Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-01-31

the butchor, she crept timidly up to
the third-story hall bedroom, to IN
terview the musical man.
Mr.. Morton was writing on the cor
ner of his wash-stand, with his shabby
ereat-coat on, and pocket handker-
chief tied around his peck. His pale
grave countenance sottoncd the land
lady's heart at once as he courteously
rose up ard bowed.
"You have come for the week $
board in advance, said he. pardon
me, but our manager never pays until
Saturday night. 1t is not pleasant to
confess ones poverty, but"
"Oh, never mind !" said Mrs. Moody,
all in q futter. T-I only came to
see il there was plenty of fresh towels.
And if you find it cold writing here,
sir. I'm sure you're very welcome to
bring your work down to the parl0T,
where there is G good fire.
Mr.. Morton smiled and bowed.
eyes" he admitted, 'it is cold
without fire in November, and J
cannot afford the extra expense OF
coal-at present" He glanced at his
blue fingers and shivered little. "If
it is not too great liberty VIII
avail myself of your kind offer" ."
And Mrs. Moody felt comparatively
happy when she saw the musical man
diligently writing, at her south win
dow, in the soft atmosphere OF the
glowing anthracite.
But Mrs. Racquet and her daughter
the centeelest boarders in the house
took vehement exceptions to this
new plan.
'I'm not particular, '" said the form
er, with toss OF her head; "but TINS
is really q little too mnch! A man
who plays in the orchestra OF a third
rate theatre -
"But he is very respectable, MA am,
assure you,' said Mrs. Moody ca
gerly.
Glow an to know that?' said
Mrs. Racquet, tartly. II declare, l
vas mortified to death when Mrs.
Lawyer Lexington came to call, and
founG BIN perchel up III the corner
And Melissa and shall Gni it neces-
sarv to change our bo0gding-bouse. II
this sort of thing is to continue. "
"Mr. Morton is q GenIieman!" !" said
Mrs. Moody, reused into temporary
spirit. "de has an equal right Will
| vo,7rcelf in tho OarlOr "
Mrs. Racquet and Miss Melissa,
gave warning at once.
Mrs Moody did not care.
Miss jenkins, the district school
teacher, turned up her nose and left
the house.
"I'm not over-critical," she said
"but there are some things which n(
one could stand!"
One by one the boarler8 droppe'
away, aud Major Peek grew deepl,
indignant.
"Mrs. Moody" he said, 81 wonder
at YOU, after all my advice and coun
sell"
"You wouldn't have me turn thi
Door man ont OF doors now, OF al
times, when he's i'll with malarial fe
ver?' said the widow.
eyes, I would" said the major
stoutlY.
But, for once, Mrs. Moody disro
garded his advice.
The musical man was very i'll IN
deed-so i'll that he would undOubt
! edly have died without his landlady'
careful nursing and unromitted atten
ton. But the major never went nea
his fellaw-boarder.
eff Mrs. Moody had taken my ad
vice." he said, "she never would hay
cot herself into this dilemma. NO
! let her manage the best way she can
The musical man, however, did nc
: die. He was without means to NEE
: bis doctors bill bat Doctor HGyde
was a benevolent soul, and declare
that be could wait until the profit
from the uncompletel volume shoul
roll in.
: 1t was the first of February when q
: last Mr.. Morton was able once NOR
to come down stairs to the sunny pal
lor window, where, by way OF we
come, Mrs. Moody had placed pot c
blossoming blue hyacinths.
. Glow can l ever thank You tor
your care?" said he, earnestly.
The little widow burst into tears.
I'll don't mind it, said she, "a
! long-as long as you are well ono
. more! If you had died"
: And there she stopped short, an
| grew crimson.
: els it so?" said the musical man, /
that soft, deep tenor Of his. "Js ther
7 any one who really cares whether
q live or die?'
81 dot" whispered Mrs. Moody
o with q fresh burst OF tears.
, It would be difficult to describe ez
, actly how it happened. Middle-aGc
o love c-making is never exactly like til
:, ecstasies of youth. But it transpireC
= somehow. that Mr.. Morton laid h
heart at Mrs. Moody's feet, and ST
y confessed that she had learned to loy
him during that sime when she az
Death stood together over his PILLOW
, 'You are my guardian angel!' sal
he, fervently.
"a poor one enough" she mu
, INJURED. "Oh, [ Wish, for your SAKE
Paul, that | were younger and pre-
r tier"
D "You are beautiful in my sight, " |
n returned, with emphasis. "Yonr eY'
- were the first that beamed hope an
e cheer upon me-your heart was I'll
1 first that softened to my woes. Swee