Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-01
VOL. 75.-3S55. NO. AZ.

and making the long hours fly by. II was
late in the afternoon when she came in to
say
Mr. Franklin, the room across the hall
has southern exposure, and ! think you
will find it more comfortable than this one.
Will you try to get there if Aunt Jane and
will help you !"
I" | am very well here"
"But you will be better there. Please
come.
So he yielded, but once fairly in the room,
could not repress cry of amazement.
Softly carpeted, white curtained, bright
fire cracking in the stove, dainty supper
spread upon the table, the room was cosy
and CHEEKY enough to coax smile from the
grimmest lips. Yet when James Franklin
sank into the bright chintz.covered easy
chair, and looked around him, everything
seemed strangely familiar. That was the
parlor carpet, taken from the never-opeued
room below those were the parlor curtains
freshly ironed and starched, and held back
with knots of broad pink ribbon. The bed,
bureau, wardrobe, chairs, all were his own,
polished till they shone again. The snowy
bed linen, the white counterpane, the bu-
reau covers with their knotted fringe, were
all his sisters work, stored away in chests
since she died, long, long years ago. Even
the chintz on the chair was part of some
old curtains he had stuffed away in a long
forgotten corner Of closet.
ait is very comfortable, and you are a
good, thoughtful girl" he said, looking
around with keen appreciation Of the
added comfort.
"Now let me read the rest of our book TO
you ! have some new periodicals in my
trunk if you will look at Them"
The days flew by, cold weather strength
ening, till Robert wrote he was coming
| home one chill January day. Margaret had
been busy for a afortnight before in the lower
part of the house, but Mr.. Franklin asked
no questions. He had been very i'll. but
was recovering, so that he hoped to well
come Robert in the sitting room. How he
shrauk from returning to its dreariness and
| sending Margaret away, he told no one till
he held his nephew's hand fast clasped in
his own.
al can never tell you, Robert" he said
then "what Margaret has been to me. No
daughter could have tended me more
patiently and faithfully, aud when | could
listen she read to me and talked as if ] were
companion to her instead of a grumpy old
bachelor, past sixty"
{" am glad you have been well cared for, y
Robert said, turning his head to hide a
merry twinkle in his eyes; "you look very
fine here"
But when he carefully led the old man to
the sitting-room both stood amazed. Was
the handsomely carpeted, cheerfully fur
nished room the dreary old place in which
they had been so well conteuted While
they wondered new sound greeted them
the tones of a piano touched by skillfnl
fingers, and voice sweet and clear singing
a song of praise.
Throwing open a door to disclose beauti-
fully furnished parlor, Robert also saw a
little figure on the piano stool, clad in a
shining black silk, with lace and becoming
jewelry TO adorn it.
Margaret Uncle James cried.
But Robert said softly:
Margaret Franklin, Uncle James, Daisy,
my wife,
Then she came forward with shining eyes
"I wanted to make you love me-" she
said, in low, tender voice, "for Roberts
sake.
"And for your own," he answered, but |
am bewildered, my dear. Where did these
things come from 7"
"From my old home. They are all mine
and you will let them stay here, will you
, not, for our new home ?" she added, shyly
slipping her hand into Roberts. ! don't
want to take Robert from you, Uncle James
when he is all you have to love, but if yor
will give me place here too, | will try t.
be a good daughter to you.'
"Give you place here ?" the old mar
cried; 81 think no greater grief could CONF
to me now, Margaret, than the thought Of
losing you. God ever bless you, child fol
few at your age would have cared to Sc
, kindly overcome so obstinate an old mani
''ppifd aERiGydJjG,es' sne whispered, touching
her lips to his for the first time; you hav,
made me very happy"
And as she presided over the carefully ap
pointed table in a costly furnished dining
room Uncle James had used for spare harnes
!. and bags of grain, but which was trans
/ formed beyond recognition, there was NJ
' cloud on the brightness of the face O
"Robert's wife,