Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-05-29
GIVE AND TAKE.

90 dear, dear! what a monot-
onous sort of life this isw said
Kate Emery.
She looked around her little
room-a room on the third floor
Of Mrs. Kartley's fourth-rate
Ilodging-house. There was no
fire in it-Kate sat IN a shawl to
keep herself warm, that raw, No
vember afternoon the carpet
was all faded and the one win
dow-blind was out of order and
would not draw up nor down.
Kate glanced dolefully at her.
self in the old one-sided mirror
whose gilt holdings had drop
ped off like over-ripe berries.
1t was fresh, pretty reflection
that met her glance, with jet
black hair, wistful dark eyes and
cheeks red as a newly-blossomed
oleander.
"Yes, / look well enough, "
Kate petulantly apostrophized
herself; "but what good do my
looks do me? I wish / was rich.
I'd have a blue silk dress trim
med with white point-applique,
and a pearl fan, and a set of dia-
monds; and I'd give a black
silk to Madam Fougomme, the
French teacher, who has worn
rusty black alpaca until it's
turned to a rich cinnamon brown!
.O-and I'd send a five-pound
note anonymously to the poor
young wood engrayer next door,
he with the pleasant blue eyes
and the church-yard cough. If
/ were only rich!'
While this disjointed reverie
passed through kate's mind a
soft tap came to the door.
Come In" Miss Emery call
ed out, and the young wood en-
graver came IN, with a cluster
of superbly colored autumn
leaves in his hand.
''From the old homestead" he
said, cheerily. "Mr. Noalles re-
membered my penchant for au-
tumn leaves, and has sent up
this bouquet by his son, who
came to town with a load of po-
tatoes. Would you like some?"
Every much, said Kate, CLAN
cling at an empty vase on her
mantlepiece. "IIow fragrant
they are!"
Eugene Neville's pale face
lighted up.
"Oh, if you knew how they
recall the old woods at homer
he sighed. CLONE! But ! have
none now. When my father
died and the place went into 9TH
er hands, the world became
meaningless to me. | thought ]
would one day be rich and buy
lit back. / do not think so now"
He sighed almost inaudibly as
he separated the brightest branch
lets for her.
Kate looked at him almost as
a mother might pity her sick
child.
No." she thought, her hand
rustling softly among the dead
leaves, Il would not send him
money if / was rich; | would
buy the old homestead, and let
him die there in peace, poor fell
low; for he cannot live more than
a year or two under the most fa-
vorable circumstances"
"Oh, take care" said Eugene,
as he stopped; "you have knock
ed letter off the table. What an
official looking document" he
added, "sealed with a splash Of
scarlet wax! Catherine Carlton
Emery! 1t is for YOU"
Kate opened the letter as he
went out; opened it and read it,
and rubbed her eyes to make
sure she was not asleep and
dreaming.
"Oh!" she murmured, "Uncle
Carlton has left me his money,
and ] shall be a great heiress.
Oh! if poor mamma could only
have lived!"
Madam Fougolnme got the
black silk dress; and Kate en-
jjoyed the golden harvest Of her
money 80 her hearts content.
And Eugene Neville-was he
forgotteny
Poor fellow!" Kate mumur-
ed to herself, "he can not last
long; and |, who am everybody's
godmamma just at present /
will make him happy, at least for
a time"
1t was a soft April morning,
with the scent of cherry bios
SONS in the air, and sudden
sheets of sparkling rain cleaving,
as it were, the golden wall Of
sunshine, when Kate called to
take Mr.. Neville out in her po-
ny phaeton.
"It's such 4 delightful day"