North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-02-20


it"
And then 7 passed him and went in. An
old mali lay upon the floor, and across his
body a girl had flung herself knew the
gipsy hair and the brown neck, the sca'.t
cotton dress and the sun bonnet, flung with
a handful of wild flowers upon the floor, land
I bent over her, touching her despairing
/! hand.
"My chiId."I said, "he is happier than
we are"
And she looked up.
"He was all | had," she SAID "all, all r
So had thought when AIetta gave me-
back our betrothal-ring. My heart ached
to an inner room, while two men bore the
dead man up stairs. She wept wildly, but
nv presence seemed 10 comfort her
After while she rev closer to me, and
sitting on low stool, i aned her forehead
on my knee. Soon her hand rested on it.
and in an hour she had sobbed herself to
sleep.
said few words to the landlady when
| arose to leave ; aud she promised to
attend to ms orders. enforced by the con-
tents of my pocket-book.
''Th- girl shan't 60 until hear from you
SIR she said "Indeed, don't know where
she would g". She seems friendless, and,
such child for her age. Thank you, SIR
And went on my way again, thinking
not of Aletta but Of the dead fiddler's
grandchid, This sun-browned wall, so
simple and 50 ignorant, so trendless and
alone.
was young yet-not fve-and-twenty-
and bachelor, and likely to be one my
life long. l had no pr"per home to take
her TO, and no friend to aid me. At last, IN
my extremity l thought of Betty, who had
once been my nurse, and who loved me as
she might her own son-and in the gloam :
ing made my way to her poor home. |
found her trimming her vines in the bit OF
garden ground, and had my usual kiss
across the fence even before the gate was
opened.
"I've been thinking of you," she said.-
Il knew it was you as soon as heard so.ne
one coming. 'Tlsn't every young gentle
man would trouble himself to see an old
body ike me. Sit down, honey, and rest. -"
81 come to ask favor, Betty | said.
"Just name it, Master Bertie."
"Will you take boarder, Betty ?"
"Bless me In my two rooms y
"Only a child, Betty"
"a chi d, Master Albert %
told her of the fiddler's death, and of
the girl.
81 have money enough" said, ."but no
female relatives. | can only come to
YOU"
"You have always been kind-hearted
from boy" she said. "rll take the little
girl, Master Bertie."
Then she put both hands on my shoul-
deTs.
"You haven't fretted, have you 2" she
asked.
"Fretted p asked. "Why 2"
"Nay, why indeed p said old Betty
"Better fish in The sea than ever we're
caught yet" Then in moment more she
added. "Pve been tn see the W dding."
| felt my face flush. "Shall briug the
girl Tomorrow, after her gran,lfather's
funeral i asked.
"WIen you please said Betty. "But
Master Albert, what do yon mean to do
with her ? Yon are doing all this IN hur-
ry. Just think Bit
81 mean to adopt tbs child" l said at
will make me happy to have young thing
to care for"
Betty laughed. you'll have young
things of your OWE, please God, some day.
she said
"Why, at your age, life is before you.''
II shall never marry, Betty" / said.
She caught my fingers in clasp with
her horny, hard-working hands.
81 wish you were back again baby on
my knee, Master Bertie," she said. AID
like to sing you to sleep as did them
All it's grief to US old women t" see the
young W. nourished grow up so tall and SO
old, with their troubles so shut up in their
own .arts that we can't comfort them
Going? Well, then, good night I'm ready
for the child when you will. I'm resdy
for anything that will cheer yon, Master
Berthe. / ought to say Master Albert al
ways now, I suppose but the old times do
come back so ~
l left her leaning over her gate, looking
wisttully after me. knowing, as mother
might,the grief which | had buried in my
heart. Ard if her words had given me- a
pang, it was like some ointment which
makes the wourd smart in its Very healing.
1t was something to be loved so, even by
an old nurse.
Late the next day led my young charge
from her grandfather's grave to Betty's
cottage. She kept my hani npon the road
as a little child might. had no thought
but that she was one until old Betty's cry
of Goodness, Mater Bertie, / thought
you said young child. Why, this is a
grown girl !" startled me into conscious
ness.
"It doesn't matter does it, Bettyi" !
asked. She turned to the girl.
"Take off yonr bonnet she said, little