South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-09-26

--uut u pears W NC SuCn slender LIT.
tie midget as you can't earn yorr salt.
What did you say your name WASP
Mary Smith. And, indeed. if Won
will try me a week, I'm sure YOU will
keep me ill tho seasons over.
Mrs. Clements looked out of The win
dow at the great clouds that were piliug
gloomiiy up; aud then the wind gave a
great wailing shrek around the corners
of the house.
you can cook, ken you? or shake nm
feather beds-good big ones, forty poun.
detss'
4 gleeful little laugh came from Ma.
rvs lips.
Indeed I can. 1 may no. cook to
suit you, but can learn
Mrs. Clements walked out to the
huge open fireplace in TIE kitchen where
the deacon was Smelling corn.
What dye say. deacon keep her or
nota kind o like her looks. and the
dear knows it nd be a good lift while
we're KILN, if che couldn't do more
than set the tahleIor make mush for the
bread
Take her OF course, Hannah. You
are hard driv', know. Let her stop n
week or SO, anyhow
So Mrs. Clements came slowly back
and sat down again.
You cant get away to. night, ANYHOW
there's n snow storm been brewin't these
three days. and it's on US now, sure
enough. See them ere flakes hne end
thick. You may as well take your things
upstairs TO the west garret, and then
come down and help me get supper
Then followed the directions to the
west garnet, and when she was gone Mrs.
Clements turned to the deacon, and
said.
Il never saw girl before III trust up
stairs alone. But such as her don't
steal; | can tell you that, if nothing
else
Directly she came DOWN in a purple
print dress and white apron; her hair
brushed up from her lace into net; n
narrow linen collar, fastened with .
sailors loop OF narrow ribbon. II
seemed as if she had life. too, so handily
she fitted in and out of the pantry, and
then down the cellar. Then after the
meal she gathered The dishes in :. n eat,
quiet way That was perfect bliss to Old
Mrs. Clements ears.
shes determined 10 earn bor bread,
anyhow, and like her turn. too
And the deacon had taken shine
too. One by one the days wore on
the og-killing was over and done; long
strings Of sausngcs hung in fantastic
rings. arranged by Mary's def fingers
sweet hams and shoulders were piled
away in true housewifery manner, and
now Mary and Mrs. Clements were sit.
ting in the sunny dining-room darning,
patching aud mending.
Il don't know what I'm going to do
without you Mary. | dread to see you
pick up your clothes
q blush ofpIea5ure overspread Mary's
face.
L am so glad you have been suited
with my work. Indeed [ have tried
1T amt the work altogether, though,
goodness knows, you're the smartest gal
I've seen this many a-day. As say, it
amt the work, its you, Mary-me and
the deacon
Mary's voice trembcd at the kindness
OF the old lady's voice, but she sewed
rapidly on.
It's so uncommon lonesome since the
boy left tic farm she went on &; but it's
worse since he got married 1t seems
like deserving ne altogether
Have you & son? You never men
toned him.
No, George has gone his way, and
We must 20 ours. Yes, lac married one
OF those crack-headed boarling-school
people, who can't tell the difference be-
tween rolling pin and milk pan
But despite her scorn, Mrs. Clements
dashed off the tears with her brown fist.
is his wife pretty? l suppose you
love her dearly?
don't know anthing about her. and
never want to know. He's left US for
her, and Us old folks will leave him for
her, too. Mary, just turn them cakes
sT9cnd seems as if they're burning, the
cakes, Mrs. Clements was leaning on
the arm Of her chair.
Mary, supposin' you stop with us
another month yet anyhow. The dca-
con will make it all right
III isn't the money | care for, Mrs.
Clements, | only wish | might stay al
ways. You don't know how much loye
YOU
Love us DO you? Bless your heart.
IL poor George had only picked you out.
what comfort il would be TO us ALL
But 1t can't be helped now
She sighed YEARLY, then glanced out
OF the window, looked moment and
then threw down her work.
Bless my soul, il there amt our son
George coming up the lane Deacon
deacon George is coming
wish all her mother lore rushing TO
her heart she hurried out TO meet him.
Oh, the welcoming, the reproaches, the
caresses, the determination TO love him
still, despite poor innocent little Marion
Then, when the table had been set in
the next room by Mary's def fingers, |
and she had returned 10 her west gar
ret Mrs. Clements opened her heart.
There's no use talking, George. this
"uc, fancy iady % yours'll never suit
me. Give me a smart gal like Mary
D.