Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-06-03
Selett STONY,
A Story of TtC0 WIS.

AoihS", lnele uISuG nave Deen music
in the drops if it had showed, we
could have "lived over" the beautiful
poem; but it did neither, and now,
late in the afternoon the air was a
thick, damp vapor, and the streets
ankle deep with slush and mud, that
an unpaved Western town supplies 90
bountifully and readily.
Then again the life of young at
tornsy is not always whirl of excite
ment and pleasurablo results. Not a
living soul except a bootblack-just
as if We should ever need bootblacks
again-had entered the door that
day. In vain l tried to give my
mind over to the arbitrary statutes,
and then in despair sought the more
inviting stimulants of Regina Us.
Reynolds; even the gossip of a great
leading case failed TO inspire me, and
YEARLY I turned from my books to
my thoughts, and from my thoughts
to my gloom.
1t was just then, before I had as
oended the realms of suicidal purpose
for walked that way slowly-that
the door hesltatingly, cautiously
turned, and I was again hard at
work, with one eye on the paper and
the other on the door.
I won't make diagnosis of just
how fast my heart was beating if
peradventure the door would open,
and somebody that was somebody
come in. I could endure the GUS
penae no longer, and looked equarely
up. The door had opened, and
though the evening shadows were
gathering thick and fast, I could see
that my visitor was in manners and
dress a lady-the most significant
word in the greatest of languages.
Her veil concealed her face, but old
or young, ugly or pretty, her thoughts
probably were; "He's young man,
very young, he hasn't had very much
experience, don't think he ever did
such work before, it would help him,
but that don't help me, l had better
look"
But | interrupted my own forebod-
ings BY springing to my feet with a
GOOD evening, madam step in; I'm
through with the matter in hand, a
little pressed now, with term time
upon us, but have an hour to spare to-
day, such dull day Sit down r.
and my first triumph was won. for
she was seated.
Then swept my books from ne
with an air Of relief, as if any prob
lem she might agitate would be cbilds
play, compared to what I had just
passed through.
I had not as yet so much as caught
the color of her eyes, and couldn't
but wonder why she kept her veil
drawn so closely, unless she was med
itating a sudden fight to the office of
the bald-headed wretch right across
the way, who had few gray hairs
and more experience, you know, but
had bad attack of the rheumatism,
too, thank Heaven, which I devoutiy
trusted was keeping him home on SO
bad a day as this.
II want you to write a WILL" she
suddenly began, in a half halting,
half inquiring voice.
Certainly, madam !" I answered,
nobly resolving to strengthen the
faith within her. and I pulled half
quire CT legal cap toward nae and
thought of the solemn opening and
weighty formalities of its publication.
"lts to be my husbands will, she
added. "He dare not come out on
such day ss this" And she shiv-
cred SO prettily, that was reconciled
with the weather for the first time
that day.
Hadn't better come to your
house ?" I ventured to suggest.
"Oh, no ! not now !" she answered,
with a light sigh. ut might excite
him too much. He's very, very fee
bic, these chilly days; but he may bs
better tonight, and I will send the
carriage for you then. 1t will not
make any difference, will it, about
the will being biuding?' and some
thing told mo that she was peering
very anxiously at me.
"Of course, madam, If he then fully
and voluntarily adopts it as his, it is
just the same as if I took it all down
from his lips"
Al