The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-01-19

i the coverings, and her deformity, as she lay
with her back to them, was plainly visible
through her slight night-gown. Her little face,
deprived of the lustre of her eyes looked wan
and pinched, and had pathetic expression in
1t, even as she slept. The poor father looked
and looked with hungry, wishfnl eyes, into
which the big tears came swelling up slowly,
and dropped heavily down, as he stood tremb-
| ling and shaking all over. Norah was anery
at herself for growing impatient of the length
OF time that long-hngering gaze lasted. She
thought that she waited for full half an hour
before Frank stirred. And then-instead Of
going away-he sank down on his knees by
the bedside, and buried his face in the clothes.
Little Ailsie stirred uneasily. Norah pulled
him up In terror. She could afford no more
time even for prayer in her extremity of fear:
Tor surely the next moment would bring her
mistress home. She took him forcibly by the
arm; but, as he was going, his eye lighted on
the other bed; he stopped. Intelligence came
back into his face His hands clenched.
sHis child?" he asked
"Her child" replied Norah, God watches
over hin" )" said she instinctiyely; for Franks
looks excited her fears, and She needed to re-.
mind herself of the Protector of the helpless.
"God has not watched over me,' he said, in
despair, his thoughts apparently recoiling on
NS5OAoeO1
had no time for pity. Tomorrow she would
be as compassionate as her heart prompted
At length she guided him down stairs, and
shut the outer doorzand -beltea- -it--as If bv
bolts TO Keep out facts
Then she went back into the dinine.room.
and efaced all traces of his presence as far as
she could. She went upstairs to the nursery
and safe there, her head on her hand, thinking
what was to come of all this misery. 1t seem-
ed to her very long before they did return !; vet
it was hardly eleven o'clock. She heard the
loud, hearty Lancashire voices on the stairs:
and for the first time, she understood the con-;
trast OF. the desolation of the 2oor man who
had so lately gone forth in lonely despair.
1t almost put her out of patience to see Mrs.
OpenshaW come in, calmly smiling, handsome
y dressed, happy, easy, to inquire after her
children.
.Did Ailsie go to sleep comfortably?" she
whispered to Norah,
eyes"
Her mother bent over her, looking at her
slumbers with the soft eyes of love. How
little she dreamed who had looked on her lastl
Then she went to Edwin, with perhaps less
wistful anxiety in her countenance, but more
of pride. She took off her things, to go down
to supper. Norah saw her no more that night.
Beside the door into the passage, the sleep
ing nursery opened out of Mr.. and Mrs. Open
children more Immediately under their own
eyes. Early the next summer morning Mrs.
Openshaw was awakened by Ailsie's startled
call of " Motheri mother" She sprang up,
put on her dressing gown, and went to her
child. Ailsie was only half awake, and in q
not uncommon state of terror.
Who was he, mother? Tell mep
"Who, my darling? No one is here. You
have been dreaming, love. Waken up quite.
See, it is broad daylight"
eyes" said Ailsie, looking round her; then
clinging to her mother, said, "but a man was
here in the night, mother"
Nonsense. little goose. No man has ever
come near youp
eyes, he did, He stood there. Just by
Norah A man with hair and beard And
he knelt down and said his prayers. Norah
Knows he was here, mother" half angrily, as
Mrs. Openshaw shook her head in smiling in.
"Well! We will ask Norah when she comes"
aid Mrs Openshaw, soothingly "But we
Won't talk any more about him now. 1t is not
i've o'clock; it is too early for you to get up.
Shall fetch you book and read to your"
"Don't leave me, MOTHER" said the child,
Singing to her. So Mrs. Openshaw sat on the
bedside talking to Ailsie, and telling her Of
What they had done at Richmond the evening
'efore, until the little girls eyes slowly closed,
sic OuCe InOTe lell asleep.
"What was the matter?" asked Mr., Omen.
haw, as his wife returned to bed.
"Ailsie, wakened up in fright, with some
tory of a man having been in the room to say
lis prayers dream, / suppose" And no
nore said at the time.
Mrs. Openshaw had almost forgotten the
Ehole affair when she got up aboutseyen o. clock
5ut, bye-and. bye, she heard sharp alteration
,olng on IN the nursery; Norah speaking an
riiy to Ailsie, most unusual thing Both
II. and Mrs. Openshaw listened in astonish.
nent
'.Hold your tongue, Ailsie let me hear none
f your dreams never let me hear you tell
hat story again" Ailsie began to cry
Mr.. Openshaw0pened the door of communi.
alton before his wife could say word.
"Norah, come here"
The nurse stood at the door, defiant. She
erceived she had been heard, but she was des.
crate.
"Don't let me hear you speak in that man.
er to Ailsie again" he said sternly, and shut
he door.
Norah was infinitely relieved; for she had
readed some questioning; and little blame
'r sharp speaking was what she could we'll
ear, if cross examination was let alone.
Down stairs they went Mr.. Openshaw carry
lg Allsie; the sturdy Edwin coming step BY
ep, right foot foremost, always holding his
lother's hand Each child was placed in a
hair by the breakfastable, and then Mr.. and
lrs. Openshaw stood together at the window,
waiting their visiters' appearance and making
lans for the day. There was a pause Sud-
emily Mr. Openshaw turned to Ailsie, and
lid:
NV hat little goosy somebody is with her
reams waking up poor, tired mother in the
liddle of the night with a story of man be-
lg in the roon1.'F
"Father! I'm sure I saw him." said Ailsie,
alf crying. "I don't want to make Norah
nGry; but was not asleep, for all she says I
as / had been asleep-and awakened up
ute wide awake, though was so frightened.
Kept my eyes nearly shut, and saw the
IAN quite plain. A great brown man with .
card: He said his prayers. And then he
'oked at Edwin. And then Norah took him
y the arm and led him away, after they had