West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1890-02-06

Leah colored scarlet.
ooh, Evadnei But-but don't want
him to give me such an expensive pres
ent Please-please tell him not :"
"Annuder box done come 10y specious
messenger for Misses Leah" cried old
Hamilcar, as ne stalkcd into the room
And it pears to me dat it's directed id
Marse Eugeno's hand-ob-write.
"Rabbit-skinsl In Montrealw scorn-
fully cried out Magdalene. "No lover
alive could expect one to make such a
sacrifice as that for him. Open the 9th
er box, Leah"
"Who said no was loveri" cried
poor Leah, the rose food once more dyc-
ing her check. "But the white cape
was his present, and I'll wear il. Aud
please tell Eugene Pm very much obliged
10 him, but I'd rather not take the seal
jacket from him"
IL is very easy 10 make an excuse for
thing that we want TO do, aud the bitter
coldness of the weather did not keep
John Benoit fom coming mp TO the great
fur warehouse in Montreal, to see to the
safe arrival of the consignment OF skins
from Manigro, on the sixth day Of Janu.
ary.
"Can you tell me-" said he 10 the
spruce book keeper "where Squire Led.
yard livesln
"Can | tell youl" said Mr.. Miuce.
"Of course can. Didn't we send
crack seal jacket up there, not two hours
ago, addressed TO the young lady who is
staying therem
"NIss LifTordf'
That's the name. Oh, by.the.way,
I've heard she's "A Manigro lady. Per
haps you know her. Quite sensation
she's made in society, they tell me. Mr..
Lcdyard's hopelessly gone on hcr-the
young fellow, you know. II was he who
ordered the seal Jacket three hundred
dollar one, the finest in the city.
Poor John Benoit! His heart sank
within him. What chance could he
possibly have against this Montreal ex-
quisitei How could his little low -eaved
stone house, among the pine forests,
compare with this city Of marble palaces
and glittering pinnaclcsl
'It's all up with me, he muttered to
himself. "And /, poor fool was so glad
when Mrs. LifTord consented to give
Leah chance to see the world by visit
ing her grand cousins in the city. / dare
say she and they are laughing now at my
wretched little coney-skins."
lie skulked through the gaslit streets
that evening, his squirrel cap drawn over
his eyes, and his hands buried deep in
his pockets, in such way that more than
one policeman paused to look suspicious
ly after him, until ne came opposite the
great house on Quotidian Square
There, sheltered by a hooded stone
archway, he stopped TO watch for the
sleighing party he had heard Of
Last Twelfth Night we danced in
Farmer Olston's kitchen, he thought,
with torches stuck up against the walls,
aud big fire that roared up the chin
ney like the conhagration at Rome. And
VIC heard the starved wolves barking in
the woods rs we drove home in my red
cutter Oh, well, her knowledge Of the
world is considerably widencd since
those days She wouldn't care for
Farmer Olston's dance and my red cutter
nowl' as he watched the glittering plated
I harness on the magnificent horses, and
/ observed the flash OF the lamps, the CLEAN
Of the velvet cushions, the floating pile
Of the black fox robes. ON Just stand
here long enough to see her come out,
wearing her new lovers seal-skins, and
then III 90 somewhere where there's a
fire, for / believe my heart is getting to
be in touch with the thermometer"
Not until many brilliant sleigh load
had driven off, however, did Leah
Lifiord finally come out, wearing, not
the sumptuous seal-skins, but simple
cape Of white fur, from which her sweet
face rose up like a softly-tiuted rosebud
She entered the covered sleigh alone
OlO Hamilton called out
"Drive to dc Canadian Pacific station,
Petc--an mind yo' 90 fast Yo' hearl'
The trunk was fastened on behind
there was a general exchange Of adieux
and hand kissings, and amid the crunch
ing Of half-frozen snow beneath the run
ners and the chime Of gold-plated bells,
the sleigh dartcd away.
Hastily signaling 70 waiting calcchc.
Benoit jumped into il and almost before
Leah had taken her ticket 10 ManiprO. he
was beside her
hn--oh, John z" she cried ont.
if''i o. if' ilia atiiNilf'lf lf.hus 10 YOU
not see that 7 am hcrc" hc said tonderly
"You arc going home-aloucf'
81 could not stay longer, John: and
they were so vexed at me for leaving them
Tint they would not any Of them come
with me, whispered Leah
j thought you were so happy there,
Leah
$50 ! was; but-but Eugene Led
yard asked INC TO bc bis wife. and -'
''Is hc not very rich, Lcahf'
eyes; but didn't love him. John ,''
''You would not wear the seal iackot
hc gave your
"NoN with a slight downward Vlancc
at tho white mantle chat encirclcd her iu
its folds.
"And you wear my capel'
"Ycs John"
Leah my own one-cau 10 be posi-
blc that you really love mcf'
"You know that love you. John 2"
u was midnight when thcy reached
Manigo midnight, iewclcd over with
the shine Of frozen stars. made musical
with the creaking Of wind tossed trees.
The clink of iciclcs. the far-oG cry Of
prowIinV fox or starved wolf-and in the
window Of the little house "a light burned.