The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-06-05
Mol.


. "You'll go with me, won't you?
might have persisted in tho snow
only for you"
, She would go with him and sac
him safely housed, she said, GER
tainly. And she thought to herself
"Nirs. Brandon surely couldn't
object to my going into Mr.. Viii
sons house undsr tho circumstan-
ces. And besides, how is she ever
to know? Even if she does know,
and it costs me my situation, !
won't leave a fellow-crsature suffer
ing in the snow.'
i And obeyins that resolution she
trudged along bravely, following tho
men with their helpless burden to
Wilson's farm. Mrs. Wilson re-
coivsd them.
@Glad TO SEQ you, Miss Milly,"
said she, heartily. "Glad to see
you atany time, my dear, which is
more than I'd say for any other in.
mate Of Brandon Park: And SO
you've taken 10 Rover's business,
have you, hunting up lost folks in
the snow? 1t has bsen o heavy
fall, TO be sure, and our roads arc
bad for strangers. Itakc it you are
a stranger, sir2" she added, direct.
ing the mon to place their burden
on a bed "for I know all tho faces
horeabouts, and I don't seem to ay-
er have seen yours"
Har unexpected visitor answered
briefly and family, being evidently
in much pain. Ie was a stranger,
going somewhat farther on, 10 at
tend to a matter Of business. His
name was Ronald, and he was able
to pay for any inconvenience he
might cause her. Could llo stay
there to be nurscd? Or could she
furnish him with a conveyance 10
some hotel-this Brandon Park, ho
hoard them speaking Of, for in.
stance?
Mrs Wilson laughed and stared;
eyon SIilly opened her blue eyes q
little wider; it seemed to these in
nocent simplstons so odd that any
one should mistake tho great house
oftho neighborhood for q hotsl.
"The Brandons are the proudast
people around hsrc,p said tho far
mer's wife, "and the greediest.
They have a fine estate Though
they're more pinched for money
then they'd own to, yet they've
quarreled with my husband about
:aipatch of land that's worth loss
than nothing to obody.'Fhis is
their goyerness,S Miss Horton and
Itell you it's as much: as her place
is worth to como uuder my roof, SO
bittor are they against us. Per-
haps, as she came for your sake,
you'll be careful not to speak about
it; and perhaps, my DEAR turning
to Milly, "as you've brought him
here, you'll stay here, this evening
at least, and nurse him."
1t would be hard to decide
whether AIilly was moat terrified or
Mr.. Ronald most delighted ut this
proposition. 1t is not to DO sup
posed that his iniurie, had besn
loft unattended to all this time on
the contrary, while th,y talked, the
women had removed his boots and
bathed and bound the swollen
ankle tcndsrly. 30 that Mr.. Rom
aid had some experience Of his
little raseuor's light and tender
touch, aud felt little inclination to
be deprived other kind and skillful
Offices.
"rhsy don't expect you at the
park" said Mrs. Wilson, "and I
was surprised at seeing you. Imet
tho housekespsr this morning, and
ahe said they were MI in a taking
at news they'd had about young
Brandon, the real hsir to the estate,
who turned up in Europe lately SO
unexpectedly. 1t seems hos in
New York already, and wrote them
to expect him any day, and the
young ladies ars all agog to look
their prsttiest, and smile their
sweetest, SO that one Of them may
marry him, and keep The placs 10
themselves, after all; for hes only
a cousin several times removed, you
know, and very rich, which is more
than these Brandons ever were. This
estate came 10 this branch Of the
family" she explained 10 Mr.. Ron
aid, "in the absence OF tho heir, ,whs
had gone abroad when a mere boy,
and boon lost sight Of, Now hs
turns up again, to their disgust,and
the girls are squabbling about
which shall marry him. Ono Of
them wrote TO you, Miss AIilly, to
stay over Nav Years, if you chose,
as The children won't bs home for a
week yet. The letter must have
miscarried. What I propose is
that you stay hers instead, and the
Brandons nssa never be the WISER"
What a temptation it wasl The
Wilson's were comfortable, hearty
people, and Alilly felt n girls natu-
raj interest in, and liking for, her
new.Cound and suffering protsgc,
whose dark, expressive eyes and
pale, Handsome face, pleaded for