South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-03-19


minister in the village society she had
seemed to hate her with all the venom
OF an embittered nature. She had !ei
and clothed her since infancy because
she had proni led her dying brother she
would do SO, aud duty was Miss Pha.
oe's watch-word. The little lonely
thing had won no place in her heart, be.
cause from the very first it had turned
from her and called her ugly and cross
Miss Phoebe asserted, upon what foun-
dAtion was questionable, that but for
this encumbrance she would now be the
vile OF wealthy farmer in ncighbor-
Ing county.
I So all that had been done for the child
had been done gruilgingly. but notwith-
standing she grew up beautiful and
bright. The towns people, with whom
Miss Phoebe was no favorite, whispered
that she would never forgive Polly for
being so pretty-it was q continual
cross to her. And perhaps this was so.
Tor at that time Ph9be's eyes were cas-,
on the minister, but finding that there
was not n shadow of chance for her
che determined. to use her own ey-
preston, that Polly should not 'cntrap
him. and she set to work accordingly.
|
Mr.. Thompson Jones, in other words
Tom Jones. and his young wife iuhabit.
ed handsome brown.stone residence
on Twenty-fifth street. The street lamps
were lighted and glistcning with fiost.
1t was dusk of snowy night in that lat.
ter part of November.
MIR. Jones and his wife chatted and
laughed over cosy tea table.
'llow do you like your new Girl.
dear queried Tom Il never saw a
better cooked steak must be q good
cook
'Gooll' echoed Mrs. Jones; Il think
she is; she is a jewel, treasure. And.
Tom she continued, enthusiastically.
have you seem her? Sho is q perfect
beauty
Yes said Tom. absenty, but she
only struck me rs loo king too young to
know much. by the way, heard from
Frank to-day be will take dinner with
us tomorrow. BY Jove, won't be O.
happy man! A new house paid ror.) a
pretty wife, good cook, and dear old
Frank to sit at my board. Do you know
he has had call here?'
or course he will accept it,, inter
rupted Mrs. Jones. 1t is shame for a
man with his talents 10 bury himself in
such an obscure village
| OF course he will. | wrote to him
that would show him perfect house
tomorrow, Mrs. Jones; so be prepared
for exploration Of all your premises
every water-pipe will be examined. or
course they Gre always spot!essly clean.
but thought L would warn you-and
keep your pretty cook out of The way,
for l want him to think Mrs. Jones 1.-THE
prettiest woman in the house ut any
| rate
The next day dawhed bright and
clear.
Polly looked wistfuly out of the base.
ment window Of the house in Twenty
! fifth street. She would have liked TO
join the throng of richly dressed people
crowding to hear the now minister call
cd to'the church around the corner.
The dinner hour was five, so she could
have found time TO go, but since she had
been in her new capacity it was only by
a great effort that she compelled herself
to go out to buy necessary clothing.
She watched little Mrs. Jones trail down
the steps in an elegant velvet walking
suit, leaning on her husbands arm. Pol
ly wiped mist from her eyes, and, con.
Guiding the font window was not good
for her, she went back 10 the kitchen
and warbled little song to cheer her.
self. And the canary in his cage took
up the song, and no harsh voice silenced
them. The poor child always comforted
herself with the thought that her pre-.
sent mental position was only Temporal
ry: she only assumed it until she could
tind some other way To make living.
Mrs. Jones was very sweet and kind,
kinder than any one she had lived with
during the year. She really had some
thing to be thankful for.
Feeling that she must not indulge in
repining on such day, Polly summoned
her brightest thoughts, and even a dim
pie or Two peeped out as she thought Or
that happy morning over the pics, and
Of her absurd mistake year ago.
Il suppose he and Melissa are married
long since. Oh J if L could hear him
speak once more =
The morning slipped away. and Polly
was surprised when she heard them com.
ing home from church
Again she was making pumpkin pies
MIS-. Jones said Oh 90 you make
good old-fashioned pumpkin pies?-
Mr. Jones thinks there is nothing more
delicious, and know he would like TO
have some
so now the new cook stood beside The
table with her curls tucked under a
somewhat coquottish little cap, long.
demure apron on. and her sleeves rolled
up. Presently she heard steps and
laughing voices in the passage Lhe door
opened, and she looked up surprised.
with her sitter in her hands Mrs Jones
was holding her long velvet skirt a..
round her, and saying: Tom is such
q goose; nc thinks nobody ever had
such house, and he will drag you from
garnet 70 cellar. hope you do not
mind
Receiving no answer, she turned and
looked at her guest. lie was standing
in irngf Of Dnlfu xyito