Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-05-22

around his neck. His pale, grave coun.
tenance softened the lady's heart at
once, as he courteously rose up aud
bowed.
"You have come for the weeks board
In advance" said. Pardon me, but
our manager never pays until Saturday
night. 1t is not pleasant to confess ones
poverty, but"
"Oh, never mind" said Mrs. Moody,
all in 4 huttsr. "I-I only came to see
II there was plenty of fresh towels. And
if you find it cold writing here, sir, I'm
sure you're very welcome to bring your
work down to the parlor, where there
is good fire."
Mr.. Morton smiled and bowed.
Yes" he admitted, cit is cold with
out fire in November, aud cannot
afford the extra expense Of coal-at
present" (He glanced at his blue fin
gers and shiversd littls). "If not too
great a liberty, will avail myself Of
the kind offer"
And Mrs. Moody felt comparatively
happy when she saw the musical man
diligently writing at her South window
in tho soft atmosphere Of the glowing
anthracite.
But Mrs. Racquet and her daughter,
the gentselcst boarders In tho house,
took vehement exceptions to this new
plan.
81 am not particular" said the for
mer, with toss Of her head; "but this
is really little too much! A man who
plays in the orchestra Of a third-rate
theatre!"
"But he is very respectable, ua'am, |
assure you," said Mrs. Moody, eagerly.
"How am / to know that" said Mrs.
Racquet, tartly. 81 declare 1 was NOR
tilted to death when Mrs. Lawyer Leak
Ington came to call and found him
perched up in a corner! And Melissa
and / shall find it necessary to change
our boarding-hous IL this sort Of thing
Is to continue"
"Mr. Morton is 4 gentleman ~ said
Mrs. Moody, reused into temporary
spirit. "Hs has an equal right with
youself in the psrlor'
Mrs. Racquet and Miss Melissa gave
warning at once.
Mrs. Moody did not care. Miss Jenk-
ins, the district school teacher, turned
I'D her nose and left the house.
"She wasn't over critical" she said,
"but there were some things which no
one could standn'
One by one the boarders dropped
away, and Major Peek grew deeply In
dignant.
"Mrs. Moody" he said, al wonder
at you, after all my advice and eoun-
sell"
"You wouldn't have me turn this
poor man out doors now, Of all times,
when he's i'll with malsrial fever"
said the widow.
"Yes, 1 wouldw said the Major
stoutly.
But for sncs Mrs. Moody disregardsd
his advice.
The musical man was very Ill, In
deed-so i'll that he would undoubtedly
have died, without his landlady's care
full nursing and uprsmitted attention.
But the Major never went near his fel-
low -boarGer.
"IfMrs. Moody had taken my advice"
he said, "she never would have got her
self in this dilemma. Now let her man
age the best way she canl"
The musical man, however, did not
die. He lost his position 10 the orchss-
ira, of course. He was without means
to meet his Doctors bill; but DR.. Hay
den was = benevolent soul and declared
that he could walt till the profits from
the uncompleted volume should roll in.
1t was the first Of February, when at
last Mr.. Morton was able once more TO
creep down stairs to the sunny parlor
window, where by the way Of welcome
Mrs. Moody had placed pot Of bios
soming blue hyacinths.
"How can ever thank yeu for all
ysur carei" said he, earnestly.
The little widow burst into tears.
w-T don't mind It'll" said she, "ss
lsng-as long a. you are well once
more. If you had died."
And there abe stepped short and grew
crimson.
"Is it soP said the musical man, ln
that soft, deep tsnor Of his voice. "Ts
there any one who really cares whether
l live or diei"
81 dol" whispered Mrs. Moody, with
q fresh burst Of tears.
1t would be difficult to described ex-
actly how it happened. Middle-aged
love-making is never like the ecstasiei
Of youth. But 1t transpired, somehow,
that Mr.. Morton laid his heart at Mrs.
Moody's feet and she confessed that she
had learned 70 love him during thai
time when she and Death stood together
over his pillow.
"You are my guardian ANGEL" said
he, fervenrly.
"a psor one enough" she nurmured
"Oh, wish for your sake, Paul. ths:
were younger aud pretti.r!"
"You are beautiful in my sight" h'
returned with emphasis. "Your eye
were first that besmed hope and chesI
upon me-your heart was the frat soft
ened to my woes. Sweetheart, thu
aowsr that blooms at noon-tide ma,