Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-11-22

quaint old garden, but Granny loved
the kirk-yard best, and passers-by
often noticed the strange American
lady supporting her feeble companion
in theil walk among the green graves,
or resting upon the old gray stone
steps. Who shall describe the feel
ings with which Granny revisited
each old, familiar spot, almost the |
same as she left it twenty years be-
fore?
The hungry yearnings of the long
years grew satisfied at last. She
never mentioned the returning to
America, and Margie, unwilling to
cast any cloud over her happiness,
was silent also.
His business at Edinburgh COM
pleted, Frank rejoined the two at
Auchdown, and we'll as he knew
Margie, he could not help wondering
a little at her contentment in spend
ing the whole of the brief holiday in
the little valley.
"Shall we leave here soon enough
to spend day or two in London %
he asked one evening as they sat en-
joying the sunset from the stone
doorstep. 81 should dearly love to
visit the tower and see some of the
famous sights, Frank, but | cannot
bear to take Granny away from here
before l have to. You 60 to Lon
don alone and then you can tell me
all about it,
'.No, indeed; we will see London
together when we do see it, and this
shall not be your last trip abroad,
little woman"
Margie smiled. "All right, and
we won't mind waiting"
They went for a short walk, Gran
ny leaning on Franks strong arm.
They paused on little knoll over
looking the placid lake. "See Frank"
cried Margie, "Is'nt this lovely
view, with the old church and the
hills in the background? / made a
little sketch of it the other day, which
/ mean to finish when / get home. :"
aye maun soon be ganging,"
said Granny gently. 81 have been
very happy here. May the guild Lord
bless your kindly hearts, wi his dear
love! 1t dinna seem that he ever
meant that maun gang away again. ="
Slowly they went back to the cot
tage. At the threshold Granny paus-
ed, and as Margie and her husband
stood on the steps below, she laid a
hand on each young head:
II am aweary, and shall rest. God
bless and keep you for aye. Guid
nicht, my bonnie BARNS. So she
left them, and later when Margie
stole in to see her, she lay resting as
she had said, a smile lighting up the
calm old face. She did not waker
as usual in the morning, and wher
Margle went to her, she lay still in
the same position but the peace OF
heaven was in her face and the pa
tient heart was at rest forever.
They laid her to rest near the spo
she had loved so well beside tha
other mound, in the shadow of The
old gray kirk. Margie stood weep
ing softly by the mound of fresl
earth.
SIT is the best ending, Margie,
said Frank gently, ''and the one sht
had chosen. She was right, | think
and God never meant that she shoulC
leave Auchdown again"
eyes," said Margie, through he
: tears, sit is best so, and how won
drous His ways are All our lives
Frank, we shall be glad that it wa
given to us to make her happy al th'
last"
+ The leave Of absence was almos
ended, and there was only time for {
: brief glimpse of London before EN-
barking for home. The letter telling
; of Granny's death had preceded them
, and even Belle listened reverentl,
when Margie told the story of th'
end.
) "Oh, girls, you all thought us 81
, foolish, but can never be thankful
/ enough that everything came aroun(
just as it did. 1t was not even sad
but only seemed right, that sh'
/ should go home to die
Margie has never found the op
portunity again to visit Florence, anc
has lost all ambition to copy old mas.
ters: but on the walls of their pleas
ant home hangs one picture, which
Frank says, money could not buy
; 1t is nothing wonderful, only bit ot
| Scottish scenery. A glimpse of {
lake, rejecting a sunset sky an6
mist crowned hills. A burial-place,
with here and there bit of cleaning
white marble and a quaint stone
church, ivy-wreathed and gray, and
in its shadow not one but two grass
grown mounds.
Beneath the picture Margie's hand
! has written:
s'On the banks of Lock Cairn."
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.