The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-20

Mrs. Murray comes DO you hear? A n,
then | shall have a message to send +
your mother. "
He rang the bell violently an,
ordered that Mrs. Murray be sent t.
him as soon az she returned Havin,
made this satisfactory arrangement, h.
took up his paper again and ignored
the little figure in the sunbonnct.
But before he had read a dozen line
there was light touch ON his arm
and the brown eyes were looking VI
into his.
"Please, sir, may look out of tn,
window while we're waiting?"
He was so astonished that he coult
not reply for moment, but he die
finally give scornful grunt of assent
There was silence in the room for {
long time. Not clock licked, for ole
Mr.. Roberts could not endure the
ticking of clocks. Not a leaf stirred.
nor Il cricket chirped The stiffness
disturbed him at last, and he looked
up. The child was out on the little
balcony, leaning on the stone balus
trade. Her bonnet had fallen off, and
the sunlight, falling on the mass OF
brown hair wove it full of CLEANS OF
gold.
Another touch on his arm-there
she was again. Her hand-such a
little morsel of hand -trembled with
some new emotion, and her eyes shone
with a strange light.
ut must be nice to live on a hil!'
was what she said
The old gentleman in the armchair
| had never been more astounded in his
| Fn IA tDr of n,
say anything.
II have always wanted to live on a
hill, she went on. ''Our house is
away down yonder, and you can't see
anything but the houses across the
street. But up here you can look so
far, and the sky's SO close to you.
Don't you think people can be better
when they live on hi.l?'
The newspaper fell to the floor I'M
needed, and the crusty old gentleman
and the little girl looked at one an
other. After awhile the old gentleman
went to the balcony and looked down
to the roofs of the crowded houses in
the narrow streets below and then
away to the horizon. This beautiful
home of his crowned the summit of
this purple hill and was uplifted so far
above the noise and dust and wretch
edness Of the city that lay below.
Truly, it was pleasant thing to live
on hill, He had never thought of it
before but all at once he fancied him
self down among those miserable tene
ments. looking up at this beautiful
home and thinking how near to heaven
it reached.
There was hurried tap at the door
and Mrs. Murray presented herself
Her comfortable figure was attired
still in the neat dress that she had
worn in the street Her round face was
vreathed with smiles. but she was
obviously huttered and quaking with
fear.
"Did you leave word that you want
ed to see me, sir?" she asked and
then waited for the blow to fall
Mrs. Murray. said the old gentle
man in his stitfest and most formal
IAN to understand that you
have employed Il woman to come hero
once week and dust the brio a
brac?'
''Yes, sir. Mrs. Holmes her name is.
and she's very careful, sir. | couldn't
do better myself -
She glanced up anxiously at the
wooden countenance before her What |
terrible thing was he going to say
next?
Mrs. Murray, the woman has sent
this child to say that she is too i'll t.
come. That will do. You will ex-
,use her until she RECEIVERS.
Mrs. Murray went back to her own
Dom and fell into chair. If it had
Deen consistent with the dignity of
Mr.. Roberts housekeeper to stagger,
she certainly would have staggered.
She kept repeating to herself "Did
iou ever?" and Il can't believe it
She said afterward that you might
lave knocked her down with a straw.
hough that was tigurative, of course.
This was the beginning Of Marjorie's
'lsits to the great house on the hill.
Ter mother did not come again, but
very day the big sunbonnet went
oiling up, and then the CLINT of the
Golden hair would be seen in the great
ooms where no child had ever strayed
before. Not that she was boisterous,
IT laughing, or childlike in any way.
She would sit in Mrs. Murray's room
or hours, with her hands folded on
Ter lap, watching the lady at her work
nd sometimes talking softly, or she
would follow her from room to room, s
azing with rapt delight at every !
object
Mr.. Roberts knew that she was in {
he house, but he said nothing. He
,as conscious sometimes that the child 7
TONED near him and stood with her I
rave scrutiny, but he did not drive $
l., ;vh |
ected to do few weeks before. He
as in his study one monring when he {
card Mrs. Murray come into the adj U
,ining room. The door was ajar, and !,
oftly as she spoke, her words came to !
i'm distinctly.
THAT was a present from my son "
st Christmas" she said. Dear 3
oy? He never fails to send me some 4
ling every Christmas and every birth u
ay." Then small voice, full of
istful meaning: a
Mrs. Murray" it said, do you U
Ike Christmas?" p
"Why, Marjorie - was the shocked d
ply. "Why, of course, do! Every 81
,dv likes Christmas - 81
Il DON'T" said the small voice "
ch desolate little voice it seemed. III
[ had rather leave Christmas out of
e year. le
F." Marjorie I" No words could ex- ST
ess the horror and amazement in 81
rs Murray's tone. .,
~ wouldr' The small voice had IL,
own thinner and higher in its pain - -
| intensity. whats the use of a y.
1ristmas that never gets to some '"
ople at all9 There was little lame y,
ter Franks, who lived in the room nj
posite to ours, and, oh, he wanted a e.