South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1890-10-24
Twelve dollars a month. and nothing
to do but help Mrs. Dudley
I've great mind to Try H. said

To be sure It seems queer, reflect.
iugly added Patience Potter, for
Squire Ardeu's niece, who has lust
given away 500 silk drese, TO 90
Gu, doing housework. But, IL you
come 20 that amt the whole world
full OF such discrepancies
! Il don't mind that said Cora, but
must lave little money of my
own
The tea-table at the Red House
Rectory looked very pretty. with its
fresh blackberries, golden. cnstari,
snowy raised biscuits. aud garniture
Of verbenas aud sweetgeraniun leaves.
Mrs. Dudley, who was one of those
overworked ministers wives Who are
always in hurry. looked admiring-
ly on.
How nicely you have done il, my
dear, she said. Il declare, / never
thought that q few flowers could
brighten up table so! Blu. you're
not goiugp'
Yes. l am eaid Cora, intent on
fastening creamy rosebud into Mrs.
Dudley's hair: unless, indeed With
downcast eyes, you want me to wait
on the table,.
wait on the table, indeed What
nonsense Y said Mrs. Dudley. AS
II you were q common maid servant
No. certainly notl wanted you to
sit down with Us, dear, aud help the
berries and cream; and / should
Ike to introduce you 10 our guest
Il would rather take the baby out
in the garden while you are at tea
said Cora, and then you can have q
little chance TO eat and drink in
peace
And she escaped out Of the door
with the bad headed hope Of the
house of Dudley in her arms. as Mr.
Dudley care in at the other, u sher-
ine-,he Rev. Ernest VAIL
And in the midst OF their theolo-
gical converse, MIR. Vail CHANGED to
look out Of the window, where, IN .
der great branching apple tree. sat
fair young % alden showerng roses
over the little one who lay Growing
OH the grass at h side.
Who is tina ? he asked with lit
tie Start.
Our new maid Mrs. Dudley an
swered, complacen,ly. 'The sweetest
girl you ever saw, true lady by birth
and education, only longing to be
independent
'oh I sad Dir. Vail. And you
call her
Cora
sIndeed,' said Mr.. Vail. And
he astonished his reverend brothe,
by deluging with a fresh tide oil
cream the berries he had already
p!entifully creamed.
'And never left drop for anyone
else ~ Mrs. Dudley remarked af.
terward. Il think Mr.. Vail must
be subject 10 fits of abstraction
This was the middle of the
month. And al its close sealed
envelope came to Mr.. Vail, in
closing S12. And on the outside
was written:
ga mite for the Missiou1."
Ernest Vail held the envelope up
down and crosswise, aud closely
scrutinized the direction.
1T is in a disguised handwriting,
he said 10 himself; 'but l think
nay, | am almost sure it ia Cora
Arden's way of making her ms
and curling the epds of her e's.'
Just then his sister Nellie, the
} general gossip of the family, came
10.
I've fathomed the mystery oil
Mary Wards magnificent black
silk Dress said she. Il thought
} she couldn't have afforded it out
of her own pocket. Who co you
think gave it to her?
i am sure / do not know, said
Ernest, rather listIessly.
Cora Arden. 1t seems the Door
thing was rying over her meagre
trousse7u; she had married an am.
bilious young lawyer, and natural.
iy desired to make little show in
the city, where she ia going, and
Cora, in one of her maguanimous
fits, bestowed the 500 silk dress
upon her. Wasn't she a goose p
/ am not 60 certain of that said
the Rev. Ernest Vail, with soften
ed voice and kidding eyes. Per
haps she thinks with us that III is
more blessed to give than 10 re-
ceivC.'
A week afterwar1 Miss Arden
blushi1gly confded 10 Mrs. Dud-
ley the fact that she could not re.
main at the Red Cross Rectory be-
yond the current month. Mrs.
Dudley burst into tears.
My DEAR said she, i can't
spare you .
But you'll have TO- said Cora.
of all overworked drudges, ,
sobbed the poor lady, "a minister's
wife is the most'-
'Oh, hush, hushr cried Cora.
Don't say that, Dear Mrs. bud
ley, for Pm going to be a miuis-
ter's wife myself.'
And the first post-nuptial gift
that the Reverend Ernest Vail be-
slowed upon his wife was q black
silk dress, the counterpart in every
respect Of the ore she had given