Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-11-29


usually answered the bell. So Miss Grler-
son mounted the stairs alone, and tapp ed
at the second floor 'front.'" In nome Mt
little Boggs appeared, with very red eyes,
and rather sternly ushered her in, without
word of greeting.
Edith began, graciously, "How do you
do, Mr.. Bogg? 1 came" but stopped
short. petrifed. Was that her "Scene
from Macbeth" hanging over the mantle
piece. AS surely as it was the 21st Of May
and that she was alive and breathing.
And what were those smaller ones on
either side? Two studies from Shaks-
| peare with "E. Co. in the corner. She
slowly surveyed the walls. They were
covered with her earlier pictures those
that she had carried to Smells with her
own hands.
sWell, you've found out at last" said
little Boggs, watching her with folded
arms.
'What does it mean?" she gasped.
ssMean?" cried little Boggs, recklessly.
"Well, he cannot live more than two
hours, and you might as well know all. 1t
means that he has sacrificed his whole
life,''
And there, in that little second floor
front, that warm May afternoon, Edith
Grierson heard the whole story-how
Stretton had bought her pictures and
praised them to other people; how he had
neglected opportunities that she might
profit by them; how he had helped her in
secret and served her like slave; wasted
his life, his time, his talents, to atone for
few hasty words that he had spoken and
she had overheard.
Miss Grierson just sat down on the
hardest chair in the room, and began to
cry, with her face hidden in her hands.
s'But 1 thought he had spite against
mep" she said at length.
''Spite! !" calculated little Boggs, with
unreasonable ferceness, considering that
he had given her the impression himself.
"He never had spite against any one in
his life. He made me come and tell you
that because he thought you wouldn't feel
SO mortified then at what you had heard"
Miss Grierson lifted her head and look
ed at the ''Scene from Macbeth" "Well,
it is abominably bad," she said, and smiled
through her tears.
Little Boggs was not touched by this
concession one whit; he still continued to
regard her fiercely. and would no doubt
have said something piercing sharp, but
she turned imploringly.
lis he really dying?"
s'Well, no." returned little Boggs; s'but
he is in great danger"
s'Boggs!'' called faint voice from the
next room.
Miss Grierson started up. Here's some
fruit-perhaps he may like" she said
thrusting the little basket IN his hand.
'I'll come tomorrow. Let me fl can
do anything" So the fruit brought in
half triumph was given in whole kindness.
'God bless you!'' said little Boggs, re-
lenting at her tear stained face. Then she
hurried from the room, and he went on
tiptoe to Stretton's bedside.
swell, old fellow, how do you feel
now?'
"Eh?" said Stretton languidly.
''How do you feel?-never mind; you
needn't speak, old boy. Who do you think
has been here? Miss Grierson !-'E. Co.
you know old fellow; and she has brought
you these grapes-aren't they jolly, old
fellow? and she's coming tomorrow Don It
you think you will be able to see her, old
fellow?'
II know I SHALL" said Stretton slowly.
The rest of my story is soon told. Edith
and her mother came the next day and the
next-in fact, every day; and though kind
friends locked to the sick bed, as is the
wont of Englishmen, only too anxious to
do anything and every thing, they consti.
tuted themselves the chief ones. And af-
ter while people began to understand;
and by and by, when quainl little we'd
ding took place in the old church at N citing
Hill, don't think that any one was very
much surprised.
Stretton and his pretty wife-for Edith |
was pretty, though have never mentioned
it before-have never had disagreement
but once. and that was when he wanted the
"Scene from Macbeth" hung in the draw
ingroom, and she would not have it, be-
cause it was 'too abominahly bad"