The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-07-30
BY HUGH WILSON AND W. &. BENET.

gentle knock. at the street door. The
good mother, opening it, beheld a pretty
blue-eyed woman, holding q pretty
| blue-eyed little girl, standing upon the
threshold.
"Oh, it's you, Mrs. Deming," said the
old lady, bridling and fiuttering her cap
ribbons. Good morning, ma'am."
Your son." said the young widow,
with a besitation strangely foreign to
her, "is he better? Has he suffered
much through the night?"
His sufferings can be of no conse-
quence to you, ma am" returned the
old lady, sharply, in spite of warning
"Mother!" from the room she had just
left. "He's only mechanic, ma'am."
"He's noble fellow" exclaimed
Mrs. Deming, selling the wrinkled, toll
roughened hand that was raised as
though to wave her away; land, on!
please don't be cross to me. / haven't
slept all night thinking of, him"
Mrs. Fosters face began to relax, and
the stern look completely faded sway
when little Eva. looking up with pure,
beautiful, beseeching eyes, entreated,
Don't be cross to poor mamma"
"Well, 1 suppose the fire warn't your
fault" she said; Though how them
fireworks exploded passes my compre-
hension. There must have been some
powerful carelessness somewhere; and
it's my opinion that folks that doesn't
understand things should let 'em alone;
and his hands very bad indeed; and he
won't be able to work for a month, just
rs he had the most Industrious fit ever
know'd him to have-though a'lazy boy
he never was-and was earning lots of
money. And his hand'll have to be
dressed night and morning, and take
about an hour each time"
"Oh, then I can be of use," cried the
pretty widow, a bright smile breaking
over her face. II am a capital nurse.
Let me come every day and dress the
wounded hand. Your time. l know, is
precious; and it is the least I can do, for
it was in my service-I mean my aunt's
that it was wounded"
"Well, that's clever, and I'm obliged
to YOU; but me and Lib,
Mother!" from the parlor.
"Well. Richard ?"
Il shall be only too glad to accept Mrs.
Deming's kind offer;" and Mrs. Deming
went in.
Three weeks had gone by, and the
hand was nearly well. Il never saw
anything heal so quickly" soliloquized
Dick, one pleasant, fragrant morning. in
a tone that implied that he wished it
wouldn't. "She can't come here but
day or two longer, bless her! II don't
really need her now, though l pretend l
do-and then I'll be nothing to her but
Dick the carpenter again."
Dick" chirped a bird-like voice,
mammals got letter from Uncle Rob-
ert. run in to tell you" and little Eva
danced into the room.
"Great heavens!" thought Dick, turn
away" and a moment after Mrs. Dem
ing came in with the letter in her :hand.
"Are you worse this morning?" she
asked, anxiously, looking Mt the young
fellows pale face.
YES, much worse" he answered,
dryly. EVA tells me you have a letter
from your brother"
Il have-at last. And he's in Paris,
and does not expect to return to this
country for many years. He has mar
ried beautiful French girl, and, fear,
has almost forgotten me.
Your brother married and forgotten
you?" burst in Lib, poking her head in
at the door. "Well, that's nothing
strange. Brothers will marry and for
get sisters till the end of time;" and call
ing to Eva to come and see the newly
Matched chickens, away she went again.
"And personally l resembled him,
that is, suppose, rs much rs a mechanic
could resemble an artist" said Dick,
with q feeble attempt at sarcasm; but
there theresemblance must end. l never
could have forgotten YOU"
And then they are both silent for q few
moments, Dick breaking the silence ut
last. - am very sorry for your disap-
pointment. You had hoped to leave
this humdrum place, where there is no
one you could care for"
"No one I could care for" she repeat
ed, slowly. Il am not so sure of that;
but am sure of one thing, Richard, and
that is that do not need your sympathy.
l have learned to love this pretty, quiet
place"
"You have?" shouted Dick. ooh, if
I were not poor carpcnter-if / were an
artist, physician, a lawyer, anything
professional-Td ask you to try and
learn to love me, and stay here forever" ,"
Try to learn to love you Why,
Dick, you dear, splendid, darling old
goose don't you know I've loved you
ever since the night Of the impromtu
fire-works?,'
my blessed darling" cried Dick,
catching her in his arms and kissing her
sweet lips. =,
Goodness gracious sakes alive!" said
Lib, appearing at the door again. MY