The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-11-17

little episode frcm behind the curtain!
of her milk-room window. us Jot
Raynesford crazyP To give ten dollar!
to a strolling vagrant! If he don't get
8 piece 0 fmy mind" And she hastenec
out, her cap border fairly standing OF
end with horror. Job awaited tht
coming tempest with philosophic cool
ness, his hands in his pockets, his lip:
parted in a good-humored smile: -.
"Shc means WELL" he said to himself
when the volley of wrath had been dis
charged on his luckless head, and Mrs
Raynesford had returned to the butter
making, "but she's got the greatest fac
saw"
The years fitted by, sprinkling the
steep old farmhouse roof with crystal
drops of April showers, and thatching il
with the dazzling ermine of January
SHOWS many and many q time. Gray
hairs crept in among the raven locks Of
Farmer Rayrestord, careworn wrinkles
began to gather around his mouth and
brow. Alas! those swift,footed years
brought troubles innumerable to the
kind old man.
Twenty years" unused he, one brigb
June morning; sit don't seem possible,
Hannah, that it was twenty years ago
this very day that / caught that ugly
fall from the hayrick and got lame for
life" And he locked down ut the
crutches By his side. Hannah stood in
the door throwing corn to a forlorn col
ony OF chickens. Twenty years had not
improved her in any respect-she was
gaunter, bonicr and more vinegar-faced
than ever.
"Ye,," said she, slowly, land per-
haps you don't remember that it was
twenty years ago this very day that you
threw ten dollars away on that woman
and her child. / told you that you'd
end your days in the poorhouse, and /
don't zee but what my prediction is
likely to come true. Didn't I say you
would live to repent it?"
Il don't deny, Hannah, said the old
man, "butthat I've done q good many
things I've been sorry tor-but that is
not one of them. No, / never for a
moment repent being kind to the widow
and tatherless."
Hannah shrugged her shoulders, but
made no answer. Didn't you say you
were going up to see that rich lawyer
about the five thousand dollar note to-
day." she,.asked.
Eyes" but Idon't s'pose it'll be much
use. II he'd wait q little, I'd do my
best to please him. Jones says he'll be
sure to sell the old place from over our
heads, however; they say he's q hard
man. 7 mean to tell him Just how the
matter stands and"
"I told you how it would be long
agow said Hannah, unable TO restrain her
yeXation. "Whatever possessed you to
sign for Jesse F~airweather?"
81 s'posed he was an honest man, and
wouldn't see an old man wronged"
"Fiddlesticks! That's just your cal
~culation, Job. There, Zeke has brought
the wagon; do start off, or you'll be too
late for the New York train" And Job
meekly obeyed, only too happy to escape
from the endless discord Of his wile's
railing tongue.
The rays of the monday sun streamed
brightly through the stained glass case
ments of Mr.. Everleigh's superb gothic
library. The room was decorated with
every appurtenance O fwealth and taste.
Velvet Chairs, with tall backs Of daintily
carved rosewood, were scattered here
and there; marble vases occupied inches
beside the doorway, and the r&rest pic
lures hung on the paneled and gildcd
walls. But the prettiest object OF all
the one which the rich lawyer oftenest
raised his eyes from his writing to con-
template with an involuntary smile Of
pride and affection-was q lovely
woman in o white cashmere morning
robe, trimmed with velvet, who stood
opposite, arranging flowers in a bou-
quot. She worea spray Of berries carved
Of pink Neapolitan coral ut her throat,
and tiny pendants Of the rare stone in
her small shell-like ears, and the slender
waist was tied around with a bright
pink ribbon. :,
There, Walter, isn't that.Spretty,'
she asked, holding up her completed
bouquet. Every pretty" he answered,
looking not at the roses and geraniums,
hut directly st the blue eyes and golden
curls of his beautiful young wife.
You are not even noticing it," she
said,
because l see something so much
better worth looking at" ne said, play
fully.
"Do you really love me so very
much?" she added, throwing down the
flowers, and coming around to his side.
ooh, Walter, if mamma could have only
lived to see how happy we are"
Everleigh slipped fro I her husbands
arm with the prettiest little blush in the
world, and was busy with her flowers
when the rich lawyers fright hand
man" put his grizzled head into the
| room.
1.-The old man wants to see you abon!
the Fairweather business"
"Show him in. Don't look so disap.
pointed, love-" he said. SIS the ~grizzled
head disappeared. II shall not be de
tanned three minutes, and the horses are
at the door,"
Mary Everleigh never troubled her
pretty little head about business matte els,
O she never locked up a. the halting
ound Of Old Mr.. Raynesford's crutch
choed on the carpet. But the instant
he spoke she started as if an arrow had
smittcn her, and stood with her large
eyes dilated. and her slender arms
clasped together, listening as intently
rs though her life depended on herhear
ing every word. The old man wa:
pleading and sorrowful, her husband
politely indexible. At length JOB
Raynesford turned to go!
"Well, sir" he said, in a subdued
tone. Il don't know much about law
and law books. but it does seem hard
that an old man should be turned out o.
the home that has sheltered him fol
sixty years, ard all for no fault Of his
own. They say you are q very rich
gentleman, sir-6ve thousand dollars
may seem 4 small thing to you, but it is
my all"
Mrs. Everleigh's soft voice broke the
momentary silence that succeeded this
last appeal. Walter, come here one
minute-I want to speak to you"
He obeyed, somewhat in surprise; she
drew him into a deep recess of thu
stained glass bay-window and standing
there, with the rosy and amber shadow:
playing about her lovely brow, Ike
some pictured saint, she told him how
twenty years before, a wearied child ant
its mother were fed and sheltered by s
kind-hearted stranger; how he had giver
them money and kind wishes when they
were utterly alone and desolate in thu
wide world.
But. my love, what has all this to d.
with my business mattersp"
Much, Walter! I am that it'll
child"
You! my dearestp"
II, my husband; and the noble mai
who, I am persuaded, saved my life tina
night, stands yonder, with gray, bowed
head and q sinking hearth