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

though if you were TO work your fingers
to the bone you couldn't repay me-
You havn't any claims on me now, YOU
are big and strong enough 10 work for
yourself. I wouldn't have turned Won
out when you were little and HELPLESS.
but Eve done my duty by you now
Polly stemmed the torrent OF words,
1t is not necessary TO say anything
more. aunt she said in a clear voice :
Il will CO.
The next morning was clear and cold.
The stubble sparkled with a million
frosty diamonds when Polly crossed the
field on her way to church some hardy
little English sparrows were chirpinn
thanks that tue snow had not vet COW
erei the bits OF scattered grain which
remained for them, and Polly's heart
grew lighter as she watched them, cheer
lily picking and finding sustenance in
the barren field.
Behold the fowls Of the air for they
SOW not, neither do they reap, nor gath.
or into barns; yet your Heavenly Faith.
CIR feedeth them. Are We no. much bet.
ter than theyY'
These words Of comfort coming into
her mind warmed her cold heart, and
with light step she obcyed the sweet,
silvery invitation Of the church bells. A
holy calm fell on her spirits as she en-
tered ti,e peaceful little church, and.
walking up the dim aisle, she took her
seat where the crimson light from q
stained-giass window fell athwart her
paliid face. The words 'outcast. wan
derer, homeless had been ringing in
her brain with dull maddening repe-
tition all night, but now, as the deep
tones OF the organ rang out In glad
Thanksgiving to the Giver OF all good
things, Polly felt herself uplifted, for
.he moment, above the miserable annoy
, .nccs Of her life and when she glance.
at Melissa, looking pretty and fresh in
her feathers and silk, she felt almost
thankful for her, that she pose ssed the
love Of great and noble soul. Polly
led the choir. and when the ministers
ear caught the sweet, clear tones in
which there was no guile, he also thank.
ed God. With the inconsistency of hui
man emotion, Polly's mind wandered sew.
eraltimes duringihe service to the pump.
kin pies on the shelf at home. This
was before the ser mon. When once
she felt the magnet Sun OF his voice, she
! listened spell-bound until it ceased -
She never wept, as those around her
sometimes did at some touching recital.
She sat motionless, With dlated ewes.
and almost held her breath until he had
finished. To-day she kept saying to
herself: The last time The la st time
When next he speaks here Cod knows
where l sballsber
Once the minister caught the express
sion OF the wild brown eyes, and there
was such misery in them that for q mo.
ment he lost his self-posession.
After church Polly hurried home O
set the table, and the minister followed
with Melissa. whom. for reasons of her
own, Miss Phoebe had also invited TO
! dinner.
At dinner Melissa was placed next
the minister and Polly opposite, small
handmaid being behind for the occasion
to wait on the table. Polly could not
| help thinking what handsome couple
they would make. as she glanced from
his strong, dark head and brilliant, blue
eyes, TO Melissa's cold. clear-cut face
AMI graceful figure draped in rich black
silk. Po!ly's face was flushed from
bending over the stove, and her hands
trembling with excitement.
| She did not know at what moment
her aunt would come out with como
thing about yesterdays performance
and Polly felt that before all the assem-
bled relatives, and especially before the
minister and his betrothed, she could
not endure il. But Miss Phoebe seemed
in particularly good humor, anil her
acrid face dissolved itself into some
thing approaching n smile.
Once Melissa, smiling. at Polly, said /:
i have heard you were n good cook,
hut had no idea you were so accom-
pli-hcd.'
Polly didn't make anything but the
pumpkin pies Aunt Phoebe answered
smiling grimly, and she ordeied the
maid to bring them on.
Il can testify that they are everything
that pumpkin pies should be, said the
minister with n laughing glance which
caused Polly's face to blaze, caused Me.
LISA to give her a cold, suspicious look,
and made Aunt Phoebe draw down the
corners OF her mouth in n very siguif-
cant way.
la the harry of the morning Polly had
neglected tasting her pies. and with
some anxiety, she watched her neigh
Dor, a farmer cousin, eat bis piece. Tic
took one enormous mouIhful Of the vel.
low, luscious looking stuff, and then
seized his glass OF milk and gulped II
down lie set his glass down with an
exclamation and very wry face. To
her dsmay Polly saw every one down
the table do the same thing. Crimsoning
she glanced furtively over at the minis
ter; he and Melissa we're taking and
toying with their forks, but neither OF
them was eating.
Aunt Phoebe waited till there was
painful silence about the board, then
executed her next flank movement
Sarah she said, turning to the girl,
brink the cake Off the dresser When
a large, beautifully-browned plum,cake
was set before her she said suavely to
her guests: This cake, my friends, was
made by Melissas pretty hands, and /