Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-05-26

= - ~ Il OAN 49, )
81 should like that" said she. And then
Job came in, tall, handsome and nusheo'
his curls yet wet from the spring into
which he had dipped them, and a spflg OF
trailing arbutus pinned into bis coat, ana
spoke frank welcome to the young sirI
whom. he mad never before seen.
$50 Cousin Shadrack Seeley is deaa, +"
he said.
''Yes," said Emily, quietly.
sDid you like him.
NO." confessed the girl. "He was
cross and surly, and had DO sympathy with
anybody. But tried to be kind to MN.
And he kissed me once before he died, and
said had been good girl.''
Sand then went and left his money to
the Refuge for Baptist Widows and Orph-
ansl" said Mrs. Torrance. ''Tbat's Cous-
in Shadrack all over"
ssHe had right to do as be pleased with
his money! said Emily, faint glow ris-
ing to her cheeks.
swell, it's all over and gone" said Mrs.
Torrance. ''Theres no use talking about
it now"
And she sighed softly to think how many
of life s hard angles might have been avoid
ed in the future, if only Cousin Shadrack
had been less interested in the Baptist
Widows and Orphans.
at the end Of month, Mrs. Torrance
was forced to acknowledge that Emily had
we'll earned her six dollars month and
board. The girl certainly had about her
that wonderful magnetic power which
philosophers dub executive ability" and
New England housekeepers call 'facul-
ty.'' She was natural cook-she did
things without seeming to take any trou :
BILE at all.
II don't understand it, said Mrs. Tor
rance. "a little dark, slim thing that was
always brought up to sit with her hands
folded
And one sultry day in July when Job
and Emily came in from strawberrying
with c1imsoned fingers, laughing faces,
and baskets heaped high with the fragrant
Ml O. 4O1l0 DUAL UGu III Uu0 oOAl
tude of the dairy where she was making
cottage cheese
~ declare.'' she cried. II wonder nev-
or thought of that before. Oh, dear! oh.
dear! l never can consent to it in the liv
ing world.''
Job came to her that same evening.
'sMother," said he, Emily has promised
to be my wife,
Mrs. Terrence burst into tears.
''You re only six-and-twenty years old,
Job," she faltered.
'sJust two years older than when my
father married you, mother. Now don't
turn your face away; but tell me plainly,
have you any fault to find with my
choice?"
"No-no," confessed Mrs Torrance.
"Do you think could possibly win a
sweeter girl than Emily Alden?''
''No, don't suppose you could" an
swered the mother-in-law elect; "but it's
natural, job, to feel little jealous when
you SEQ some one else taking the first place
in your child's heart.''
But when Job brought Emily in to re-
ceive her kiss of greeting, Mrs. Torrance
had sufficiently conquered herself to bid
her new daughter welcome.
Though 1 sposed. Emily said she,
little bitterly, ''you looked higher than
farmer once"
II never looked higher than one of ma
lures noblemen." said Emily, with smile
that fairly won the old lady's heart.
That same evening, as they all sat to-
gether in the orange twilight, with the
scent Of tall white lilies in the air, Emily
suddenly broke the silence.
''Job," said she, "would you like to be
rich2'
"Well, yes,' said Job, ''I'd like money
enough to keep my wife in luxury.''
"Would you, Aunt Dorcas?" said Emf
ly, turning to Mrs. Torrance.
''Of course I should,'' said that matron
vigorously plying her knitting needles;
''but don't ever expect it,
"But you are rich," said Emily, with a
little tremor in her voice. sob is rich
we are all rich together, with Cousin Shad-
rack Seeley's money"
But" cried Mrs. Torrance, 81 thought
he left all to the Baptist Widows and
Orphans"
"Not ALL" said Emily. Its secret,
but may tell you now. Half was left to
the Refuge-the other thirty thousand is
mine. to be paid over to me on the day on
which marry man who. Ignorant of
Cousin Shadrack's bequest, has loved me
loyalty and well. 1t was the old mans
whim, and have respected it. Oh, Aunt
Dorcas, came to you because, in my
loneliness and bewilderment, I knew not
where else to ge-but little dreamed that
I was entering directly into the kingdom
of noble heart"
1t was true. Shadrack Seeley, eccentric
in life, had been equally eccentric in his
death-and when Mr.. Mustybill, the law
yer, paid over the legacy, he said, chuck,
ling:
tits all right It's exactly as my poor
client would have had it! I congratulate
you, Mrs. Job Torrance"
And Mrs. Torrance, the elder. has
higher opinion than ever of her daughter
in-law's attractions. now that they are set
in a background of gold.-Sharley Broaone.
DEACON SAVEALL'5 SPEECH.
On the occasion Of meeting called by the
district to consider the question whether
new school-house should be built or
not. He takes the opportunity OF giving
his ideas upon variety of subjects, in