Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-08-15
ALL is FAIR IN LOVE.

| Click, click, the sharp needles ol TIE
! December snow storm were rafting
against the easements of old Mrs. Ma
pies farm house; patter, patter, the
last dead leaves drifted down upon
the door stone.
1t was an old, old house, and Mrs.
Maple was an old, old woman. But
YOU will find sometimes tufts OF
snowy blossoms bursting from age
lichened apple trees, and sprays OF
greenerv on the boughs of century
old oak trees; and so it happened that
Minny Maple, the ancient crone
great granddaughter was the bud
and blossom of her worn-out life.
Old Mrs. Maple owned house and
land and had money out at interest;
but she was a shrewd old lady and
liked to keep her affairs in her own
hands And pretty Minny, albeit an
heiress in prospective, taught the dis
trict school and took care of the farm
dairy out of hours.
1T won't hurt her to work for liv-
ing if she is to be rich one of these
days" said Mrs. Maple. Il worked
when l was a girl"
And upon this dreary December
night Mrs. Naples swift knitting nee
dies cleaned like steady lightning in
the freight, and Minny sat on low
chair beside her, mending table cloths,
while ever and anon big drop would
splash down upon the darned spots
like a glistening globule of dew.
But, grandmother, why? burst
out Minny at last, with the blue eyes
lifted up like forget-me-nots drenched
in rain to the old ladys parchment
like face.
Because l say so," said old Mrs.
Maple. And the fire cracked, and the
snow clicked softly against the win
dow panes, and the knitting needles
made zigzags of light as they flew
back and forth.
But you say yourself, grandmoth-
er, that he's good young man"
Old Mrs. Maple nodded.
without a bad habit in the world. ~
And again old Mrs. Maple nodded
like Chinese mandarin in collec-
ton of curiosities.
And forehanded with his farm?"
For the third time Mrs. Maple nod
ded.
Then, grandmother, why won't
YOU consent to our marriage?' urged
the girl.
Child" said Mrs. Maple, turning
her spectacle glasses full upon Min
ny's sweet, fiower-like face, I've told
YOU why>half hundred times! It's
because your grandfather and his
grandfather were mortal enemies
Because your grandfather's last words
upon his death bed were L leave my
soul to heaven, my money TO my dear
wife, and my everlasting enmity to
Job Croftonr"
But, grandmother, said Minny,
with a shudder. That was very,
very wicked. And surely the shadow
of tombstone should be a reconcile
atom
Old Mrs. Maple shook her white
head
your grandfather was a very vim
dictive man, Minny," said she. Il
never disobeyed him living, and |
never will disobey him dead"
But, grandmother, coaxed Min
nv, with her fresh cheek against the
old ladys hand, she wouldn't know
it. How could he p
Child, child. your grandfather Ma
ple knew everything" said the old
lady. with sudden, suspicious glance
over her left shoulder, as something
seemed to rustic at the easement.
And | do believe his ghost would
haunt me if | didn't give heed TO his
last words. No, no; Gilbert Crofton
can never be your husband, and you
may as well give up the idea first as
last"
And Minny cried herself to sleep
that night.
For never, never can marry him
without grandmother Naples con
sent she sobbed I'll stay single
for his sake to the day of my death;
but | can never disobey the kind old
soul who has taken a mothers place
to he and brought me up from ba-
by.
But the next night there was an ap-
pie bee at Deacon Dangerfield's, and
Minny Maple was there. Gilbert
, Crofton did not make his appearance
until late.
I've been busy" said Gilbert
But never mind, so long as | am in
time for the Virginia reel
And they walked home together
through the snow drifts, talking hap
PLY of what might be il only grand
mother Naples adamantine heart
could be softened.
; But. late though it was, with the
5 old clock on the stroke of l, there wa!
! light shining redly from the keep