Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-10-31
r. JOLLIVER.

ever it was, which bore the name Of
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
r. JOLLIVER.
...........................
upon its signboard. was not expecting
any guests that night, but, neverthe-
less, one came 10 its doors-came
late, too, as the clocks were striking
ten, aud people generally thinking of
bed.
The guest was man Of forty, with
q sad sort of face-a face with a story
in it. But he was we'll dressed, and
evidently no poor traveller. He had
supper in the best parlor and, mean
while, fire was made in the best bed
room, in which, when he made his way
thither, he found n buXom, youngish
woman spreading an extra counterpane
upon the bed.
Good evening, SIR" she said, turn
ing toward him with a manner that
bespoke the landlady. II thought I'd
see that you were comfortable myself.
never leave everything to chamber
maids. When | married hotel-keep-
er. | made up my mind to help him,
and there's no such way of making
guests feel discouraged as turning
them over to help. And I've given
you my prettieSt quilt. too" said she,
with little laugh. There's an hon
or"
The gentleman looked toward the
bed. The quilt was patchwork. 1t
had a wide striped border, but in the
center the blocks were all the same
bright chintz alternated with white
"a butterfly on a branch. a rose. II
butterfly on branch, and a rose
again.
The man took fold of it up in his
hand. and looked mt it. as men do not
often look at patchwork quilts. The
woman babbled on.
We're great for patchwork in our
family. Such pile rs we had of these
quilts ut home! Sister Ruth had TWEEN
" when she was married, but l had
fifty. My other sister gave me her
share, seeing that | married a hotel
keeper and she thinks she'll never
marry. Oh. dear! There's story in
good many quilts, if YOU did but
know it; and there is story in this.
It's the last one Olive ever made. But
I'm boring you, sir"
mo, go on" said the gentleman.
go on. please"
"She was engaged" said the land
lady, land she was but sixteen. One
afternoon. she and her sweetheart cut
out these blocks, the next they were
parted. He was suspected of crime
of robbery. sir. if must say it-and
she never saw him again. She knew
that he was innocent. She said that
all the angels in heaven couldn't make
her doubt it. but no one else thought
with her, until Il year had gone by,
and then an old confidential clerk. who
was trusted in everything. being caught
in another theft, confessed to that
which my sisters sweetheart had been
accused of. The story he had told to
his employers of being knocked down
in the streets of New York, where he
went that holiday afternoon, and being
thought drunk, and put into station
house. and being ashamed to give his
name next morning, and too sick TO
come home next day. was no doubt
true. His employers advertised for
him, but in vain. And mother owned
TO sending him away from the door
when he came to see Olive. 1t is a sad
story. Olive can't seem tn like any
one else. and the poor fellow was so
fond of her. So that's the story of the
quilt"
The woman stopped and gave little
cry. for the guest had flung himself up
OH his knees, and was kissing that
patchwork quilt us lovers kiss their
swectbeart's lips.
She gave another little CIV in a mo-
ment, and then knelt down beside
him, and put her hand upon his shout
der.
'Oh. dear! oh. dcar!" she sobbed,
CRYING hard herself. "Oh. dear do
believe it is Harry Martin"
And it was Harry Martin, who had
been To the far ends of the earth aud
had found gold. but not happiness, be-
lieving himself robbed forever of love
and of fair repute. and who had return
ed to find both waiting him, through
the means of that patchwork quilt.
with its butter1ys and Towering boughs
and roses.
Lucy" said Olive to her sister. q
few months afterward. 'now that we
are going to housekeeping. l want you
to give me one thing"
Anything on earth that can" said
Mrs. Jolliyer. II was thinking of a
silver service"
"Oh. Lucy. dear" said Olive, begin
ding TO cry for very happiness. tits
only the butterfly quilt that / want.
The dear old quilt. Harry says he
can't keep house without it. we both
love IL so."
i've rolled it up for you already"
said Mrs. Jolliver. 1T seems to be-
long to you. Olive"
And so to-day Olives last baby sits
upon the brilliant quilt, aud tries, with
his chubby iingers to pull therefrom
the butterflies aud roses. Nary Kyle
D1lias, ig A. r. Lcd7er.