Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-02-18

library. The room was decorated, wit
every appnrtenance of wealth and taste.-
Velvet chairs, with tall backs of daintil
carved rosewood were scattered, here an
there, marble vases occupied inches besid
the doorway, and the rarest pictures hun
on the paneled and gilded walls, But th
prettiest object of all the one which til
rich lawyer oftenest raised his eyes froI
his writing TO contemplate with an invol
untafy smile Of pride and affection-was
lovely woman in q white cashmere morn
ing robe, trimmed with velvet, who stoo
l'oRposite, arranging flowers in bouquet
She wore a,spray of berries carved of pinl
( Neapol itan eeral at haF threat. and tin
pendants / OF a rare stone in her SINAI
shell-like ears, and tho slender waist wa
tied aropnd, with 2 bright pink ribbon.
"There Walter, isn't that pretty?'' sh
asked, holding up her completed bouquet
VERY pretty" he answered, looking no
at the roses and geranlums. but directly a
| the blue eyes and golden curls of his beau
tiful young wife,.
'You are not even noticing, it, sh'
said.
because I see something so much bet
J ter worth looking at, he said, playfully.
''Do you really love me SO very much?'
she added, throwing down the flowers, snd
coming around to his side. sob, Walter, ,
if mamma could have only lived to see how
happy we are.
There was q knock at the door. Mrs.
Everleigh slipped from her husbands arm
with the prettiest little blush in the world,
and was busy with her flowers when the
rich lawyers fright hand man. put his
grizzled head into the room.
"The old man wants to see you about
the Fairweather business.''
''Showhiln in. Don't look 80 disappear.
ted love" be said, as the grizzled head dis
appeared. II shall not be detained three
minutes. and the horses are at the door,
Mary Everleigh never troubled her pref
ty head about business matters. SO she
never looked up as the grating sound of
old Mr.. Ranesford g crutch echoed on the
carpet. But the instant he spoke she star
ted as if an arrow had smitten her. 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 po-
litely infexible. At length Job Raynes-
ford turned to 60.
swell, SIR" he said, in subdued tone,
Il don't know much about law and law
books, but it does seems 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, Strive thousand
dollars may seem small thing to you, but
it is my ALL"
Mrs. Everlelgh's soft voice broke the
momentary silence that succeeded this last
appeal 'Walter, Come here minute-I
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 rose and amber shadows playing about
her lovely brow, like some pictured saint,
she told him how, twenty years before, a
wearied child and it's mother were fed and
sheltered by kind-hearted stranger; how
he had given them money and kind wishes
when they we're 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?"
81, my husband; and the noble man who,
l am persuaded, saved my life that night,
stands yonder. with gray, bowed head and
a sinking heart
MARY, you must be Mistaken
II cannot be mistaken, Walter; should
know him among thousand. You said
you loved me this morning-now grant me
one little BOOM
"What is it dearestp"
"Give me that note he spoke Of"
Mr.. Everleigh silently went to small
ebony cabinet, unlocked it, and drew out
folded paper, which he placed in her
hands. She llded up to the old man, who
had been gazing out of the window in
sort of reverle, and laid her hand on his
arm. "Do you remember the little golden
haired Mary, whom you found with her
mother, wearied out on the roadside twen-
ty years ago?"
"Do I remember her, lady? 1t was but
this very morning that was recalling the
scene.''
''AEd don't you recognize me?" she said,
smiling up in his face, as she drew back
the dropping curls. 81 am little Mary
He stood in bewildered silence; all of q
sudden the truth seemed to break upon
her head with fearful blessing, s'And
your mother, my child? '
''She has been dead for years; but it is
my dearest task to be the instrument of
her gratitude. Here is the note YOU in
dorsed; my husband has given it to me-
see!''
A small spirit-lamp was burning in one
Of the inches; she held the bit Of paper
over the fame until it fell in a cloud of
llGlG aSnoS upon Gn6 uOOrs
"Well?"
Mrs. Raynesford met her husband at
the door the instant his crutches sounded
On the little graveled path.
"Why don't you speak? Of course I
know you have nothing but bad news to
tell, but might as we'll hear it at once.
Have yon seen the gentleman? What did
be say2"
"Hannah,n said old Job Raynesford |
slowly folding up his gloves, ''do you re-
member the ten dollars gave that poor
a score of years ago?"