Sharp County record., 1880-08-19

mer vacation.
81 brought them from the Mcbride
farm. Mrs. Taney," he said. They
are very common kind in the Shenan-
doah Valley" handing them to her.
Mrs. Taney's thin features grew
warm.
81 remember tree just like these,
at home," she said, "by the old mill.
My old nurse used to hold me up topull
them for myself"
Your little girl tells me you came
from Fauquier County. IL is a fine
country
at is the most beautiful in the
world" said Mrs. Taney.
She stopped and went in hastily. She
felt the tears choking her. She could
hear Mr.. Burke tell the child that his
school was in Fauquier, and that he had
often passed her grandfather's house.
1t was for sale now, with a dozen acres
about it; would sell very cheaply, no
doubt. Land had deprecated since the
war. ga quiet, comfortable little
homestead, too," he said, "as any in
the State"
Mrs. fancy paused in her work.
80, if could only show it to Lefty"
she said to herself. The dear old
farm. The sunny porches, and the
Bourbon roses, and the great oaks CEN
turies DID," She never had spoken OF
her old home to her other children, but
to Lefty she had talked of it often when
they were alone. Lefty was like her
self; the others were all Taneys.
She came to the door.
"Do you know, Mr.. Burke, if there
is an old negro on the place-a gar
dener."
"Uncle TodP O everybody knows
the old man. And his stories about
the Clevelands, de family as he calls
them"
"We were the Clevelands. And old
Tod is really living yetP" She laughed
for the first time in year.
When Lefty had gone in Mr.. Burke
paced up and down the porch. He was
a manly, large-natured young fellow
and his heart ached with pity for the
poor, pinched lives of this child and her
mother. All he could do to show them
kindness was to lerd books to Lefty,
which she devoured eagerly, for she was
fond of reading, in fact she had obsti-
nately persisted in staying at the free
school until she had educated herself.
William Taney waited until the young
man had gone and then he went into
the pantry where his mother was strain
inc the last crock of milk. Something
in his manner made her set down,
trembling.
"You have bad news to tell" she
said.
"No,n with an uneasy, stricken
laugh. "Most folks call it good. Fact
is, mother, I've made up my mind to
marry"
so, William" her old cheeks col
oring.
81 made up my mind three months
ago. And the girls courted and the
weddings to be tomorrow. There,
now; no need for you to look in that
way. I'm generally pretty close
mouthed about my own business, you
might know that. And l didn't choose
to have the matter cackled over at home.
The girls Miss Susie Crawford" ;"
His mother came toward him. He
was her son after all and this was the
turning point of his life. She put her
arms about him and kissed hin. "God
bless you, my boy" she said.
He stood immOvable as log.
Don't let us have any fuss" he said.
You'd better sit down. You're shak-
ing all over. Well, that's all. There'll
be no wedding hubbub here. | don't
hold to spending money in feeding lot
of guzzling fools. The Crawfords have
regular blow out in the morning.
But you don't want to go, l reckonP'
uneasily.
81 should like to see you married."
timidly.
80, nonsense. There's no sickly
sentiment about me. I'll have Sophy
home by supper time. You'll have to
see to things here"
He lighted his candle and turned to
"By the way, She vas here a month
ago."
"Yes." Mrs. Taney remembered
distinctly the gross-featured, black-eyed
Young woman, who had staggered
through the farmhouse in her cheap
silk and gilt jewelry.
"She came just to look at her new
home, and-well she rather took a fancy
to the south chamber. You had better
fix it up for her."
"My room, WilliamP"
eyes. It's all the same to you. Of
course you can 60 up to Lefty"
Lefty, who had been at work inside,
came out, and threw her arms, sobbing
about her mother. She knew that this
had been her mothers room for thirty
years. All Mrs. Taneys children were
born in 1.-THE baby died there.
William stopped and came back say
ing:
"Now look here. It's just as well to
speak plainly at once. I'll have no
opposition to my wife from you, Lefty,
nor from-from any other woman. I'm
the head of this house. My wife shall
be mistress of it. She brings me snug
bit of money, and I'll not have her nor
her family insulted in it."
"My son."
But he had stalked off to bed.