Smyrna times., 1882-02-08

out, by months OF faithful nursing, and
Ella wrote to Harry:
If you can spare me, dear, | am sadly
needed here. Aunt Margaret's children
are all dead, and her grandchildren are
none of them here. l have written to
Gerard Cooper, the eldest of her sons
children, to whom her income will return
if she dies, but even if he comes on she
will still need me-"
1t was hard nursing, incessant care, but
Ella felt more than repaid by the invalid's
gratitude. Every service was so fully
appreciated, met with such warm thanks,
that it was pleasure to offer it.
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 blessing. I cannot
pay you, Ella, nor leave him a fortune. l
have nothing, dear, but the few chairs and
tables in the house, but God will reward
you for your love and care to me"
Days slipped into weeks, weeks into
months, and it was nearly three menths
later than the day she left Creyton, when
Ella was free to return there. Gerard
Cooper had been with his grandmother
week before she died, but no other rela-
tive excepting Ella had come to Magnolia.
The funeral 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 Il
twinkle in his eyes as he said:
Have you seen Gerald Cooper since
we left the cemetery?
No, he has not come home yet"
did you know your Aunt Margaret
left will?"
g. A will? thought she had no prop
erty"
She owned nothing but her clothing,
and the furniture of this cottage. She
has left all that to you"
So she told me. But it is of no money
value, is it?''
That remains to be seen. Now, Nell,
make me a promise. Promise me you
will not accept any proposal of Gerard
COoper's without sending him to me-
Certainly" said Ella, rather bewider-
ed
DO you want to sell the furniture 2"
6 1t would cost great deal to carry it
to Creyton, would it not?"
"Yes."
And our cottage there is furnished"
Then you do not care for the old furni-
ture. Some of this is very fine, more
than 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 mahogany and black oak
But for Mr.. Leigh's call she would have
closed at once with Gerald Searches offer.
By the way Nell, nay wife has rather
set her heart upon grandmother's furni-
ture, and had no idea she would will it
away. You won't want to move all this
stuff to Creyton, Suppose ! give you a
hundred dollars for the lot as itstands."
Without warning, Nell would have ac-
cepted at once, but, 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 strode out of
the room, slamming the door after him.
But three days later, Ella began to un-
derstand the situation. In her quiet
country home, occupied by her domestic
duties, she had taken little interest in the
follies or freaks Of fashion, seeing nothing
of them and scarcely needing what she
read, The value of old furniture was un-
known to her, and the fact that her in
heritance was choice and rare one was
something that had not occurred to her.
But Mr.. Leigh was we'll aware of the
fact, and having a cordial liking for Ella
had resolved to make the legacy as valu-
BILE as possible, understanding that the furn-
iture itself would be of little value to her.
A carefully worded advertisement in the
leading papers of the cities nearest Mag
nolia, a circular letter to some of the
prominent dealers were as high walls in
the little plan Gerald Cooper had made
to buy his grandmother's furniture for a
trife. A sale was announced, and Mr..
Leigh sent an agent to put the cottage in
proper order.
"Such of the clothing as you can use,
pack up" he told Ella, "and send your
trunks to the depot, but let all the old
fashioned stuff 60 for costumes
Magnolia had never seen such sight
as the cottage on the day of the sale.
Every train brought crowds of fashion
ably attired ladies and gentlemen, pro-
fessional and amateur collectors, till the
house and garden were packed, and the
road in front crowded, when the auc-
tioneer stepped upon a table ON the porch
and opened the sale.
Ella and Mr.. Leigh were at an upper
window, looking through closed blinds at
the scene. Gerald Cooper, with face
darkened by frowns, stood leaning on the
fence, ready to make bids for what he
had calculated TO possess much more
easily.
1t seemed to Ella that she must be in q
dream as the bidding grew more animated.