The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-08-07

looking not at the roses and geraniums,
but directly at the blue eyes and golden
curls Of his beautiful young wife.
"You are not even noticing it," she
said.
"Because see something too much
better worth looking at" he said play
fully.
"Do you really love me so very
much?" she asked, throwing down the
flowers, and coming around to his side.
"Oh, Walter, ifmamma could only have
lived to see how happy we are !"
There was knock at the door. Mrs.
Everleigh slipped from her husbands
arm with the prettiest blush in the world,
and was very busy with her flowers when
the rich lawyers Fright hand man" put
his grizzled head into the room.
"The old man wants to see you about
that Fairweather business.
"Show him in. Don't look so dis
appointed love-" he said, rs the griz-
zled head disappeared al shall not be
detained three minutes, and the horses
are at the door"
Mary Everleigh never troubled her
pretty little head about business matters,
so she never even looked up rs the halt
ing sound of old Mr.. Rayncsford's
crutch echoed on the carpet. But the
instant he spoke she started rs il an ar
row had smittcn her, and stood with her
eyes dilatcd, and her slender hands
claspcd together, listening as intently
as though her life depended upon hear
ing every word.
The old man was pleading and sorrow
ful-hcr husband politely inaexible.-
At length Job Rayncsford started to go.
"Wcll, sir" he said in a subdued tone,
al don't know much about law and law
books, but il does seem hard that an old
man should be turned out of the home
that has sheltered him for sixty years,
and all for no fault Of his own. They
say you are 4 very rich gentleman, sir
five thousand dollars may seem 4 small
sum to YOU, but it is my all -
Mrs. Evcrleigh's soft voice broke the
momcniary silence that succeeded this
appeal.
"Waltcr, come here one minute-l
want to speak to you"
He obcycd, somewhat surprised ; she
drew him into deep recess Of the stain
cd glass bay window, and standing there
with the rosy and amber shadows play
ing about her lovely brow like some
pictured saint, and told him how twenty
years ago, 4 wcaried child and its moth
cr were fed and sheltered by 4 kind
hearted stranger; how he had given
them money and kind wishes when they
were utterly alone and dcsolate in the
wide world.
"But, my love, what has all this to
do with my business mattcrs?"
"Much, Walter! | am that little
child"
"You, my dcarest?"
al, my husbands and the noble man
who am persuaded saved my life that
night, stands yondcr, with gray, bowed
head and sinking heart"
"Mary, you must surely be mistaken.
81 cannot be mistaken, Walter; |
should know him among a thousand
You said you loved me this morning
now grant me one little boon :"
"What is it, dearest ?"
"Givc me that note he spoke o"
Mr.. Everleigh silently went to small
ebony cabinet, unlocked il. and drew
out folded paper, which he placed in
her hands. She glitrd up to the old
man who had fallen into reverie and
laid her soft hand on his arm.
DO YOU remember the little golden
haired Mary whom you found with her
mother, wearicd out on the roadside
twenty years ago ?"
"Do ! remember her, lady? II was
but this very morning ! was recalling
the scene"
"And don't YOU recognize me1" she
said smiling up into his face, rs she drew
back the dropping curls. 81 am little
Mary"
He stood in bcwldered silence: all
of sudden the truth seemed to break
upon him, and he laid his hand upon
her head with fearful blessing. "And
your mother, my child ?"
"She has been dead for years but
it is my dearest task to be the instrument
of her gratitude. Here is the note you
indorscd; my husband has given it
to me. See"
A small spirit lamp was burning in
one of the inches she held the bit Of
paper over its flame until il fell cloud
OF light ashes upon the floor.
"Well? ?"
Mrs. Raynesford met her husband at
the door at the instant his crutches
sounded on the little graveled path.
"Why don't you speak ? or course ]
know you've nothing but bad news to
tell, but may as well hear it at once.
Have you seen the gentleman What
did he say ?"
"Hannah," said old Job Raynesford,
slowly folding up his gloves, edo you
remember the ten dollars gave that
poor young wanderer, score Of years
ago?"
"Why, Of course | do; didn't re-
mind you Of il not twelve hours since ?
What has that to do with your trouble,
prayl"
"Just this to-day I received payment,
principal and interest"
"what do you mean, Job RaynesfordF
"Thc little golden-haired child that
sat beside our hearthstone that June
evening is Lawyer Everleigh's wife,