South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-01-09

nsppeoed--a baautifui thing IL nRs
happened on purpose for you.'
she slipped the mus:c-box from
under he- shawl and laid it down on
the bed. Then she tnrned the han.
die, aud In another minute waves or
music rippled across the stiffness
one falling upon another softly, ten
derly. Till It seemed as IL every cor.
ner OF the bare, dipgy room was full,
OIL what minutes were those that
followed. How the litlla italian
laughed aud criei, how hs clapped
HE thin bands and would have sprung
from the bed il Sister Agnes had not
held him down. IL had been stary-
ing fov bit of melody. IL seemed
as II the very sound Lad made him
strong again. lie knaw every air in
that marvellous box. and now and
then be accompanied the stratus with
hts voice, in tones 50 clear and sweet
that Slater Agnes held her breath for
wonder. He begged for more, moro.
and IL was not till every tune had
been played twice over that he lay
back on his pillow content.
Then be ;urned his great dark eyes
on Sister Agnes. Where did it come
fromr he whispered. Who sent itI'
The Lord replied Sister Agnes.
solemnly. The Lord himself She
Was silent for . moment, strokipg his
curly hair. Then she al iei, You
shall hear oil about IL tomorrow, but
you must rest now. You must lie
still and be happy. She kissed him,
like the real sis'er she warj then stole
away again, back to the cottage With
the little brown cross.
Itis possible that the way seemed
TO her little Logger than it had be-
fore, and she was coucious OF being q
tribe, just a trifle, tired when she en-
tered her own door. She went straight
to the little rarlor. To her surprise
a stranger was there before her, o
portly old gentleman, VITO. at the mo-
ment, Was standing near tue bAaket
looking at it with grave. not to say
rather a severe, expression. This,
however. Sister Agnes did not per.
ceive. She was blinking in the sud
den change from the darkness outside
to the brightness of the room, and
nothing was very clear TO her.
Sister Agnes, | presume, said the
gentleman, bowling slightly, and he
added rather stifily, Il have not the
honor OF knowing your surname
st is not Of the slightest conse-
quence,' said Sister Agnes, in her
sweetest voice.
Mine, resumed the stranger, still
more shffiy, SIS HGlden-Roger Hol.
den.'
Slater Agnes gave a little cry.
That name was not new to her. She
had rea IL an hour before on pur-
chase check which fell from the
wrapper OF The music.box. Oh sir /
she exclaimed taking step towards
him and holding out her hand in q
manner which a stone image could not
have resisted. At was you who put
that beautiful muslc.box into my
basket
1t undoubtedly was,' said Roger
Holden. Il intended to contribute a
trIhe-
"A trIhel' burst out Sister Agnes,
unable 10 restrain herself. Can you
speak of that exquisite thing as Fri.
fieS why, air. it 10 wealth, it is hap.
piness, il is almost life itself to a child
who VAS starving without It'll Ii is
the gift out of all the world which bis
angel might have chosen for him. II
you could have seen his face when he
heard that music, ii you could evun
imagine bis delight, you would know
it Was no trihe you had given him.
And the combining sense OF Roger
Holden's muui6cence and modesty
so over 6heImed Sister Agnes that tue
tears spraog to her eyes, and she lost
second expression of astonisbment
touched Win genuine dismsy.
Am TO understand, he asked,
slowly, that you have disposed OF the
box alrsadyI'
'Alresdy,' replied Sister Agnes,
serenely. Il could not let such nap
pinSss wait till morning. And then
she told him petuously Of the lutte
Leo, how h,s life had oncs been fuil
OF love and music, bat had been emp
tied Vt all. She spoke of the child
ism VOICE, which seemed TO DeeI only
tie touch of 10y ts make 1t one OF the
rsrest and sweetest ia the world and
her own voice almost breaking vito
Joy, she eDded-'Hs 10 Happier to-
uight than lie las been for long, long
months. He bias taken heart again,
he his begun TO get we'll. D. sir I
what must it be 70 have given thai
boxH
What, indeedP thought Roger
Holden, ADD be smiled ra.her grImiy.
Then he lifted bis hat from TIE table.
Since the box had actually been Civ
en- away be did not see tbat DO mad
any iurther business with Sister Az
ues. Madam be said, allow me
70 congratulate you On tue extrsurdl-
nary energy Win which you carry on
Jour enterprises then WIsh a dignid
ed Good evening he Withdrew.
Sister Agnes looked after him for
a minute Wan rather a puzzled face
Then she said TO herself, Frightening
We'll, there are some People ia this
world who can bear even 20 be
thanked for tue good they do. l..
did not occur 10 hef till af,erwsrd 20
wonder WY this eccentric old gentle-