The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-03-03

were leaving the room, and near me lot
moment. Perhaps You both have a
little corner in your memories occupied
by the dear old room in your childhoods
home, where you used to sit during the
long, wild winter nights before fire
blazing away as merrily as that one over
there is blazing now, and watch the
flames as they burst forth from their
prison and shed faint splendor through
the gloom-I think you have. Almost
every one has. know that have and
tonight, when I was passing the window
here, and saw the light of that pleasant
fire streaming through the chinks in the
shutters, the shadow of many sorrowful
years was lifted from my heart. was
again happy little lad, sitting at my
dear mothers feet, my head upon her
knee, and tracing with wondering eyes
the quaint pictures of the flames.
Well for you, poor fellow, thinks l,
to keep this memory fresh tonight.
And so 1 entered here. I have been
rude, but pardon the roughness of a
soldier"
Mrs. Edgeworth burst into tears.
"Bid the poor fellow stay, john" she
obbed.
And John Edgeworth, with faltering
voice welcomed the sergeant, for both
husband and wife saw again, in that
same room, a little boy kneeling before
the fire searching with earnest eyes the
secrets of its bright mysteries.
When he was left alone, the sergeant
drew his chair over to the window and
sat down there. He had scarcely done
so when the door was opened, and q
young girl entered the room. She did
not notice his presence there, for she
went over to the fire, and remained
standing before it, Her face was partly
turned toward him, and the sergeant
oazed upon it with deepening interest.
It told its own story, the sweet face
palmer than many words is told that,
lovely as it was, sorrowful tears had
married its gentle beauty and though
now smile frightened over it, that smile
was the shadow of some pleasant memory,
and not the light of present joy. A
domestic came in, and started when she
saw the young girl.
II thought you were up stairs, Miss
Amy"
miss Matte wished to be left alone
for awhile, Nancy" she answered.
ooh, Miss Amy, you oughtnt have
left her alone. She might make way
with herself. I remember poor mother
telling of young lady who was going
to be made to marry man she didn't
like, and when they went up to call her,
they found her lying dead, she killed
herself miss, rather than marry him. To
be sure, Miss Matte, isn't forced to mar
ry old Frazer-excuse me. Miss Amy,
but can't say mister to an old villain
like him-but any one can see it's kill
ing her. All, Miss Amy, if MIR. Harry
was here o-night-Well, if she isn't
gone /" exclaimed Nancy for at her last
words the young girl had hastily quilted
the room. "She's off like an arrow
whenever mention Mr.. Harry to her.
Good Lord who is that ?" she cried,
springing back on perceiving the SER
geant
Don't be frightened girl !" said he.
"Oh, the soldier! Goodness what
fright you gave me-"
$50 there's going to be wedding here
tonight, my girl?" said the sergeant.
''The bridegroom is no favorite, I'm
thinking"
The proverbial fascination of scarlet
coat disarmed Narcy's prejudice against
the intruder, for she answered without
hesitation,-
You're thinking right, then. Every
thing has gone wrong. with the master of
late and the last hundred pounds he
had left he gave for a share in what he
heard was salmon fishery near Rom
ford. The salmon turned out to be
frogs, and then old Frazer kept lending
him money, and making him to do this
and that until the master had borrowed
seven hundred pounds of him! Then at
once he came down on him for his
money, and either he must go to Bride
we'll or poor Miss Matte become his
wife. And my darling young lady went
down on her knees to her father begging
him, for his and her mothers sake To let
her marry old Frazer; that she would be
contented with him if he was fifty times
worse if she thought they would be
happy. But he could not be worse than
he is; he is as ugly as the big Cornish
giant It's my belief he'd sell the last
gray hair of his mothers head if he
could get farthing for it. My dear
Young mistress! What husband he is
for you"
Nancy hid her face in her apron and
sobbed aloud.
"The old story" said the sergeant,
land to make it complete, my girl, your
young mistress should have another
lover whom she likes"
"And so she has, sighed Nancy, drop
ping her apron and o tear at the same
time. "A fine young gentleman, but
not farthing he can call his own. All.