Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-12-18

was going TO dispatch Nathan for a
lawyer. l want my will made / want
to make right a wrong of long standing.
Somewhere in the world 1 may have a
nephew, one to whom I ought to have
been a mother. My heart was not in the
secession cause, and I removed to Eu,-
rope. year ago came home to die.
If this boy can be found, he shall have
everything I leave. If he cannot be, it
will go to an asylum for soldiers Or
phans. Let me tell you all about it. "
Dabney put out his hand restraining
her. "One moment, dear lady. You are
about to confide family story to me.
You have nothing but my unsupported
word that am a lawyer or a gentle
man."
"And your face," she said. smiling
into it.
II had rather you should have some
thing more reliable. With your permis-
sion, will fetch some credentials.
For the first time since it had been
put into his hand the majors letter &C.
Cured to his mind. He put it into her
hand She glanced at its unbroken SEAL
SIT has never been opened p
''No, but can vouch for its veracity.
Kindly read it..
And while his hostess bent her stately
white head over the unfolded sheet Dab
ney was casting about i'll his mind for a
schedule Of prices that might apply to
the drawing up Of wealthy spinster's
will. If his fee should prove a hand
some one, he would send a Christmas
check to Uncle Duke.
His gaze had been rowing about the
handsome room. A startled cry from
his hostess brought his attention back
to her. She was staring at him with
glittering eyes, the letter held straight
out in one hand.
''Dabney Lawrence Denton was the
name Of my nephew, the nephew in
whose favor I want my will draw" !"
He smiled. "Dabney is my own first
name-a very common name in Vir-
ginia.
"Major Duke Fairchild was my broth
er's friend-was my friend-when he
joined the rebel forces. I broke my en-
gagement with him and went to Eu-
rope"
"Yes?" a withered romance unfold
ing before his eyes.
''Boy, do you not know who you are?
This letter says you are the son of Law
renee Denton -
Dabney's turn to stare had come.
"And''-
"My nephew!'' She stretched out her
thin, delicate old hands toward him.
"Oh, it is sweet, so very sweet, to look
upon the face of kinsman before 60
Dear child, your pardon.
"Dear aunt, your blessing" And
swiftly going toward her Dabney sealed
the kinship with kiss.
The fifth Christmas eve and no key
Loulou wept herself to sleep that night.
How much longer would she be able to
withstand the combined opportunities
. Of her father, mother and Raymond?
A mighty uproar of voices, wheels,
barking dogs and slamming doors
reused her the next morning to the con-
sciousness of another Christmas, but
no Dabney! What an unnecessary
amount of laughter and running about !
What was Christmas without Dabney?
She was soon dressed, and running
swiftly down stairs with a sense of be-
ing culpably late ran straight into Dab
ney's arms Behind him stood a stately
white haired lady whom he proudly in
troduced as his "aunt-Miss Denten. :"
And the stately white haired lady took
her in her arms, and kissing her called
her ''my darling niece. -
What a Christmas that was in the old
plantation home-so much to tell, so
much to thank heaven for, so much to
enjoy, SO much laughter, SO much good
will toward man!
After dinner Dabney gave Loulou the
fifth key. The bottom drawer of tie
cabinet contained five copper coins, the
identical ones that Dabney had cast on
the library table. He took them up with
laugh and dropped them back haphaz-
srd
'tHeads, win; tails, you lose"
From tho fullness of a happy heart
koulou laughed.
''Then you win either way"
ST have won," he said, folding his
arms about her, $50 much more than
ever deserved to win"
On which point Miss Fairchild took
violent issue.
SWEET TOoTHED COoNs.