The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-02-22

VI lLlS uaIuio oiSAlueS ~ euc SIAoe
value that we look at, don't you see?"
"Ahp said Mr.. Symington. swell,
if you must 60, you must go, I suppose;
and of course I shall have to give you a
check for what money you are likely to
want"
And Mr.. Symington sighed deeply
and went upstairs to get . piece Of
court-plaster for his cut finger.
Mrs. %Symington went to Wild RiveI,
in the northern boundaries of Maine.
where the pine forests were matched
with snow, and the icicles tinkled in
the woods ola moonlight night like SO
many c%astanets gone mad. She made
the greater part of the voyage by sea,
and was consequently very seasick, for
the water was rough and the gale tenn
pestous.
I will come back by land" she said
to herself, as she sat in the little hotel
at Portland, and viewed her green and
yellow complexion with a shudder.
Money wouldn't induce me to risk my
life again in that horrid steamer, where
one is bufeted and seesawed about on
waves that are as high as q house. The
palace.car fare will be something Of on
extra expense, and I shall lose my re-
turn ticket by steamer, but I'm sure Mr..
Symington won't grudge it to me when
he hears how I've been pitched and
tumbled about on the ocean in peril OF
my life"
And shesput on her black brocaded
silk, her new plumed bat, and the seal
dolman, and took the northumberland
train, resolved to present an imposing
appearance to Aunt Grizzly Grump-
ton when she should reach Wild River
station.
1t was very cold-adull, bitter, leaden
cold-with the ground frozen like a
rock, the streams bound in ice, the
sky gray and bitter, with an ineffable
gloom. Aunt Grizzel Grumpton lived
in q little one-storied house on the top
of an uncompromising hill, where a
solitary cedar tree was twisted around
like a corkscrew with the forcs Of the
east wind, and the few lean sheep
huddled behind the rocks in shivering
groups, picturesque, but far from COM
Portable. And ever after they had
come in sight of the old building whose
one coat of red paint had long ago been
worn away by the suns and rains Of
well-nigh a century, Mrs. S~ymington
had serious doubts whether the one
horse sleigh in which she was jerked
and jolted up the incline would no. be
blown sheer away by the rush Of the
tempest before they could reach their
destination.
However, it want. And once in
Aunt Grizzy's cottage things were very
comfortable. There was no wide
throated chimney, filed with moss
fringed logs, such as the fancy of city
jewellers is apt to depict in the solitary
farmhouse. People in Maine know
better than that. But there was an i'm
mense cook stove, which heated the
room 10 an atmosphere OF eighty odd
degrees; the cracks in the window
sashes were pasted over with brown
paper, and sand bags were laid on the
top lodges, while a double rag carpet
covered the floor, and a wood-box,
heaped to the very top, stood in the
angle of the chimney piece. Aunt
Grizzy's dress was of blue homespun
flannel, and she wore a worsted hood
pulled over her ears, and a little plaid
shawl folded over her breast, and she
was addicted to the use of snuff, and
said "Hey?" whenever any one ad-
dressed her.
"My cheeny?" said Aunt Grizzly.
'Well, I'm free to own that / think q
deal of that cheeny. But I don't know,
Niece Arabella, how you came to hearof
it."
cit is an heirloom in our family,
Aunt Grizzel," said Mrs. Symington,
e1erting herself to speak loudly.
"Hey?" said Aunt Grizzly, with her
hand placed sounding-board fashion
behind her ear.
Every one must have heard of it,"
said Mrs. S%ymington, at the risk of
breaking a blood-vessel in her throat.
Aunt Grizzy's wrinkled face fairly
beamed. "Well, I calculate it amt
absolutely ugly" said she. "But still,
if you've really set your heart on it.
Niece Arabella- But it amt unpacked. I
always putt away this time O year when
there amt no tea parties given"
"Oh, never mind that" said Mrs.
Symington, her heart leaping within her
at this easy conquest of the fort. cit
will be all the more convenient for me
to carry it. People always keep such
treasures put away in secret places"
"Hey ?" said Aunt Grizzly, and Mrs.
Symington repeated her words.
"Oh, there amt no secret about it "
said Aunt Grizzly as she turned the hiss
ing saussges in the pan. "Only I hain't
had time to overhaul it since you've
been here"
"NaturallyT" interrupted Mrs. SYM
ington. "But I suppose it is all in
good condition I"
"Sartinly, sartinly," said Aunt
Grizzly. "You can look at it yourself
if you like, Niece Arabella." .
"Oh, that is not at all necessary"
said Mrs Symington. "But now as to
the price, Aunt Grizzly"
81 amt n to haggle with my rela-
%tions," said Aunt Grizzly, giving the fry
ing pan q shake over the blazing sticks.
"Set your own price, Arabella, and if I
don't like it I'll make bold to say So"
"Do you think, Aunt Grizzly" hest
tated the city lady, 'that twenty-five
dollars would be a reasonable compen-
sation for it "
"Well, yes" said Aunt Grizzly. "It
never cost me that, because"
"No, of course not" hnrriedly inter
posed Mrs. Symington, and she pro-
duced the twenty-five dollars, all in
gold half eagles. with the exultant feel
ing of one who has picked a precious
diamond out OF the dust. But I
should wish Won to feel that had dealt
fairly with you in o matter like this"
well, I hain't no reason to COM
said Aunt Grizzly. "Some folks
fancies checny. I don't. A plates a
plate to me, and q cups o cup, and
you're kindly welcome to my set if
took q notion to it."
Mrs. Symington went home the next
day, through a whirlwind of snow, hay
ing been fed upon pork and sausages,
sausages and pork. at every meal since
her arrival, and retaining a very vivid
recollection of the Maine winds and
tempests.
ct don't think I'd go back there
again, even for a SCI of old china" said
Mrs. S~ymington, as she seated herself
on the velvet cushions Of the palace, car
and shrank shiveringly inside Of her
seal dolman and fleece lined fur gloves.
Aunt Grizzel will never die a natural
she'll be blown away, like
Mother Hubbard" +,
But all these petty fluctuations were
forgotten as a thing out of mind on the
brilliant January morning on which. in