The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1902-11-27

have been hard work to say no" TO
Lida-and the girl soon came in. her
apron full Of the sprigs of the cid ma
pie tree, whose shadowy boughs kept
the window yelled with cool shadows
through the glaring summer DAYS and
showered fading gold upon the dead
grass when the autumn came.
Mrs. Nisbett looked with tenderness
upon the graceful little figure seated
on the hearth rug, when the shine of
the high heaped logs lost itself in her
bright hair and made sparklcs III her
eyes, as the wreathS ard trails of al-
tumn leaves grew rapidly beneath her
deft fingers
Ida" she said softly. "Lida, my
dcarv' Ida looked ND.
Il saw your Aunt Constance ye.;er-
day, but there's somethin' reserved
about her, and | didn't Ike to ask
about you-whctEcr you had decided to
so out rs Il goyerncss Or rot: because
my dear, Joel and We're taIkin' last
night, and we both ttlo;i%nt what a
comfort it would be to have you here"
ITO have ne ho.e:"
We're Old and we're alone and
somehow we've both took Il fancy to
you, my child. So when your Aunt
Constance goes back to the city. if you
choose to come here
Mrs. Nisbett paused abruptly and
burst into tears.
I'VE had a little gfri once. my dear,
and if she'd lived she would ha' been
nigh about your age"
Ida let the leaves drop down on the
floor as she sprang up and threw both
arms round the old woman's neck.
"Oh, Mrs. Nisbett," she whispered
softly, you are so very, very kind.
Believe me, l appreciate it all. but
butt hardly know how to tell YOU"
Mrs. Nisbett listened intyuily. Ida
smiled and cried a little and then whis-
pered SO low it was scarcely audible.
y am going to be married.
"Married" calculated Mrs. Nisbctt,
with all a woman's interest in this i'm
portant piece Of information. "And
who to?'
"Your son lives In Iowa-in Parting
tom
Yes"
well. did he ever mention the name
Of
Ida paused, Aci' cheeks glowing
roses. Old NisJett had cu;nc In with an
armful of wood, bringing Il gale with
him from the frosty outer world.
"I'll tell you by ANA by whispered
Ida as she went back to her work.
Joel IL 50 out again art;r awhile"
thought Mrs. Nisbett, and then I'll
hear about Lidas beau
But Joel sat down before the fire
with a complacent satisfaction which
BODIED i'll for the qualification of his
wife's curiosity, and finally accompa
MED Ida home, thus frustrating all
his wife's designs and cutting off her
chance of hearing LiGa's story.
Dear me- thought She Il don't be
lieve the man WAS ever born who
knowCd when he wasn't wanted! How
lonesome it seems when Lida's gone.
What does the girl want to get married
for when | could ha' took such a sight
o comfort with her? Oh. dear, dear!
1t does seem as if the world was all
askCW."
The next day, in spite Of the weather
prophets prediction OF SHOW. dawned
clear and brilliant as the dying smile
of Indian summer. By Il o'clock Mrs.
Nisbett was dressed i'll her best silk
and cap, with the turkey browning
beautifully in the oven and the cram
berry tarts doing credit to themselves
as well as to their maker. the table
set, the fire high heappd with cracking
logs and the plates dressed with coro-
nails Of aJ.s.-nn leaves Aunt Con-
stance, a tail. priln maiden lady of un-
certain agr, S,Cyd ncfocc the bedroom
looking glass :,!G;;i,. Ing her coiffure.
Ida, in blue dress ~. ii u late au-
tumn rose in her h>ii,, vs. tripping
hither and thither as light foo. d and
helpful as half a dozen household fai
res merged into one, while Mrs. Ms
bett stood regarding her with a loving
eye, murmuring to herself:
well, well, it seems like It was the
Lords will to deny Us of just what we
most want, but if had Il daughter l
could wish she was like Lida''
AS the old kitchen clock struck l
Mrs. Nisbett, looking from the window,
gave little cry.
There he comes-there comes Joel,
and, as I live, there's the boy with
him."
Ida ran into the bedroom.
When she returned Mrs. Nisbett was
clasped in the arms Of tall, handsome
man of four or five and twenty.
Ida" said the proud matron, striv-
Ing to disengage herself from the affec-
tionate clasp. this is my son Stephen,
and-why, what's the matter:'
For Stephen had dropped her hands
with an exclamation Of surprise and
amazement and Ida stood there glow
ing crimson.
Ida. Why, mother, this is a sur
prise indeed that You have prepared
for me-
Il prepared" echoed the astonished
old lady. well, that's Il good IN,
when I'm ten times AS much surprised
as you be. Ida, what does this
mean:"
1t means" said Ida. with 4 demure
her scattered self possession-"it means
that this is the gentleman | am 10 be
married to-
"Stephen"' cried Mrs. Nisbett. sis
Ida to be your wife,
she has given me her promise to
that effect. at least said stephen,
looking proudly down upon his lovely
little fiancee.
We'll. if it don't beat all how queer
things do happen" said Mrs. Nisbett,
her face radiant. And you've been
livin' neighbor to me these six weeks
and | never knCwed it. Ida, why
didn't you tell me-"
Because l never dreamed that Ste
phen Risingham, my betrothed western
bver. was anything to MIS- Nisbett,
said Ida, laughing.
There It's. now calculated the
farmer. How was she 10 know that
he was only my nephew. adopted when