Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-03-25
also fingered, though sOroly sgains, her own

| admired and sought after, Anson Grey had
| half a raiud TO enter the list with the others.
| but something kept him back, and he only
| exchanged few words with her now and
| then.
There happened to come heavy, two
| days flooding rain. and the first night of it
| Edith sent servant asking Mr.. Grey to
come to her private parior for moment. lie
| obeyed the summons with Alacrity, though
! wondering much what could bo coming now.
! Edith was awaiting him, cloaked and
hooded, and evidently in hasteto be off sOmo-
| where.
II hope you will pardon me-" she said, as
| she closed the door behind him, but really
| I did not know who 90 ask, aud mamma will
| not allow me to 60 by myself. a poor woman
| down on the beach is sick. perhaps dying,
| and must go to her. Her little boy just
! came after nc. ] was there yesterday, aud
| they are 10 great distress. Could l trouble
| you TO go with me Z"
81 will do your erraEd. 1t is too stormy
| for you to venture out"
20, it is no errand. I am sorry to trOu>
| bio anybody"
MT Grey saw what shc wanted aud ,ssying
he would be back directly, vanished for his
| rubber suit.
Tho rain drove into their faces, and the
! wind howlH through the black night like
! minister of a thousand storms-not for poor
Gisherwoman. perhaps, but for onesas sood
and fair as Edith Willoughhy, he should not
| have hesitated a moment. When they camo
upon the boach the waves ileaped. Unto
their faces, and Edith shivered aud clung,
half terrified, TO her companion in spite of
| herself.
81 believe You had better return now, aud
leave il 10 me" Nlr. Grey said.
mo, We are almost there. | should never
forgive myself if did she answered catch
ing her breath as she spoke. at is only you
am worried about"
"I am glad to be able to help you," hs
| said. And think he spoke the truth.
Inside the cottage, poor Grace Polly lsy
| on her hard bed trying to breathe on little
longer, if so the good Lord might bring some
good friend bsfore she died to tske care of
| her orphan boy.
When the door opened. her eyes brighened
! and she raised up little.
''The lord bless ye for coming Il know
lie will" she said, as Edith threw of her
| wet covering and went towards her.
This is only ono of the bOarders who
came with me-" she said in reply to tho
woman 5 questioning look. AZ should have
como to day had [ known you were worse.
| She sat down beside tho bed, and Anson
| Grey watched tho grateful woman. Among
the words he could distinguish was prom
Use to see to jamie; and when the old woman
I who seemed to be the nurse came up 10 ad-~
minister something, and in half whisper
asked Edith to pray with them, he began to
think he was in another world. And it was
another to him, truly. SSurely she would
never do that But sho did. Kuoeling
! upon the bare floor. aud clasping her white
hands, scut up such prayer for help and
strength as Anson Grey had never dreamed
. of hearing before.
After that night Anson Grey knew where
his heart wss, but for his life he dared not
approach Edith. She seemed an immeasurs-
BILE distance from such as he, but he cher
ished the memory OF her.prayer as the one
glimpse into heaven for which he should
thank God all his life.
Ediih's mother twas q gay woman, and
such she meant her daughter to be, though
for her life she could not eep.hcr. from fer
retinS out, and helping also, an innumerable
number of fOrlorn, poverty stricken people.
who had no earthly claim upon her, as they
wont their fashionable rounds. 1t was NOR
tifying, even exasperating, but she was pow>
erless to prevent it. They were to be off
again soon, AnsonIGrey heard, but ho would
have missed seeing her had he not acciden>
tally met her Is she was hurrying up the
very day they left. He could not let her 90
without telling her what was in his heart.
"May | speak to you q noment?" he said,
abruptly, stopping her.
Certainly"
As the word left her lips, sho saw what
his speaking WAS going to be.
go, not that, Mr.. Grey"
Somehow he took courage from, the quick
paling Of her lips.
"Yss. that. 1 love you and want you for
my wife"
He turned and was leaving her, when
something made her speak.
"Mr. Grey" !"
Ho faced her again, and she saw how
white and stern ho looked.
"HId L been free, you would not haze
asked in vain"
For days and weeks afterwards, Anson
Grey hugged the memory of her look, as she
said those blessed words, to his heart, caring
uore for that than the loVe and oaIesses CT
any other.
Christmas came, but death with it, and
Edirh's lover went his long journey. leaving
his sfisnced bride and seheming mamma to
console themselves as best they might
In away mysterious to all sase William
Skinner Edith heard Of Anson Grey's iIlpess
and as we have seen went TO him aud had
the courage to become his wife.
The people OF Burliugsue learned to loye
the gentle mistress of tho old stone mansion
Oh the hill, and Deyer 3 suffering one called
for help in vain as long as "my lady" as they
called her, was the mistress there.
TIE TIDY HoUsEwIFE-Ths careful tidy
housewife, when she is giving her house its
spring cleaning, should bear 10 r,ird that
tia daar inmatss of her hnnsa ara ,rnra rre-