Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-12-25


! them BOTH
You are right, mother, said Jacob.
the elder Of her sons, you are right,
mother. 'Filsey' (the nickname the
boys had bestowed upon Mary when
she was toddler), was the best girl
in Indiany kind an lovin', an a sis
ter worth havin'."
As for Uncle Billy, seeing his whole
family up in arms against him, he
vouchsafed no reply, but turning,
strode rapidly in the direction Of the
barn.
From that time on he had never
! spoken his daughters name. And al
/ though he knew that mother and the
boys got occasional letters from her,
( vet he never thought OF her, or had
the slightest interest in knowing
whether she was dead or alive
But on the Christmas Eve that |
/ have introduced him 10 your notice,
he sat by the fire thinking; and his
thoughts were Of her. He had long
ago admitted to himself that he was
/ foo hasty when he drove his only
/ daughter away from his home but
/ he still remained silent. At each fam
/ ily reunion, always held on Christmas
day, he bad missed her. And as the
coming one was TO be held at his
house, and his brothers and sisters
with their families would he there, he,
with some bitterness Of feeling, was
/ brooding over the fact that, through
no fault Of his. he reasoned. the pleas
ures OF the day would be marred. Ev-
eryhody missed Mary the children
/ OF his nephews and nieces would ark
! for her and talk about her, despite
the admonitions they had received to
/ the contrary. As he was busy with
/ his thoughts, gazing the while mood
! lily into the fire. aud now and then
punching up the fore sticks IN spite
| ful sort Of way, Grandma Botsworth
suddenly spoke up aud said
"To-morrer'll he another white
| Christmas This makes two on EN-
right hand runnin' Three years ago
was mighty mild winter, and we had
u green Christmas that year
Here the old ladv paused aud heaved
sigh. No one said anything and she
continued: Il recoleek now there
was more buryin's that year in the
Bald Hill buryin' groun' than there
has been since all put together"
Yes" assented Mrs. Botsworth, re-
flectiveIy, "a green Christmas alters
makes a fat graveyard, they say, an
never kI owed it to fail. "
Il reckon it'll be good sleighin' to-
morrer." observed Uncle Billy, "an'
all the folks II come over in the bobs.
Eli what's that ?'
The exclamation with which he
concluded his remark was caused by
the furious barking of old MAZE, the
watchdog. the sound OF voices in the
front yard, and what seemed to be the
cry OF child in fear
The two BOYS started for the front
door. while the remainder OF the fam
lily sat intently listening and wonder
ing who could be their visitors They
had not long to wait for minute
later the sitting room door was flung
open and Jacob strode in, bearing in
his arms bright and lusry two-year-
old boy. Almost snatching the wraps
from about it, and holding the little
fellow up. he shouted Pap, look a.
your grandson; Filsey's come, an
this is her boy"
THE devil it is roared Uncle Bill
ly, springing TO his feet, with face
as black as a thundercloud. Take
him away; | don't want ter see him.
Hold on minute" shouted a
clear, strong voice in the doorway.
1t was the son-in-law who had
spoken and who stepped into the
room. his figure erect and eyes blaz-
lug with anger. Hold on minute, !
say" he continued; Il want word.
Bill Botsworth, can buy and sell
You. am a rich man, but you don't
have TO own me for a sou-in-lnw on
that account As for me, | can get
along without you. But Mary here
wanted TO come back and see her
mother and all OF you once more, and
| said she should; and. more than
that. | said You should treat her and
baby right. or Id make you; aud, by
thunder. III do il Understand me,
| ask no favors for myself; but for
this poor girl here, that you've
treated so mean, and who. still loves
you. but who wants TO come home
only for little willie, | will speak
for, and fight for too, il necessary"
Even while he was talking, mother
and daughter were weeping in each
others embrace, and Grandma Bots
worth, rising with difficulty from her
seat, laid her hand on her sons
shoulder. William" she said,
'now's as good a time to give in as
ye'll ever have. II Mary an Will can
afford to forgive you. | don't see how
you can help forgivin' them. Come
now. son, do right.
For an instant he stood struggling
with his passion, then love conquered.
Extending his hand TO his son-in-law,
he .aid Billy, knock under; I've
made mistake an am sorry for it.
Daughter, come here"
With glad cry Mary put her arms
about his neck and kissed him again
aud again.
There, there, child ~ the old fell
low murmured. in voice husky with
o,,,o,;on .sirfs n fnrOOt DOw an