West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-09-09

world Is up there" Aunt Nancy would
say, with wave OF her hand toward
the pines under which were the three
graves.
The cabin was a long and narrow
one story structure of three rooms. Its
exterior was dreary and without q
suggestion OF the brightness aud com
fort within save for the turkey red
calico curtains with white lace borders
But within things were very differ.
ent. Aunt Nance Affords cabin. Aunt
Nance's grub and Aunt Nance herself
were topics on which the stage drivers
discoursed until Aunt Nance's fame
had spread far and wide.
She was a short. slender and wiry
little woman about fifty years old
She always wore plainly made
starched calico gown, with white
apron tied around her waist, the
strings in neat bow I'm front.
One day I'm the early spring Jack
Hughes, one OF the stage drivers
brought Aunt Nance letter from the
nearest postoffice, eight miles distant
Letters came rarely to Aunt Nance
and they always filed her with pleas
urable excitement
This was I'm large brown envelope
and Aunt Nance drew out photograph
with the letter.
She glanced at lt eagerly and saw
the face OF young and delicate girl
OF perhaps fifteen years.
who In the land can she be?" said
Aunt Nance. She unfOlded the letter
glanced at the signature and read II
aloud, your affectionate niece. Mar.
eia Merrick'
:. II declare Fd most forgot had such
niece said Aunt Nance. But OF
course she's my sister Lucy's girl
: 1rcy's name Is Merrick amt heerd
from her for two years. It's time
some OF 'em was writin''
She sat down and read the letter
slowly. her eyes filling with tears as
she read. She wiped them on a corner
Of her apron when she had finished the
letter and said TO Kate Dooley. her
'heip:"
"It's from my sisters girl. My sister
Is dead. and so Is her husband. Their
girl. Marcia, seems to be all alone
IN the world and not very strong. She
wants to come out and stay with me
awhile and try this mountain climate
Tor her health.
well, she can come. III make her
more than welcome. It's many a year
since I see any Of my own folks. and
It'll do ne good to see somebody right
from New Hampshire with the Doc
little blood I'm her veins. was n Doc
little. Kate"
She read the letter again. IL was
well written and stated briefly. in ad.
dition 70 the news which Aunt Nance
had already communicated TO Kate.
that the writer was nearly sixteen
years old and that she would have her
own living TO make for her parents
had left her littlo moro than enough
money 70 take her 20 Colorado.
wen talk about her supportin'
herself when there's occasion for her
20 DO e." gnid Aunt Nance ns she
folded the letter md restored II 20 its
envelope.
She took up the photograph and look
cd at II long and lovingly.
shes q Doollttle. out aud out" she
said. 'she has the reg'lar Doollttle
nose and her grandfother's chin right
over ag'in. she's downright purity;
she looks Ike her ma, and Lucy was
the best loOkin' one Of our family.
But she don't write n word about her
brother! ! wonder how that is Lucy
had two children"
Three weeks later the stagecoach
came whlriing up 60 Aunt Nance's
foor, ana Jack Hughes called out when
be saw Aunt Nance az the open door.
Light load today. Aunt Nance