South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-06-13

saw than heard her say, For shame
and grow crimson as she spoke.
His own face flushed little as he
became aware that Unclc Abel was
being made the butt of their Jokes
good Uncle Abel, who was looking so
admiringly at the fabrics incomprc.
hensible to him, his old heart only full
of the thought how he should make
his present worthy of the patient soul
for whom it was intended.
Then John was greatly perplexed /;
for, as he said truly, be knew MOTH
ing about all that mysterious and be.
wildering arrangement Of dress that
he saw every day.
Still he knew that Aunt Betsey's
spare locks thiuly sprinkled with gray,
were not dressed in modern style, aud
he could not for the life of him SEQ
whereabouts on that dear Old head any
OF these gypsys or fanchons would rest.
He remembered that long ago Aunt
Betscy was wont to twist her hair with
the same energy that distinguished all
her movements, and that this opera
ton resulted in hard knot at the back
Of her head like door handle, which
certainly would not harmonize with
these capelcss head.dresses.
Just as his brow was overcast with
the thought, the pale girl came near
UncleAbel. her cheek blushing as she
did so in defiance OF the other girls,
holding in her hand a plain Leghorn
tonnet, trimmed with violet ribbons.
She wore a mourning dress, aud the
plain breach at her throat held lock
OF gray hair. Il think this might suit
you, SIR she said. 'Ifyour wife don't
dress her hair in these fashions, these
bOnnets would not do at all. This is
rich and plain. aud covers the back
OF the head aud neck
'Wa'al now, tell me for I have got
30 bothered with these thugs that
don't know one from the t'other. i
want to get n bonnet for BE tsey, and
[ mean TO. Now just tell IN if you
would like your mother to wear one
like this. Oh. l beg your pardon,
ma'am. l didn't see,' and he touched
the sleeve of her black dress, ii am
sorry!'
The young lady brushed off a tear
quickly, as she said, Il have no moth
er now; bat you'll trust me, sir, l
think this will suit
She stood, hitherto, Just out of the
range of John Dare's vision, and had
not seen him at all. Something in
the sound of her voice attracted him,
perhaps, and when Uncle Abel call
ed:
'lIere, John Dare!' he stepped has
tlly enough toward them. The girl
thrust the bonnet into Uncle Abel's
hands, and would have been out of
sight if her dress had not caught on e
OF the branching stands and held her
fast.
Amy and John Dare, with hot
flush on his face, caught her hand and
so detained her.
Amy Egbert, have 1 found you
at last?'
The girls face grew white and red
by turns, and the words she spoke
came 80 slow and broken that only
John could catch their meaning.
Uncle Abel pushed his spe ctacles up
Oh his forehead, still holding the hat
in his hand, looked-open mouth from
one TO the other.
Il guess you must have known this
young woman afore, didn't your lie
said but John was too busy with en-
ger questions, and Amy was trem.
bling and flushing as she tried to
speak calmly, and go his question was
unanswered. Pretty JOSIE was divjd-
ing her attention between q new Gus
toner and the strange scene beside
her, and between anger and NORTH.
cation she looked in no need Of help
from rouge, as she tossed her head
and mutterel various uncourteous re-
marks in regard to Amy Egbert,
and her beau.
fUncle Abel held the hat q willie
longer quite patiently, but ut last de-
SPARED of the interview being euded,
so he eoughed and then said
I'LL take the bunnit. Twenty dol.
lars is good deal. Betsy's worth it,
amt che John .
John need not have started so, or
said Very which wasn't suitable
answer at all but Uncle Abel laugh.
cd a little to himself, aud said, softly,
oh, boys will be boysr and he was
obliged to tell Miss Egbert the d.
rcctlon over twice, too, aud felt quite
uneasy lest it should not arrive at his
hotel in time.
Outside the door John turned to
leave his uncle and looked as shy as
a girl, as he said cts all right, Up.
Gle Abel you've found a new bon
net, and I've found a-a-an old
friend
Uncle Abel held his hand fast, and
looked moment, without speaking,
in Johns face in wistful way then
said, looking in the young man g eyes,
Il 81 y