The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-10-20

looking glass.
g How could I-how could / ~ she criod
aloud. 81 might have known it would
take all luck out of the house to sell Grand
father Bliss old family Bibler
And she sat down under the lilacs on the
doorstep and began to weep softly, with
the corner Of her apron for pocket-hand.
| kerchief.
I" Mrs. Bliss -Betsey Why, what's the
matter? Is there any one sick, or dead 2"
Mrs. Bliss dashed away the tears.
NO." she fal erred, as her eyes met the
inquiring gaze of Walter Wheelock, the
village lawyer only the family Bible has
gone.'
The family Bible Has some one stolen
ita"
"No; I've sold tito Mrs. Sewer, at the
hoteln
Humphi" Mr.. Wheelock knitted his
dark brows until they made level, shaggy
line above his eyes. q What was that for p
For money! flashed out Mrs. Bliss,
you must know it, Walter Wheelock
for fifteen dollars, to pay old Jennings the
balance on our last years coal bill And
| if you've come to get the interest on the
mortgage to-day, may as well tell you first
as last, that hain't got the money, nor no
prospect of getting it; and SO you may as
well foreclose, and done with it. If and
the two children have got to go to the poor
house But, after all, " she added, with a
sudden tide of hopefulness, " there amt no
danger of that, SO long as l have two hands
| to work with, thank the Lord -
Don't talk nonsense, Betseym said Mr..
Wheelock, rather curly.
"But if I could only get the family
| Bible back again." cried Mrs. Bliss, hysteri-
cally. Oh, I'd give anything to the one
who would bring the old family Bible back
| to me |"
Anything, eh ~ said Wheelock.
Yes, anything /" said Mrs. Bliss, rock
ing herself back and forth on the door
stone. " 1t would bring good luck with it
-oh, know il wouldl was such fool
ever to let it CO.,
Well, we won't say anything about this
interest money today" said Wheelock,
with his hands in his pockets q Perhaps
some other time"
All times are the same to me, said the
little widow, recklessly. " Forty-fve dol
lars, isn't iii Well, I'm not likely either to
find gold mine or strike an oil-well, be-
tween this and some other day."
And she fell to tearing on the dust
Drowned lilac leaves, with hand thai
trembled with nervous agitation.
The sun and therwind had long since
dried the auttering clothes upon the line ut
the back door the hands of the clock near
ed the hour of twelve, when Nelly would
come home hungry from school, and Benny
would return from his blackberrying ex-
cursion on the hills; and yet Mrs. Bliss sat
there, wishing she had not sold the old
family Bible to the city lady, with the
heliotrope-colored dress and the scented
japanese fan.
Presently she rose M with a sigh
q / may as well get the children's dinner,
she said. Walter Wheelock went away
dreadful sudden. was thinking, perhaps
he might come back. But guess, maybe,
be was offended by something that said.
didn't mean no harm with a momentary
suffusion of the poor swollen eyes,, :" but
p'raps Ispoke without thinking shouldn't
like to offend Walter Wheelock-he's one of
the few friends used to have before Bliss
married me. But, deary me, when money
and courage is gone, friends go, tool That's
my experience anyhow"
On the doorstep, however, she paused,
her hand still on the rusted latch. A foot
step had sounded on the hard beaten earth
of the path; there was the rustling of the
lilac leaves, rs If som, one We're coming up
the lane.
+" It's Walter Wheelock himself |" sho
cried, with little catching for breath.
Walter--and what has he got in his armsf
Tho old family Bible, I declared The old
family Bible itselflp
| Her face frightened; she ran to meet
| him.
walter Walter where did you gel. its'
she cried.
The dark-browed lawyer smiled.
!" l went to your Mrs. SEWER. Betsey," he
said. CAT first she wouldn't listen to
! word about returning it; but I told her
that heirlooms couldn't bs bought and sold
like merchandise. talked to her about
the law and the penalties accruing to those
| who broke it's clauses. Ideluged her with
instances from the law reports, and limited
darkly at prosecutions on the part Of the
State, until she began to cry and wish that
she never had seen the old thing So then
offered her fifteen dollars, and she was
the house. Here it is, Betsy. And now,
do you remember that you said you would
give anything to the one who brought back
the old family Bible ?"
But haven't got anything to givel'
altered Betsey.
You have got what want most Of any
hing in the world, Betsey yourself I've
always wanted you, he added even be-
fore you married Royal Bliss. But some
how never could muster up courage to
ask you to have me. Peoples cowardice
runs in strange strealSs, don't it ? But now
that I have earned you, tell me, Betsey,
will you give me yourselfs"
At that moment, with the color rising in
her check, the eyes full of soft, shy bright
ness, Betsey Bliss looked almost pretty in
spite Of her forty years.
II you really care for such poor gift"
said he. & But Walter--the children p,
g guess I'm able to support two little
chits like that, . said he, with smile, as he
drew towards her. IN try my best to be
good father to 'em Betsey."
!" Walter "
q Well, Betsey r.
I amt saying but I'm glad to get the
family Bible again, whispered the widow;
| butt
Well, Betsey 2"
II you'd asked me the Same question,
I'd have said yes to it before sold tho old
family Bible" said Betsey.
And Walter Wheelock felt that be was
paid for everything. Helen Forrest Gravss.