The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-08-30

which led her TO this abode.
\ A few days more aud the fcur spsi
rooms were all fall and Helen was KEEP, :
bnsy that she hardly had time to talk
Tom when be came, which fact caused he
keen regret. for she always felt better an
brighter after "con ference" With him {
a stroll Ia the sweet old orchard.
Tom incurred because Helen's eyes wef
less bright. her face less blooming aud be
step less elastic than formerly, but sh
laughed at his fears that she would max
herself IN, and WAS so cheerful whcneve
be came lha. be did NOT suspect her o
concealing heAriache. and guessed moth
ing Of the tears OF utter weariness whicl
she occasionally shed in the silence Of th
night. when body and brain were so over
wrought that sleep was impossible
The venture paid, however. The board
ers were delighted with the old.fashione'
house. the big orchard and the quaint gar
den with its lilac, rose and almond bushe
aud box.bordered walks. They stayes
until the chilly days Of October. and lef
Helen with enough money in the bank 4
carry her through The winter. Mrs. Dar
by did not go away with the other board
ers. She said she had lno home land !
Helen would keep her all winter she woult
be much obliged. OF course Helen con
sented, much to the dissatisfaction OF he
sisters who thoroughly disliked the ole
lady and were decidedly averse to her lee
lures on selfshness and frivolity, but they
were obliged to make the best of her pres
ence, since Helen had decided that sht
should remain.
So the winter passed, Mrs. Darby having
several severe attacks OF rheumatism,
through which she was tenderly and
faithfully nursed by Helen who felt fully
repaid for her trouble when the old lady
looked at her with tears in her eyes and
said gratefully:
you're the best and most unselfish girl
ever knew. You've been daughter tc
me, and you'll get your reward sooner OF
later, in heaven il not on earth.
Summer came again and with it the
boarders, and Helen worked cheerfully
and indefatigably as ever, having again O
good sum laid away in the bank when fall
came, as the result OF her labors.
Mrs. Darby still remained fixture in
the old house, though she had ceased to
be remunerative.
II cant pay you any longer" she said
to Helen, "and of course you can turn me
out if you choose. could hardly expect
you to keep me without money and with
out price.
But Helen kissed her affectionately, and
said she might stay as long as she lived,
and begged her not to worry about her
money difficulties.
Naturally, Fannie, Louisa and Josie OBJ
jected to this arrangement, and declared
that Helen was taking the bread out OF
their mouths to feed a stranger.
"a cross imbecile, lecturing old wom-
AMI" Josie said savagely. IL wish we had
never seen her.
Helen remained firm in her resolution
and was as attentive to the old lady as she
had ever been, even growing attached to
her In t,me and feeling grateful for the
:. Mrs. Darby expressed when told
: ''eiee' ~agement with the strug-
# that long Ell,
ing young doctor. making no
TO years passed away. ''ngly
lange in the household and seen..
ringing Helen no nearer her wedding day !,
i'd then MS. Darby suddenly left Bar |
lie, with the intention, she said, Of going
cousin in the city, who was able to
lpport her.
She ought to have gone long ago to her
,usin's, said Fanny, 1t was shameful
impose upon our generosity for such o
myth OF time"
at would be just like her to come again
,xt year and expect us to be glad to see
,r," said Josie.
But they never did see Mrs. Darby
,ain. A year passed and they heard
,thiug OF her, which seemed odd to Hell
i, who had believed thoroughly lin the (
d lady's gratitude and affection. But 4
'e morning strange and unexpected It'd. Z
gs came. '
Helen was busy in the pantry over the
lanksgiving pies, when the little hand. i
alden came 10 from trip to the postof
e with letter n
Letters for Helen were rare, and she I
rdly waited to wipe the flour from her n
nds before tearing the missive open. d
IS from Mr.. Beck, prominent lawyer e
the city, who briefly informed her that y
RS. Darby was no more. and 'had the d
nor to enclose copy OF the win for Miss 0
1rshs perussl" 4
"How can Mrs. Darby's will interest
~" murmnrad Helen. "poor creature,
0 could not have had much to leave. q
rhaps she has left me that antiquated
selry Of hers as token Of her love.
As she unfolded the legal document, Il
ter fell from it TO the floor. Helen b
'oped and picked it up, recognized Mrs. 81
Irby's peculiar, grabbed handwriting in q
} address, which was to herself. Opea- ii
, il she read: a,
II have tested all my relatives as have u
ted you, aud found you alone not want
I iu respect and kindness TO an eccentric n
woman whom you believed penniless.
n have richly earned your reward. and
Is given as much for loves sake as be- d
use il is justly due you. IA
EMMA MARsH DARBY
Dumb with amazement. Helen stood
ring for several minutes at the name Il
itteu al the lotion Of the sheat Then n