South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-06-27

and his engagement ring on her fin-
ger.
And Miss Camiola thanked Mrs.
Black, put on her show bonnet With
the washed ribbons, and the shawl
that had been 90 good once. but was
faded and even mended now, and
walked up the road and turned into
the lane and entered the Barker gar.
den.
The smell Of the shrubs came to
her; the lilac flowers were gone. but
tue willow branches kissed her bon
net as she passed under them.
The neighbors Who saw her added
or spoke, but they were selling the
tall clook aud there was some excite.
ment. Csmiola stood at the door
awhile and listened TO the bid ding.
Deacon Hickory got the clock; Mrs.
Amos Mole the claw-footed side
board. A Jewish lady from the viii
lage bought the trunks of women's
clio hing, sold unopened, for next to
nothing. Anna Barnaby, the wash.
woman. got the tubs and irons cheap
in a lot. and so on and so forth.
To Camiola it all seemed tragic.
She went upstairs where people were
poking the beds and pillows, and OK
aiming the toilet sets and curtains.
and she began to mouat the garIct
stairs.
Nothing up there said WELL
meaning person, who was descending.
faint worth while to lose breath
q climbin'.'
Camiola did not answer.
Nothing up therei How little
people knewl There was the win
dow at which two lovers lad pig h,ed
their vows. There, perhaps, fingered
some ghost of her dead past and his
who died elderly aud bac helor.
As her head arose above The floor
she gazed eagerly about her. From
the raf,ers hung some branches of
withered heros and ropes OF onions.
The trunk had been carried down and
an old bureau. A coat huag over
peg over it hat. Camiola went TO
the window. She would not cry, for
she rnust face those people down stairs
again; but she uttered little means
OF anguish as she stood there. She
realized what life actually is at that
moment, and it seemed very cruel to
her-once young beloved, pretty and
hopeful; now Old, unloved, wrinkled,
and with nothing to hope for. No
wonder that she suffered.
AT last she turned her back on the
eternal mountains unchanged while
lives were lived, and while youth fed,
and love departed. and graves dug
and saw the coat upon the wall; Ben's
coat-an old mans coat worn long
and carelessly-and q big, broad :.
brimmed soft hat. The woman went
closer. She nestled up against the
coat, and talked to it and caressed
! it,, aud she took the hat in her ha nd
and kissed it. 1t was worth nothing.
1t had rain stains on it. Its shape
was odd: Nobody wanted II. But
what relic it would be to her of Ben |
only she could not ask for it.
She could take it, hide il under her
shawl-all folded fat, as it would be
and keep it forever. Ben's hat
her Ben's hat! Why, she had right
to do IL.
And Miss Camiola obeyed the i'm
pulse, took the hat, and hid it neatly
away. 1t seemed, almost, as though
it were theft; still, it would be no
wrong to take it. .,
When she came home, Mrs. Black
told Miss Camicla the walk had done
her good her cheeks were quite red !;
but she went early to bed that eve.
ming. She bolted her door and un.
dressed in hurry. She put out the
light. Then she felt for her shawl, in
which the bat lay, fondled and took 1t
IN her arms. A certain perfume that
was always connected with Rsn's hair
was family noticea ble-an odor of
bergamoi. It brought the past back
wildly. Italmost seemed as though
Ben's head rested on her heart. She
clasped the old hat close and kissed IL.
'Oh, Ben, she whispered. Il was
always ready to make up; but you
we're rich and was proud. oh, Ben !
oh Ben, Ben, my darlingp
And for hours she lay awake-the
/ Camiola OF the past-in the darkness.
which blotted out the changes in her
face, and fell asleep at las, and dream
ed of young Ben and his perfumed
hair, and heard him once more say
that they would be happy together.
She awakened suddenly, ia the ear
I ly dawn, and came back to herself.
She dressed herself; smoctbed her
/ pfim hair; tied on her black apron
with pockets; pinned the cushion and
the sheath OF scissors al her side; and
/ then looked at the hat. OF course IL
must be hidden away and she spread
q newspaper on the ted in which to
wrap 1t, and paused to look a, il again.
The inside Of the hat presented it.
self The piece otleatber which lined
the crown looked CURIOSITY thick.
I She touched il with her hands. I'm
der it was long paper folded into a
narrow slip; she drew il out and sew
! that something was written on tie
outside. Taking the paper 10 the
window she saw that the words we're
these The Last Will and Testament
Of Benjamin Barker
At this Miss Camiola began to
tfemble from head TO foot, but she
was a daughter OF Eve. Softly ana
reveTcntly, indeed. sho opened the