South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1885-02-20
A AERoIC LIFE.
STORY OF A sDfsAeREEABLs AND
Pussy OLD MAID"

oh dea,! do wish Auntiewould stay
at hone.' said Is ssie Wilton one day.
i.s tie door closed behind that lady.
'Bessle' said her mother, reprov-
inglv>
Il do' persisted the girl. sShe 10
60 fn-sy and 10 disagreeable, I don't
like her bit.'
Mr.: Wilton LAID aside HE paper aud
sighed as he said:
Bessie. | must tell you q s,ory-a
| true one
DO. papa, interrupted Bessie. "a
sue bI Onght low stool and sat down
at his feet
III was many yewrs ayo, Bessie. a
cold. vet day in early spring A
party came forth from the church
door and stood revercntly beside the
open grave OF their pastor Dust
was committed to dust, and the
nourners returned TO their homes.
leaving him by the eide o. his wife,
who had died few years before
Yes. the funeral was over. the last
eweet, sad rites had been performed.
the prison like lid had been ia tened
tightly. shutting from gaze forever
the cold, placid face, and Nellie War
ren sat alone in the desolate room
No. not alone. By her side ere
three trembling children. dependent
now upon err fo- support. and all OF
the meddIesome, otiicious relatives
who wanted to plan the dreary future
tor her.
'The farm will sell pnriy middlin'
we'll; oughter 10 get eight hundred
dOllare fur that. but thar amt much
else TINS ere furniture won't sell
for much, and Uncle Slas Ora pail
laid his hand upon the old desk IN
the corner. A hinge, ungalnly article
ut furniture. worn and scratched aud
detaced, but sac; ed in the ewes OF the
mourning girl. Sell Tor much! NelIie's
lips qnivcred. Prhal~ it Was not
worth mucG in the eyes of the world,
but TO her It was priceless. All the
diamonds Of Africa could Lot bu,
her iath RS desk. Even as she l. Ok
cd at il. through her binding tears.
she secme't TO zee her fathers form
sitting before II, as lie was wont to
! do
'Ahen!' began Uncle Silas again.
| 'llev you thought what you'd do ,it.
Nellie? s'w's. he didn't leave We
amy money. did her None to 81 eak Or
Il Junk not much,' taIlered The girl!
And | guess Lot. lie fever was
great t'r making money NeIie's
eyes flashed, aud she shut her liI.s
Tight, together to keep back the ans
~er she ielt Dlnst come Gle was "a
master good IAN. though. john was.
Wal. now. YOU Iiaint made no plans,
s'pose. l KIN give you hone, sich
as II is
so can ], interrupted Aunt Selma.
Nellie 10 welcome To stay with me as
long as lie pleases.' Which generous
offer, as Nellie well knew. meant .us
long as che pleases TO work we'll
Il think sire had better come with
me. Uncle Silas went on. What do
yo;. say. Ne.!ie?'
But, but-tbc children-it will he
too much you ought not -ialtered
Nellie.
ooh, as ter them, said tie man.
hes l;a'ingly: 'WIII, there, can earn
his board Almost anywhcres, and
tot or tw" can go Ia The 'syIum.'
Newell raid NeIiie. fierceIy.
But YOU can't expect one person
to- take 'em al, sdid Aunt Selma.
1T you go to Silas I'll take VIII nv
sell. ! s'pose he could do the chores
Most twelve, amt her'
Yes, answered Nellie, "a she id
her band protectingly over HE. and
answered Ills imploring look with a
sd little mile.
And I'll take Charlie. Hes big
e uff opick up chips and 10 little
chores, said Aunt Sabrina, who lived
alone
nj who would take Annie. that
rale, fragile. tive.year old girl, Who
surveyed all with such great. wild
eles. rs che chung closer 10 Nellie?
Each one glanced instinclively TO.
ward uchIy dressed lady who sat
apart from all the others, clothed ~
dee est mourning Mrs. Churchill
WAS their father'e only sister; ne such
they certainly bad claim upon her
bounty. She was - ealthy widow
and bad recs itly bnrod her only
:hild Having known the deei,est
eorrow she could the more readily
pity theirs. As yet she had lot
spoken. Surely from her hundre :
she would willingly spare them a
little TO ghieD their burden. TN.
consciously Nellie herself had thought
this, and she looked in her face with
grateful |, We as she nov arose and
came forward.
'Yes, will take little Arnie.' she
said, as II answering the iuauiring
glances Il will take title Annie.
and she shall have everything that
money can buy, bat and she looked
coldly at the Others, she must be mine