Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-04-06

"c"i'. ~ was not uS deep heart
as some. | have thought IN my rriel
and anger; but never doubled il.
truth and honesty. Reginald 4
father and mine approved Of our
growing attachment. and rs for my.
sell, | know was SO happy then,
That look back upon those flceting
moments rs on some delicious dream,
! now come TO the change. have
fingered on my childish reminis.
cences. my bright and happy youth
aud now | must tell the rcst--ihc
blight aud the sorrow.
Ii was Christmas, always 10, fil
and y hospi,ablc time in the country
especially in such an old hall as our
home. where the quaint customs and
irolics were much clung to, as par,
and parcel of the very dwcllnp
itself The hall was full OF guests
SO full, indeed, that there was area,
diifiesl,y in providing sleeping ac.
commodaiion for all Several mar.
row and dark chambers in the tur.
rets-mere pigeon holes, as we
irreverently called what had been
thought good enough for the stately
gentlemen OF Eiizabeih's reign
were now allotted to bachelor Wis.
itors, after having been empty for a
century. All the spare rooms in
the body and wings ofthe hall were
occupied, of course; and the serv
ants who had been brought down
were lodged NJ the farm and ~ the
keepers, SO gteat was the demand
for space. At last the unexpected
arrival of an elderly relative, who
had been asked months before, but
scarcely expected, caused great
oommotion. My auuts went about
wrInging their hands disiractcdiy
Lady Speldhurst was person of
some consequence: she was dis.
tant cousin, and had been for years
on cool terms with us all, an account
OF some fancied anront or slight
when she had paid her last visit.
about the time Of my christening
She was seventy years old she was
inhrm, rich and tcsty; moreover.
she was my godmothcr, though
bad forgotten the fact; but IL seems
that though ! had formed no expec-
tations OF a legacy ia my lavor. my
aunts had done so for me. Aunt
Margaret was especially eloquent
on the subject. There isn't a room
left, she said; twas ever ANYTHING
SO unfortunatel We cannot put
Lady Spcldhurt into the turfeis,
and yet where a. she to sleep; And
ROsa's godmothcr. too Poor dear
child, how dreadfull Alter all these
years Of enlargement, and with a
hundred thousand in the funds, and
no comfortable, warm room at her
own unlimited disposal Christ.
mas, OF all times in the YEAR, What
toas 10 be donel My aunts could
not resign their own chambers TO
Lady Speldhursi, because they had
already gwen them up 10 some Of
the married guests. Ny father was
the most hospitable OF men, but he
was rheumatic, gouty and method.
ical. His sister-in-law dared not
propose to shift his quarters; and
indeed, ne would have far sooner
dined on prison fare than have been
translated To a strange bed. The
matter ended in my giving up my
room. bad strange reluctance
10 making the offer, which surprised
myself Was It a boding Of evil to
conner j cannot say. We arc
strangely aud wonderfully made.
IL may have been. At any rate, /
do not think IL was any selfish un-
Willingness to make an old and in
firm lady comfortable by a trilIing
sacrifice. j was perfectly healthy
and strong. The weather was not
cold for the time Of year. It was a
dark, moist Yule--not a snowy one.
though snow broodcd overhead in
the darkling clouds. dit make
the offer, which became me, said
with laugh, as the youngest. Nv
sisters laughed too, and made a Jest
Of my evident wish 10 propitiate
my gOdmother. "She is fairy
godmother Rosa" said Minnie
"and you know she was affr0nfed "A
your christening, and went away
mnttering vengeance. Here She j.
coming back 20 see you, / hope che
brings golden gifts with her 4" /
thought little Of Lady Speldhurst
and her possible golden gifts. /
cared nothing Tor The wonderful
fortune IN the funds that my sunt-
whispered and nodded about So
mysteriously But since then
haee wondered whether had / then
shown myFelfpcevish or obstinate
hsd ] refused 10 give up my room
for .he exps ctcd kinswoman-ii
would not have altered the whole
of my liief But then Lucy or Min.
ME would have offered in ms stead
and been ficed--whst do saw;
better that the blow should have
fallen as il did than on those dear
ones
The chamber 10 which I removed
was q dim little trianglar room in
Tie western wing, aud was only "a
he reached By traversing the picture
gallery, Of BY mounting little flight
oi stone stairs which led directlv
upward from the low hrowed arch
Of q door that opened into the gar.
den. IheIe WAS one more room ON