The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1880-05-07


gett paused aud listened.
ats my landlady's eat said he.
" Poor thing! Pm almost sorry
that | made pet OF her. She'll
he lonesome when am gone and,
perhaps, ON the whole, it my be
better for me to let her in.'
Tap, tap, tap! Again came the
hesitating, uncertain sound.
"My landlady's cat never made
noise like that y cried the Reverend
Briggs Badgett, much marvelling.
And he rose up, set down the cup
of lukewarm tea aud opened the
door.
There stood pretty young wo-
man in a brown hood, edged with
fur, a brown quilted sacque, aud .
face like a rosebud, all bushes and
sparkles.
"Does the Rev. Mr.. Badgett live
here T. asked Amy.
"That's my name,S said the rev.
erend gentleman.
off you please, sir,' said Amy,
feeling au instaneous sensation OF
thrill down to her heart, "Mr.
Doremus Day sent me. here. The
young person, sir-the help"
"Oh y said Mr.. Badgett. "Be
so good as to walk in. Yes, exact.
y.n
And Mr.. Badgett took up the
poker aud put it down again, in
some embarrassment.
add he think you would suit y
said he.
Yes, sir" said Amy. Hero is
his letter.
And Mr.. Badgett unfolded the
letter aud read
Dear Brother Badgett: Allow
me to introduce to you, Miss Amy
Peake, truly worthy and indus
trious young female, who think
eau scarcely fall to suit you in the
way mentioned. "Yours truly,
DoREMUs DAY.'
Mr.. Briggs Badgett folded up the
letter again, and looked helplessly
at the poker, as if for further in.
spiration.
ats a very important step that
YOU are taking, Miss Peake," said
he.
"Please don't be so ceremoniOus,
Mr.. Badgett," brightly interposed
Amy. "Call me by my name
Amy. Oh, yes, of course it is i'm.
pol tant: but I've fully made up my
mind to it,"
"You are young T. said Mr.. Bad.
gett.
81 can be all the more useful"
said Amy.
You look-excuse me-" STAN.
mercd the young clergyman-"but
you look delicate.'
"Indeed, l am quite well and
strong" said Amy, "and | under
stand all the branches of house.
work, aud | really think ! can suit
you."
But-your friendsi"
81 have no friends who will miss
me much,' said Amy, speaking with
a dew in her eyes and little quiv
er in her voice. Hencetorward,
my mission will he all to me-"
al wish l could have seen little
more of you," said the Rev. Briggs
Badgett. All lthis is rather sudden,
you know
"Everything is sudden--just at
the last" said Amy, cheerily. "You
need have no fears, sir; am GER
tain that | shall suit you."
He held out his hand with a
bright smile.
"Well spoken, Amyp said he.
There is an electricity in your
look and voice that encourages me
in most marvellous degree. But
| desire you to think it well over
before you decide"
"My decision was made the first
fhour that Mr.. Day mentioned your
name to me,n said Amy Peake.
"Strange-very stranger said
Mr.. Badgctt, instinctively stroking
his brown silk beard. "And you
really think, young woman-Miss
Peakc, l mean--Amy, would say
that you will bear all the hard.
ships aud difficulties incident to
the life of missionary's wife I"
"Of a what p questioned Amy,
not quite certain she had heard
Alright.
"Of a missionary's wife" solemn.
ly repeated Mr.. Badgett.
"Of whose wifer asked Amy.
"Ot my witep
Amy rose to her feet, blnshing
like a Jacqueminot rose.
Ill never dreamed of this!' said
she. "Mr. Day told me that you
wanted q help.n
"A help-meet," gravely explained
the young clergyman.
"But Mrs. Briggs BadgettT
"Ehn said Mr.. Badgett.
IA little old lady with silver curls
and "a fresh complexion fsltered
Amy. "Mr. Day said he had seen
her,,
"That was my MOTHER" said the
missionary elect. 'She died a year
since--God bless her sweet soul
Had she been with me still, | should
have needed no one to hold up my
weary hands or cheer my solitary
| t.u-n