The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-09-19
Cur family Story.
THE SQUIRE'S CALL.

A haio w lluu, WIFI IulE llhC |
wrought silver, and a fresh, rudy
bloom upon his withered cheek, the
squire was like some well-preserved
relic Of the olden time. And his
pretty granddaughter, Nanny Mel
worth, kneeling beside time on the
floor, with her fair, curly head resting
ON his knee, was like him, in her rosy
bloom and clear blue eye. Frank Mel
worth, the only grandson, who leaned
carelessly against the c~himney-piece,
and his young wife, sitting in the
shadow, completed the family circle.
Nanny said the old squire, grave
ly, my daughter Mildred was just
your age when she stole from my house,
under cover of the night, and made u
runaway match with Charles Leland.
When | heard of her di~sobedience, |
said l would never forgive her, and |
never have 4"
"But, grandpapam coaxed Nanny,
"you will receive her orphan daughter
to your home 2"
"Neverw reiterated the squire.
"Hush J" said Nanny, holding up
her finger, "do you hear the snow
beat against the windows? Think,
dearest, she may perchance be exposed
off place Oh, say that you will for
give Aunt Mildred-that you will
receive her child I"
NANNY" said the old man sternly,
''let this subject be Il forgotten one be-
tween us, from this time forever |
have said my say and the question is
settled !"
There was silence for a few minutes.
while the wind shrieked madly round
the gables of the old house.
"Come here, little granddaughter"
said the squire at length to the fair
wife of Frank Melworth. "Talk to
hazel shadows in your sweet eyes and
to hear the soft tones of your voice |!
What tears! Do you imagine the old
man is cross? Never to you, my little
Cora"
And SO you are satisfied with my
tuste in the selection of q wife ?" said
the young man, laughing, yet embar-
raised.
Don't know how on earth | should
manage to exist without my little
Cora" said the squire, carressing Mrs.
Melworth's jetty curls. Nanny is q
nice girl enough, but Cora is softer in
her ways, somehow she always knows
what | want before l have a chance to
ask for it ~
am not jealous. grandpapa," said
Nanny. "a glance of Cora's will win
from you what a whole battery of my
e~xpostulations would be powerless to
effect, but I can't find it in my heart
to be envious."
you're right there, my girl" said
the squire, laughing. "Im glad Cora
didn't join in your silly %entreaties just
now. or should have found it hard to
refuse her."
But Cora's head had dropped upon
tho old mn 1t,nncf nnl ,hn ,~l
bling violently.
What's the matter, darling ?"
inquired the squire, in rueful conster-
nation. What have I said to hurt
you ?"
Nothing, nothing" sobbed Cora.
only that | love you so very, very
dearly
"A queer thing to cry about" said
the squire, brushing u suspicious dew
away from his eyelashes.
The wind had howled itself into
slumber; the moon had broken through
the stormy riffs of cloud, and rode,
through the blue midnight sky, and
still the old squire sat watching the
~smOldering fire and thinking vaguely
of the far-off past.
why does not Joseph come with
my night draught ?" thought the old
man, moving uneasily in his chair.
"Surely he is late tonight"
Slowly the great clock in the hall
began to sJrike one-two, and so on
through the midnight tOcsin.
And at the same moment old Joseph
rushed into the room, his face pale
with terror.
'Oh, master, master! That | should
have lived to see a ghost! !"
Is a GHOST What do yp,, maop ~
Master" said the old man, solemn
~, as sure as | stand here, ! saw
Miss Mildred in the hall just now. all
dressed in gray, just as she used to
look !"
"Pshaw !" said Squire Melworth,
turning pale.
81 know she's been buried this
twelve years." said the servant man, in
q low voice, but master, l saw her
ghOst-l am sure of it,"
at this time the door opened, and
Mrs. Melworth entered, clad in q
dressing-robe of soft gray cashmere,
her jetty curls floating down over her
shoulders.
"~There-don't you see :" gasped
Joseph, retreating behind his masters
h~igh-backed chair, and staring, with
dllated eyes and shaking knees, at the
slender form.
"Pshaw, you doting old fool !" ex-
claimed Squire Melworth, sit is only
Cora. What is it, my dear 2"
- wanted to say goodnight" falter-
ed Cora, sinking or her knees beside
him.
He folded her tenderly in his arms.
There now, goodnight, my little
one. and heaven hold you in it's care :"
AT the same instant some sudden
movement of his daughter-in-law, as
she left the room, made him start up
in his chair with a cold dew disabling
on his brow.
OF what misty, half effaced shadow
in the past did it remind him
Give me the hot port wine, Joe ~
he said n~ervously. 'Quick That's
right-and now I'll go to bed ~
Master acts mighty strange to-
night" said Joe to his better half, as he
laid aside his overcoat in the bright
kitchen of the porter's lodge. 81
shouldn't wonder if he vent off sudden
n o. these times"
And the night crept on, starry, and
full OF fresh winds that stirred the
willow boughs in the village grave
yard as If warning them to make room
Q for yet a new occupant
Knock, knock, knock
1t sounded like the munied beat of q
funeral drum that hurried tap at Frank
MelwOrth's door, in the gray, chill
dawn of the Winter day.
What Is the matter 2" he exclaim-
ed, starting up.
Master Is dyinp-he's took awfnI