West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-09-26

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the floor, a few books on hanging
shelves, and on the walls some cheap
prints which | fear would have made
the apostle of modern culture smile.
Here are more of my companions,
and some of tho BEST she said. hand
inG me scrap book from tho little
side-tablc, after giving me seat in her
cushioned armchair " Some OF them
YOU know" she added, with smile
which lighted up her brown features
with beautiful beuignity.
1t could have hardly been by accident
that she let the pages fall open i'm my
hands at place where my eye fell
upon little scrap of verses which
knew indeed.
IL don't know how To compliment an
author she said, seating herself on
a chintz-covercd lounge before me. "but
L am glad OF an opportunity to tell YOU
that that poem has been great comfort
to me, very great comfort. cut it from
newspaper few years ago, and |
have read 10 over and over aTain until
know il by heart. love to repeat il
TO myself when l am lying awake
nights and listening TO the rain on the
roof"
Her eyes glistencd as she spoke. /
was deeply touched the thought OF
having written few words which had
afforded solace TO this lonely creature
made me humbly grateful. My vanity
was not in the least moved, and | can
relate the circumstance without vanity
now; for, alas, my little piece was
pasted on page with others which she
seemed to regard rs equally precious,
although they were not literature, any
more than the sentimental prints on
the wall were art IL was evident that
she viewed poems and pictures, not
with n cultivated or critical eve, but
wholly from spiritual and sympathct-
ic attitude of mind; prizing what APP
pcaled to her emotional and especially
To her religious nature, without being
much disturbed by weak lines. bal
rhymes and other imperfectionS. How
some of my aesthetic friends would have
scorned to see their verses included in
such n scrap-book! But. after all. there
is something in life better than culture;
and would not for anything have said
word TO lessen the satisfaction old
Aunt Abby found in the feeblest OF that
trash.
My own little piece had given me a
key TO her heart, and | soon found il
easy to lead her to speak of her early
life
al have heard something of your
history" | said, and il makes me won
der If you have never regretted the very
great sacrifices you once made"
Her large, gray eyes beamed upon
ms mistily. IL have asked myself the
same question many times. For il was
n sacrifice" she said, trcmblingly.
But the answer deep down in nv
heart is always no. We must live ac-
cording TO our light | lived according
TO mine. could not do differently
then; | couldn't do differently now. il
the thing was to do over
IL hear that he was, i'm MANY re.
spccts, a worthy man." | said, "to lead
her on. And tell me frankly Aunt Abb
| by, were you not very strongly attached
TO each other?"
"There was only one thing in heaven
and earth that | loved better than |
loved Aaron Deemsn she answered.
with emotion. "But there were other
things that he loved better than he
loved me. Too many! too many.'
what We're they?' asked.
" His ease and his pride and his
worldly possessions. Yet. as YOU saw.
he was worthy man. Few people
| blamed him, but a great many blamed
| me. That was what made it so hard
for me to DO as | did. NY friends called
me foolish and prescriptions; while
he acted as so many other men would
have acted in his place
She wiped her eyes and resumed. in
answer to my questions: Two were
engaged, and were to be married in n
few weeks, and I believe there never
was young couple with happier pros
poets, until he came to me one evening
and told me of an exciting event. He
had rich uncle who was known To
have acquired much of his property
dishonesty; he had died suddenly.
leaving everything to Aaron. and
Aaron seemed quite set up by his good
fortune
=" But, Aaron. 1 said, how can il
be good fortune to you, since il is a
bad fortune, got in bad way, as |
have heard you say yourself? All that
property, or at least large part of il.
belongs TO the family Of his dead part
ner; the widow and children he de.
iirauded, after he got the business into
| his hands
81 don't know how much there is
in all that, said Aaron. Stories oe,
exaggerated, and uncle had his enc
mics
Il" But you were not his enemy.'
said; 'and ! have had TIE story from
your own lips You always condemned
that transaction; and | never heard
you speak of him with any respect.
hope, said /, you are not going ia
let the fact that he has made Won his
heir change your ideas of right and
wrong
He laughed in way couldn't
like. 4 have no ideas on the subject.
he said. All / know is, the property
is mine now
4" But you can't take it and enjoy
it, | said.
Why not? was his answer. in q
tone that astonishcd and grieved mo
i never heard that my uncle did any
thing illegal; the property is lawfully
mine
Why. Aaronn / demonstrated Il
nave heard you say yourself that hc
was shrowd enough 10 keep clear OF
the law, but does that make his wicked
ness any less wicked? And what If the
property is lawfully yours, if fl is mot
yours by absolute right can you accept
What ! said disturbed him. and I
could see that a dark shadow was com
..H