The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-28

small sums, as such were always repait
with interest, and the young mistres
, had sat whole nights BY the bedside O
: the farmers sick babies. Ann had n,
money in the cottage, and Miss Agne
J came back, wet to the bone aud terribl,
unhappy. Just as she stepped into tn,
. vestibule master laid q stern hand OF
her.
''Can this be my Agnes stealing int
the house as wet as a weed?' What il
the meaning of it2 Twice have seer
!; this. but trusted you too nobly to CUES
toin your motive"
TT is good one, SIR" she answered
. humbly. 1--we only been TO Ann. Gar
diners with some grapes. Was il
wrong"
He released her gently, and that hur,
her more than the bitterest anger. She
had taken grapes, but she had implied
more than the truth and she could not
bear it.
Take all the fruit you wish to the
sick children, dear, but for Heavens
sake choose better time and suitable
clothes. Next time send the basket by
Dorkins."
In the morning she went to the vii.
lage and sold some little trinkets master
gave her on her birthday, and her eyes
were red with weeping. She had taken
cold and was too i'll to rise and was in
an agony of tears about posting her let
tiers. Luckily master sent the bag up
to her with orders to seal it when she
had done with it, but this could not GO
on forever. You must understand that
young master constantly wrote INDY
ing devotion in his letters and spoke OF
getting married to her some day, and
she loved the very footprints he left on
the lawn-the old, withered roses he
had left littering up his room. He was
her shrine, her idol. She knew no law
but his will.
Once Ann Gardiner came up and
stood right here talking to the house.
keeper in awhisper, and Mrs. Cowper-
thwait lifted her hands in dismay. Ann
told her as great secret that Tom,
| her man, had been to the city, and
there found out that Master Roland had
/ set up an establishment with hand
some young person, which it might be
the black-eyed siren, but they burst not
/ breathe it to old master"
After this the letters ceased and Young
master came home as mild as Nav
weather, and courted Ms Agnes in
dead earnest. The servants believed in
his smooth hattery and thought of we'd
ding festivities, but had watched him
often when he entered the morning
room alone, and knew he was false to
Miss Agnes. Christmas came and
brought a magnificent snow which lay
like royal swan SHOWN on the park ter
race and the fir trees.
Edgeworth and the Rectory were
bravely dressed off, young master cut
ting all the green boughs himself. Old
master looked on and smiled when he
seen all the holly and mistletoe hung
over every arch and doorway. 1t made
him happy to think of a marriage ring
for Miss Agnes:
Christmas Eve AIMS children and a
few Others dropped in, and the gifts
We're distributed by Miss Agnes and the
housekeeper in the MUSHROOM, and
then there WAS a grand romp and blind
mans buff. with all hands, while Miss
Agnes set of the old music-box that she
uSei to cry for when q We. little thing
in white gowns. In here on the great
table a InonStrous plum pudding stood
all week with holly berries on top and a
bowl of punch for the tenants who
dropped in with their leather bags full
of rent. Miss Agnes signing the receipts,
as masters hand WAS a little shaky
from slight shock. Young master tied
true-lovers knots in all the wreaths,
with red ribbons. and Ann Gardiner
said to Dorkins, the butler: Il can tell
that this job won't be put off long: any
one can see that he fairly dotes on her
and her on him."
a 'opes she does" said Dorkins,
sharply. ..Some young persons knows
their own minds, and some doesn't
(Which l knowed mine, if you mean
me, Mr.. Dorkins," and Ann laughed.
Her Tom had cut out the butler awful.
Miss Agnes came to wind up the
clocks, and l noticed the glittering be-
trothal ring she wore on her slender fin
ger. She had taken off all the ieweled
ones in honor of it. She was very. very
happy. New Years Eve the fires were
let down, for the whole house was that
tired from constant merriment, and it
was the custom to 90 bright and early
on New Years Day to the Rectory and
there meet the poor and aid them. Mrs.
Compartment and Dorkins had six
hampers packed and 100 loaves of
raisin cakes baked, when they shut the
shutters and lighted bedroom candles.
what have you done with all the
rent. uncle:?'' asked Miss Agnes. She
always called him that, but did not
know that she had the right. That is
a great deal of money to keep in the
house; it is temptation to desperate
men"
So it wasl
Il shall lock it in my little old book
case until all this fuss is over, and can
then send it away. Who would think of
Edgeworth Hall? There's not
a wretch near who could be tempted.
have denied them nothing-they have
only to ask me for help"
Old master took his candle and went
to his room. There were some few
whispered words between the young
people under the mistletoe, and Master |
Roland asked Miss Agnes to hold her |
candle moment on the stairs. l don't |
know how long it was after the Colonel |
had retired, but the house was still as |
the church-yard, except the loud ticking
Of the hall clock. Miss Agnes thought |
Roland was up to some trick, and only
smiled as she took her place near the
lower landing. just by the niche in the
wall where the statue of Sleep stands
with wreath on her neck. As she
stood there the flames cast an IN
earthly glare on her face and threw
Town the long black shadow of herself
which filled the whole vestibule.
SIIdlanlI- with l1,r1d MI h., h