South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-03-03

| ANNE Was nearly worn out by months
Of faithful nursing, and Ella wrote to
Harry.
If you can spare me. dear, am
sorely needed here. Aunt Margaret's
children are all dead, and her grand
children are none of them here. i
have written 10 Gerard Cooper, the
eldest of her sons children, 10 whom
her income returns if che dies, but
even If he comes on she will need me-
1t was hard nursing, incessant care,
but Ella felt more than repaid by
the invalid's gratitude. Every SER
vice was SO fully appreciated, met with
such warm thanks, that il was plea
sure to offer il.
Dear child, the old lady said 'one
day, you will soon be released. and
your good husband will be no worse
for an old woman's most hearty bless.
ing. | cannot pay you, Ella, nor
leave him fortune. | have nothing,
dear, but the few chairs and tables in
the house, but God will reward YOU
for your love and care 10 me-
Days slipped into weeks, and weeks
into months, and was nearly three
months later than the day she left
Creyton, when Ella was free to return
there. Gerard Cooper had been with
his grandmother a week before she
died, but no other relative had come
osMagnolia.
Theafuneral was over, and Ella was
alone in the little parlor, when Mr..
Leigh, the lawyer who had been Mrs.
! Cooper's friend for years, and had
known Ella from her infancy, came
IN. In spite OF the solemnity of the
occasion there was q twinkle in his
eyes as he said
'liave you seen Gerard Cooper
since we left the cemetcry?'
No, he has not come home vet
did You know your Aunt Marga-
ret left'agwilI2'
Anvil! l thought she had no
property
She owned nothing but her cloth
ing, and Tie furniture OF this cottage
She haa left NIL that to YOU
so she told me. But it is of no
money value, is it2'
That remains 10 be seen. Now.
Neil, make me & promise. Promise
me you will not accept any proposal
OF Gerard Cooper's, without sending
him to me-
Certainly. said Ella, rather be-
wildered.
DO you want to sell the the furni-
turc?'
1t wouid,eost good deal to carry
il to Creyton, would il nots'
Yes
And -Four cottage there is fur
nished.'
Then you do not care for the old
furniture. Some Of this is very fine,
more thansa hundred years old
But Ella WAS not educated up to
old furniture, and thought her pretty
modern sofas and tables suited her
little cottage far better than Aunt
Margaret's heavy large pieces of ma
hogany and black oak.
But for Mr.. Leigh's call she would
have closed at once with Gerard's
careless offer.
by the way, Nell, my wife has
rather set her heart upon grandmoth.
ers furniture, and had no idea she
would will il away. You wont want
TO move all this stuff to Crey;on.
suppose | give hundred dollars for
! the lot as il stands
Without warning, Nell would have
accepted at once, bat as it was, she
was surprised TO see Gerard Cooper's
face grow black as she SAID
Mr.. Leigh said he would see about
that for me. You can tell him you
want the furniture.
An expression more forcible than
polite escaped Mr.. Cooper as he strobe
out of the room, slamming the door
after him.
But three days later, Ella began TO
understand the situation. In her
quiet country home, occupied bv her
domestic duties, she had taken
/ little interest in the foIlies Of fashion.
seeing nothing of them and scarcely
needing what she read The value OF
old furniture was unknown 10 her.
aud the fact that her Inheritance was
a choice and rare one was something
that had not occurred to her.
But Mr.. Leigh was we'll aware Of
the fact, and having acordial liking for
Ella, bad resolved TO make the legacy
as valuable as possible, understand
ing that the furniture itself would be
Of sut little value 20 her. A CAREFUL
/ ly worded advertisement in the lead
ing papers Of the cities nearest 10
Magnolia, a circular letter to some Of
the prominent dealers, were 81 hieh
val in the little plan Gerard Cooper
had made to buy his grandmother's
furniture Tor q trihe A sale was
announced. aud Mr. Leigh sent an a.
genttoPut the cottage IN proper order.
such Of the clothing a. you can use
pick up he told Ella, aud send the
trunks to the depot, but let all the old