The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1885-11-07

TO seeing dreams vanish; and there was
consolatlon in having such an event TO
| talk over.
Miranda's home was rambling Old
mouse, and it seemed deserted and ghostly
when they entered it; but Miranda llindled
IRE IN the kitchen stove and another in
the great Fireplace in the sitting room,
and the boys warmed and fed and com
Iorted, grew hilarious, and the ghosts
We're all dispersed, and it seemed to Mi
randa for the first time like home.
w hen she had seen all three costly
tucked into their beds, she went down
stairs to rake over the fire and see that all
was safe for the night. She found herself
zoo 1ull OF happy excitement to seek her
own slumbers. Ephraim was dead but he
had FADED out of her life long before; he
had been nothing but a memory, and she
mad that still. He even seemed nearer to
ner, being in the far country, than he had
done before. And his children were under
ner roof; hers to feed and clothe and care
LOT IN the happy days that were coming:
hers to educate. What Joy to have the
means TO do it with what greater ioy to
WORK and save and manage that there
should be enough
Miranda looked into the leaping flame of
her fire and saw brightest pictures of the
iuture-until suddenly she turned her
mead away and covered her face with her
hands, groaning bitterly; it was only a
blackened limb that, standing tall aud
straight in the flame, took upon itself
grotesque resemblance to a one-armed
man. And Miranda remembered her af-
fianced, the book-agent. 20, land how
could l "a forgot! I've give him my
promise"
To Miranda's Puritan mind a promise
was to be kept, with tears and blood, if
need were.
80, what foolish woman I've been! If
had FaWNl. 4 4
Lord did mean by sendin' that money TO
me! He wouldn't stand the boys, anyhow:
he's nigh and graspin'; I've found that
.oIo. And do.1. suppose / c,culd buy him
off with anything short of the whole prop
erty. l did think he cared little some
thing about me, and mebbe he does. /
don't want to be too hard on him, but he
was terrible put out because l wouldn't
give him but three hundred dollars to pay
down for that land that he's buvin' at such
a bargain. l s'pose | should, only |
couldn't help thinkin' he might wait till
we was married before he begun to think
about investin' my money. No, he won't
let me off from marryin' him unless give
him all my money. Yesterday | had
thoughts of doin' that; but now there's the
BOYS"
The queer black stick had fallen, and
was crumbling away, but it had crushed
the last Pickering flame, Miranda's fire,
like her hopes, had turned to ashes.
She walked the floor restlcssly, seeking
vainly for pathway out of her troubles,
until she was exhausted. Then she slept a
troubled sleep until daylight
1t was a little comfort to get breakfast
for Ephraim's wife and boys, although she
was so heavy hearted.
She went across the field to Eben Curtis
to get bit of fresh fish; Eben had been
fishing the day before.
Eben, who was a friendly young man,
looked at her pityingly as he put the fish
into her basket. As she was turning away
in unwonted silence, he was moved to saw:
II wouldn't take it so hard if l was you,
Miss Daggett You're well rid of such
scamp. And may be they'll catch him and
get the money back. La, now! you don't
say you hain't heard"' he exclaimed at
sight of Miranda's astOnished face. "They
most generally do get the news up at the
poor house" Eben lifted his hat and ran
his fingers through his hair, with ming
ling of sympathy and pleasure in being
the first TO impart important news. "He's
cleared out, the book-agent has-got all the
money he could out of folks without giving
'em any books; and folks say he got some
of you. He's been in Jail for playing the
same trick before; and folks think he'll be
caught this time"
80, it's a mistake! He'll come back"
said Mirinda, dejectedly, after moments
thought.
"Well he isn't very likely to, because"-
here Eben turned his head aside in embar-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS he's got a wife and
family over to Olneyville."
Radiant delight overspread Miranda's
countenance.
81 hope they'll just let him CO." she said
Hes welcome to what money he's got of
mine-more'n welcome" And homeward
she went with light step.
"WOmen are queer" unused Eben, as he
returned to his h-cleaning. ashes lost
her beau and her money, and she's tickled
to DEATH"
~ declare, you look just as fresh and
young, and happy as you did fifteen years
ago." said the widow with a touch of
envy, as they sat down to the cheerful
breakfast table.
Miranda touched Mrs. Bems's arm as
she came out of the meeting house the
next Sunday, Ephram's boys, preterua-
turally smooth of hair and shining of face,
beside her
'If it amt perfane to say it, Mis- Bemis
| feel as if I'd got through the eye of that
needle clear into the Kingdom of Heaven"
The poor mistress commented upon the
saying in the midst of her numerous
family that night. "She's got that selfish,
tempery woman saddled onto her for life,
and she'll work her fingers to the bone for
them boys, that amt anything to her, and
won't be apt to amount to much for there
never was one of them Spencers that did
and she calls that the Kingdom of
Heaven!"
cts jest as l always told you" re-
marked Cap'n 'Kiah placidly. cts all
OWN to the pint of view" -SOpbie Slgeet,
in LippinCoHS Ndga2ine.