The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1882-08-23
GRANDMOTHER Kirke.

Should be married IN lew weeks.
"Oh, it is beautiful" she whisper
ed, "but, Charley, don't you think it's
rather small?"
neutrality-suspicious. so; but what
do we want of anything larger? The
bedroom upstairs is really a good
size, and"
"But is there no bedroom on the
ground aour?" asked Millicent, anx.
ioasly.
"No; why?"
"For grandmamma, you know"
Mr.. Clare's countenanCe fell slight.
ly at the reference to "grandmam-
ma"
81 have made no arrangements for
your grandmother, Milly."
"But, Charley, she brought me up.
Oh, Charley, we can't settle down
without her."
"We can't settle down with her,
you mean," said Glare, imperatively.
"When a man marries a girl he don't
contract TO support all the relatives
she happens to havel"
81 am all that grandmamma has"
said little Milly, her face all aglow,
her eyes darkly curruscating. Grand
mother has loved and cherished me
more years than you have, and l will
not leave her to neglect and suffering
in her old age"
"Very well, them" said Mr.. Clare,
quietly. at is settled"
eyes," said Milly in a firm voice,
sit is settled"
And grandmamma Kirke, sitting
alone by her fire, was astonished
some five or ten minutes later by the
sudden apparition Of little Milly,
tlinging herself upon her shoulder,
and sobbing most bitterly.
Grandmamma Kirke listen to the
poor little girls story with an odd
working of her venerable features.
81 don't ask this sacrifice of you,
child" said old Mrs. Kirke, stroking
down the lustrous meshes of dishevel-
ed brown hair. 81 dare say l shall
do well enough"
Milly looked up, loving and indig-
nant at the same time.
"Do you suppose | could leave you,
grandmamma?"
Mr.. Glare was little surprised at
the turn events had taken; it had
never for an instant occurred to his
mind that any girl in her sober sense
could prefer the society of a crooked
old woman to that of himself.
"She will come to her senses after
awhile" was the thought with which
he was consoled. Gall girls indulge
in heroics now and then, but it won't
last long"
Mr.. Glare, however, was destined 20
disappointment.
Engaged to Frank Blakeslyw he
said, about six months subsequent
"Why, he's been counting her this
long time-sending her flowers, and
books and music, and all that sort of
thing. And the old witch of Endor
is to live with them, I suppose.
wouldn't have stood i'll" continued
Glare, growing more heated and an
cry as he talked, "but Frank Blakes-
ly never had any mind of his own
Well wish EN- joy, that's all"
And the tone of voice in which Mr..
Glare spoke indicated anything rath,
er than the benevolent aspirations
shadowed forth by his words.
Frank Blakesly and Milly Kirke
had not been married more than a
year when a dark messenger came to
the door of their humble yet infinite.
~ con:entcd homc-the mighty and
relentless angel of death.
"You've been very kind to me,
Frank and Milly," said grandma
kirke; "but it's well nigh over now.
lonly wanted to live long enough to
zee my little girl contded to the care
of some good man who, would value
her as she deserves, and I've got my
wish"
"And grandma Kirke, whose old
eyes were growing dim, fumbled, I'M
der her pillow for the old work. bag
with outlandish little pocket, which,
with It's paraphernalia of antique
housewives, bodkins, scissors and
thimbles, was her constant compan.
ION