
personally.,a And the great-coat on,
away started Miles Guernsey for Rose
Cottage once more.
''Bedad,'' said Mike, with an intoxicated
wink, GIFTS meself knew he wouldn't
shtand the baby"
Miss Osborne's parlor was that night, if
possible, brighter and cheerier than it was
on the SUNNI er day the old bachelor first
entered it. Instead of roses Christmas
greens, dotted with brilliant red berries,
Topped back the curtains, enwreathed the
pictures. and dropped from vases and
shells, and right over the tall wax candle
burning on the centre table hung bunch
of mistletoe, (sent with kindly greetings
and real English plum pudding from
some kinsfolk across the sea) it's waxen
berries cleaning like clouded pearls among
its slender green leaves. Miss Osborne had
evidently not expected her guest so soon,
for she sat before the glowing CRATE fire,
with Bessie Vests baby on her knees, it's
small pink toes held out toward the well
come warmth, and itself cooling and gurg-
ling after the fashion peculiar to extreme
youth.
How lovely she looked, with spray of
uOI1y LII uCl IIdlI, q COuliCI llSuU LII uGI
eyes, and the loose sleeves of her dark silk
dress falling back from the shapely white
arms, as she held the child with motherly
grace and softly sang dreamy nursery
rhyme! Miles Guernsey thought of a
beautiful Madonna he had seen in Rome
as he looked earnestly at her moment be-
fore she became aware of his presence.
The blacK-eyed maid servant going out in
a hurry as he reached the door, he had en-
tered unheard.) at last she started up,
the roses IN her cheeks sweeter and pinker
than ever. "a merry ChrisUmasl' she
cried. "How good of you to come so
early! I'll go call brother Robert
I don't want to see your BROTHER said
the old bachelor, at least not yet. Icame
TO ask
Il was sure you would said Miss o.
borne, breaking out into a laugh like a
young girls 81 told mother so this morn
ing, I know what you came to ask
Are you quite certain you do?' said the
old bachelor, an odd smile spreading over
his face until it danced in his handsome
dark eyes.
''Quite certain, said the old maid seri-
Ously. "But we really don't need your
b clip, Mr.. Guernsey, for although we are
far from rich, we have enough to spare
for this dear little one, sent to me, it
seems-don't think me fcolish-as pre-
cious Christmas gift on the blessed Christ
mas day-the day Mary clasped her beau
Jiful boy to her heart in the stable at
Bethlehem. See, isn't she pretty? And
80 plump! Take her in your arms, I am
sure you, who are so kind to cats and
dogs, must almost love this motherless
little girl And she laid the child in the
baby before, and who looked down upon it
with something very like tears Offering
IN his eyes.
eyes, it is pretty and plump, and every
hing you say, you-pardon me, Miss Os-
borne; but please take it back. Pm afraid
If it. It's making fearful mouths at me,
md I'm sure it's going to scream" said the
I'D bachelor, after holding baby exactly
;wo minutes, and the tears. if they were
ears, gone and the smile back again. ''Do
AXE it, | beg, or l shall drop it.
The old Made held out her arms. He
placed the child IN them.
''And now you must go to bed, baby"
he said, turning away; and then turning
Jack to say with another merry laugh
You'd scarcely believe it, Mr.. Guernsey,
,ut Wait is jealous and so is Puss and her
laughter"
And there they were-Waif on one side
# her and the cat and the kitten on the
ther, all the objects of his detestation
,rouped together in one terrible tableau
zone moment. Miss Osborne, before
'ou co." he stammered II have come to
lSk-"
ASK anything can grant," said Miss
Osborne, encouragingly, and will grant
t, for you have been kind neighbour
ope may say friend-and this is merry
"You to be my wife," interrupted Miles
Guernsey, wonderful look of love lighting
Up his face.
The baby would have been dropped then
he hadn't caught it. But he did catch
t, and the old maid too. in his strong, ten
er arms.
won't tell you what she said, but will
ay that nowhere on earth was there mer-
Ter Christmas party than that at Rose
cottage that Christmas night and I will
ay further that the following summer a
1rs. Miles Guernsey helped to superin-
end the culture of the early cucum bers
nd peas in Miles Guernsey's miniature
egetable garden, and that number of
osebushes found their way across the daisy
pangled meadow ran over the fence to
he border of the neatly kept lawn and on