South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1881-12-02
GARNETs MISTAKE.

oiSSPhy bcstiiDS ueatn q canopy OF
branching hemlocks. Here dwelt Mrs.
barley, or the widow barley, as she
was commonly called by the inhabi,
tants OF Linden. Here, since the de-
parture OF her niece, Garnet, her brot
Their Roberts child, for the city to
learn the dressmakers trade, which @.
vent occurred couple of years ago,
she had lived alone, subsisting on the
produce she raised on that few acres
OF ground attached TO the cottage.
which she managed to sell or barter a.
way Tor groceries AT u thriving town
three miles distant.
Day was fast verging into dusk.
Indeed for some time twilight had
lain gray upon the scene, and only a
silver line bad kissed the purple tops
OF the distant mountain. The widow
barley sat by the window buslly en-.
gagged in darning wretched looking
stocking over mammoth mock or.
ange, bemoauing with every stitch
her recent attack of rheumatism which
confined her to the house, when she
was thoroughly conscious of the fact
that her services are needed out doors.
Now was the time to dig her pota-
toes, now was the time to gather Ger.
tain apples. AID do everything in fact;
and here she was not osly unable to
get about but SO heavily trammeled
by debts that she found it impossible
to secure the assistance so much
needed.
well, l declare =
This exclamation was caused by the
rumbling old stage coach. that daily
passed her house, stopping at the
front gate, from which alighted her
niece, who ran lightly mp the walk
and into the house followed by a
strongly built man, bearing on his
shoulder a good sized trunk, which he
deposited in the hall ere making his
exit.
How dye do, Aunt Susan?' with
hug and a kiss. Not slave to
rheumatism, | hope?'
Yes replied the widow DALEY, who
by the way, was tiny woman of
fifty, with face not unlike the wrin.
kled apples that grew in the garden,
the monster has me again in his
clutch. But whateve, brings you
home? You have surely not been
set adrift?'
Yes, aunt tremor ofpain thread
ing her voice in spite Of her efforts
to appear unconccrned, times are dull
and Madam Brown has SO little work
that she deemed it expedent to dis
pense with the services OF the most
incompetent. | being the least skill
iul OF her apprentices, was dismissed
without regret. Most summary she
dismissed me, Withholding the quaint
words OF commentator she grudg-
ingIy bestowed upon the others.
have no taste for dressmaking. and
am termed regular botch. Not Il
very good recommendation to help
secure another situation, ell? But.
never mind, aunt | see am needed
at home. How arc things progress.
mgr
Not ut all, in her most dolorous
tone the place is fairly weighed
down with mortgages, and, for augLt
| know to the contrary, Mr.. Lincoln
may forecIose any day. Yes, and
any day may find us without shelter.
Our larder is about empty and there
is no money to replenish it; all of the
Hour has been scrapel from the bar.
rel, and to-day l was obliged to Dor.
row pailful from Jane Gray then
too. there is not tea leaf in the cad
dy and ] do not know how To exist
without my cup Of tea. I had meant
to have dug a few bushels of potatoes
and got Mr.. Dcnver's horse TO 90 TO
obtain some of tile things [ cannot
get along without. but am good for
nothingr with a prolonged sigh.
Never mind, aunt. don't worry
I'll sec what can be done in the
morning
And next forenoon, about ten o.
clock with n hoe swung over her
shoulder, and half bushel basket in
her hand, IN Which reposed half do.
zen potato bags aud u dainty rcpast
done mp in newspaper, she trudged
20 the potato patch to see what could
be done for the widows niece, Gar.
net Embers, was a girl equal to any
emergency. She was a slender, grace
ful girl, neither blonde nor brunette
but combination of both, rs pretty
n creature as one would care to see.
with her wonderful clear complexion,
tinged with the mercst flush OF pink,
her dark eyes, almond. shaped. and
foil of vim, Swallowed by black. curl.
Ing lashc', and q superb abundance
OF red-brown hair, coiled low on her
well shaped head She had donned
a dunhued calico dress, which she had
fastened on all sides to keen clear of
the dirt, thereby displayed a foot arch
ed and slender as an Arabs; over her
boqH luliuor nor won Il rpus Iatr ,,.o.- 80, q,