The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-01-29

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"The old man wants to see you about
the Fairweather business"
"Show him in. Don't look so disap-
pointed, love-" he said, as the grizzled
head disappeared. II shall not be detain-
ed three minutes, aud the horses are at the
door,
Mary Everleigh never troubled her
pretty little head about business matters,
so she never looked up as the hating sound
of old Mr.. Raynesford's crutch echoed on
the carpet. But the instant he spoke she
started as if an arrow had smitten her, and
stood with her large eyes dilated, and her
slender arms clasped together, listening as
intently as though her life depended on
her hearing every word. The old man
was pleading and sorrowful, her husband
politely infexible. At length Job Ray
nesford turned to go.
"Well, sir" he said, in subdued tone,
~ don't know much about law and law
books. but it does seem hard that an old
man should be turned out of the home that
has sheltered him for sixty years, and all
for no fault of his own. They say you
are very rich gentleman, sir-fve thou
sand dollars may seem small thing to you,
but it is my all"
Mrs. Everleighs soft voice broke the
momentary silence that succeeded this last
appeal. "Walter, come here minute
1 want to speak to you"
He obeyed, somewhat in surprise she
drew him into deep recess of the stained
glass bay window and standing there, with
the rosy and amber shadows playing about
her lovely brow, like some pictured saint,
she told him how, twenty years before, a
wearied child and its mother were fed and
sheltered by kind-hcarted stranger; how
he had given them money and kind wishes
when they were utterly alone and desolate
in the wide world.
"But, my love, what has all this to do
with my business matters ?"
much, Walter [ am that little
child |"
"You, my dearest p
~, my husband and the noble man
who, 1 am persuaded, saved my life that
night, stands yonder, with gray, bowed
head and sinking heart"
"Mary, you must be mistaken"
II cannot be mistaken, Walter; l
should know him among thousand. You
said you loved me this morning-now
grant me one little boom"
'What is it dearest ?"
"Give me that note he spoke Of. d"
Mr.. Everleigh silently went to a small
ebony cabinet, unlocked it, and drew out
a folded paper, which he placed in her
hands She glided up to the old man, who
had been gazing out of the window in
sort of reverie, and laid her hand on his
arm. "Do you remember the little gold
en-baired Mary, whom you found with her
mother, wearied out on the roadside, twen-
ty years ago?
"Do 1 remember her, lady? 1t was but
this very morning that was recalling the
scene.''
"And don't you recognize me p she
said, smiling up in his face, as she drew
back the dropping curls, II am little
Mary"
He stood in bewildered silence; all of
sudden the truth seemed to break upon
him, and he laid his hand upon her head
with a fearful blessing, "and your mother,
my child p
"She has been dead for years but it is
my dearest task to be the instrument of
ner gratitude. Here is the note you in
lorsed ; my husband has given it to me-
see p
A small spirit-lamp was burning in one
IF the inches she held the bit Of paper
,ver the fame until it fell in cloud of
isht ashes upon the floor.
"Well?"
Mrs. Raynesford met her husband at
he door the instant his crutches sounded
IN the little graveled path.
"Why don't you speak ? OF course l
Know you have nothing but bad news to
ell, but might as well hear it at once.
lave you seen the gentleman What
lid he say ?"
Hannah said old Job Raynesford,
slowly folding up his gloves, edo you re-
member the ten dollars 1 gave that poor
Vanderer, score of years ago?"
"Why, of course I do; didn't I remind
Iou of it not twelve hours since? What
has that to do with our troubles, pray?"
"Just this-to-day 1 received payment,
principal and interest
"What do you mean, Job Raynesford?"
"Thc little haired child that sat
beside our hearthstone, that June evening,
is Lawyer Everleighs wife, and I have
seen her burn the note that has hung like
1 milestone around my neck for years.
She said that she was only dischargiug a
sacred debt of gratitude but heaven
knows [ have looked for no such reward"
There was a moments silence. The old
man was pondering over the past, and
Mrs. Raynesford was so taken by surprise
that she could not speak
"And now, wife, what have you got to
say about my financial mistakes ?" said
Job, archly.
Mrs. Raynesfotd had no argument suit