South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-12-07

1t was tha, he had net inc home TO
marry her. And Ursula was begin
ming TO coincide with Gran lfather
Halls misahthropic theory-,hat all
the world was askew.
+ Grandmother Hall was silent. She
was glad now that she had never told
her husband and Ursula about the
twenty-five dollars that che had lent
cousin ABBY Miller. the boarded
stole of silver in the sos king-lee
which she had parted with to help the
friendless old maid to open little
millinery in the city.
I'm afraid it's money thrown a.
way thought Grandmother Hall. Il
did s'pose Abby would at least have
written word about it. But there
what is the use OF CRYING about spilled
milk dare gay Abby feels as bad
about it as | do, poor solitary cree
ter! Anyway Ursuly,' she said
breaking The oppressive silence there's
one thing we have to be thankful for
the pumpkins ripened spiend:dly in
the corn-stubble. and l guess you'd
better slice up one tonight for the
pies; and father must cut the hen
turkeys head off bright and early. 1t
may be our last Thanksgiving i'm the
old place, and we'll keep it as it
ought to be kept. Come, the tea is
drawn-we will all feel better for q
good, hot cup
raint no use,' said old Mr.. Hall,
shaking his head. Nothing amt no
USE
Ursula, too, was discouraged
Grandmother Iall saw it in her face,
even though she spoke not q word.
They had scarcely seated them
selves at the little round cherry-tabTe,
when u knock camo to the door.
'lt's the sheriff to serve the mort.
gage paper said old Mr.. Hall, whose
ideas OF the law were rather vague.
It's Lewis Crawford after the eggs
said Mrs. Hall, more hopefully.
But 1t was neither one nor the 9TH
er 1t was Il little old woman in
black SILK hat, IL respectable cloth
cloak and q brown-stutf dgess-Miss
Abby Miller herself.
Good evening, Cousin Hall = said
she. 'pve come to spend Thanks
giving with you
and you're kindly welcome CHR
ped the cid lady. 'Ursulv, set chair
for ABBY, and take her things
But first said Miss Abby, = must
pay my debts. Here's the twenty.
five dollars borrowed OF You, with
ten dollars for interest; and I knew,
Cousin Hall, you'll be pleased to
know that I've prosperod and made
money in the millinery business, that
| never could have got into it if it
hadn't been for your good nature and
generosity. And here producing q
willow basket nearly ai large rs her
self, is the finest turkey in Fulton
market, and three quarts Of cranbcr-
ries, and a dozen OF oranges, and a
pot OF qua; Jelly; my contribution
to to-morrow's housekeeping. And
ii it was forty times as much, it would
not be half what owe you, Cousin
Hall =
And Miss Abby Miller, falling in
an attempt to laugh, began to cry, and
ended up by hugging old Mrs. Hall
with all her might.
Tea was hardly over before q new
visitor arrived on the scene-Doctor
Purdy, the chairman OF the local
board OF trustees.
What's this about Squire Deans
daughter ousting you from your
place, Miss Hall ? lie asked.
l have been told began Ursula.
No matter what you have been
told said the doctor. I've seen Mr.
McAllister, and he and both agreed
tbot you are not to be disturbed. -
You suit Is exactly, and we intend
that you shall retain the position, if
there were IL dozen Miss Deans to be
provided for. You'll remain, ch p
Gladly, If YOU wish it, said Ursu.
la, visibly Frightening up.
'And if Dean don't like il, he can
lump it, added Doctor Purdy, indie
pendently.
He had not been gone half an hour
when the knocker-they never had
aTIiVed az the dignity OF q GOOr-bell
at Grandfather Hal's-sounded a.
gain.
Why cried the old lady, who sat
where she could see the door, it's
it's Stephen Oregon
'Of course its Stephen Gregson,'
said deep, masculine voice. and
he's travelled night and day to be in
time to spend his Thanksgiving day
with the best friends he has in the
world. And | should have been here
earlier cordially wringing the hands
of all the group as he spoke, vt |
hadn't stopped at Squire Deans to
clap a stopper OF that confounded
mortgage business he's 50 sharp al
ter
Amt the place to be foreclosed.