The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-01-08

l said, and as spoke, spled crowd neal
a tavern door on the road.
1t was poor place, and poor rough peo.
pie made up the group. But it was plainly
no common quarrel or drinking about which
brought them there, for their faces were all
grave and their voices suppressed. cross.
ed the road.
"Whst has happened, tricnd?" asked
of tinker near by.
''Only blind fiddler dropped dead" !" he
said. "But there's gal there wild about
it."
And then l passed him and went 1n.--
An old man lay upon the floor, and across
his body girl had flung herself | knew
the gypsy hair and the brown neck, the
scant cotton dress,and the sunbonhett, flung
with handful OF wild flowers upon the
floor and | bent over her; touching her lit
tlo despairing hand
''My child, he is happier than We are. ="
And she looked up.
''He was all had, +" she said; "all, all /"
So had | thought when Aletta gave me
back our betrothal ring My heart ached
for her. | said no other word, but | I'D
her to an inner room, while two men bore
the dead man up stairs. She wept wildly
but my presence seemed to comfort her.
After awhile she drew closer to me, and,
sitting on low STOOL leaned her forehead
on my knee. Soon my hand rested on it,
and in an hour she had sobbed herself to
sleep. .-r.
said few words to the lady when I
arose to leave, and she promised to attend
to my orders, enforced by the contents of
my packetbook.
"Ths gill shan't 90 until hear from
you, sir" she said. Indeed ! don't know
where she would go. She seems friendles,,
and such child for her age. Thank you,
sirl'
And l went on my way again, thinking
not of Aletta,. but of the dead fiddler S
grandchild. This sunbrowned waif, 81
simple and so ignorant, SO friendless and
alone. .
] was young yet-not five and twenty-a
bachelor, and likely to be one my life long,
had no proper home to take her to, and
no friend to aid me. At last, in my ex,
tremity, l thought of Betty-old Betty,
who had once been my nurse, ard who
loved me as she might her own son=and in
the cleaning | made my way to her poor
home. I found her trimming her vines in
the bit of garden ground, anG had my usual
kiss across the fence even before the gate
was oDeued.
1--WE been thinking of you," she said.
81 knew it was you, as soon as | heard some
one coming. Tisn't every yJuug gentle;
man that would weary himself to see an old
body like me. Sit down, honey, and rest. "
II came to ask favor, Betty | said.
"Just name it, Master Berthe y
''Will you take boarder Betty?''
BLESS me! In my two rooms?'
"Only child. Betty.
"a child Master Albert!'
! told her Of the fddlefs death, and Of
the girl = s..-
'Ihaye money enough, I said, "but nc
female relatives. | can only come to you. "
You always were kind hearted from a
Master BERTHE. V
Then she put both hands on my shoul
ders.
you haven't frcttcd, have you?" she
asked.
''Fretted?' l asked, "Why?'
"Nay, why indeed?'' said old Betty. -
Better fish in the sea than ever were
caught yet Then in moment more she
added: I've been to see the Wedding "
I felt my face flush. Shall | bring tho
girl to morrow, after her grandfather
funeral?" / asked.
"When you please said Betty. But
Master Albert, what do you mean to Dc
with her. You are doing all this in hurry
Just think bit.
II mean to adopt the child" | said. -
1T will make ne happy to have a young
thing to care for.
Betty laughed. You'll have youns
things of your own, please God, some day,
she said. why at your age life is before
you"
II shall never marry, Betty, i said.
She caught my fingers in close clasr
with her bony, hard working hand.
II wish you was back again baby or
my knee, Master Bertie,, she said. "IC
like to sing you to sleep as | did then. All
it's grief to us old women to see the younl
we We nursed grow up SO tall and old. will
their troubles 30 shut up in their own hearts
that we can't comfort them. Going? Well
then, good night! I'm ready for the chill
when you will. I'm ready for anything
that will cheer you, Master Berthe.
ought to say Master Albert always now,
suppose, but the old times do come bacl
SO.
lei. her leaning over her gate, lookinl
wistfilly after me, knowing as muthe
might the grief which | had buried in IN,
heart. And if ber words had giver III
makes the wound smart in its very healing
1t was something to be loved so even b.
my old nurse.
! Late the next day | led my young charg
from her grandfather rs grave to Betty
cottage She kept my hand upon the roa
as little child might. | had no though
but that she was one, until old Bette $ or
OF goodness, Master BERTHE, ! thought yo
said a young child2 Why, this is a grow
grill" started me into consciousness.
1T doesn'. matter, does it Betty?"
asked. She turned to the girl.
t"Take off your bonnet, she said, a littl
grimly. Il want to look at you What
your name?'
The girl obeyed. "I'm only Nelly Hay,
she said, and stood to be looked at. Bctt
looked steruy at first, then pity ingly.
ia, no, Master BERTHE, it don't matter.
she said. 81 don't see any Farm in her =
There peg behind the door child. Yo
can hang your bonnet on that. And lei
the two together.
Not long, though; every day found som
new errand to take me to the cottage.
put on elderly airs, and gave advice. / ha
her sent to school, and went through grav
examinations on Saturday afternoons.
| told Betsey that when was man of mid
| die age should take my little daughte
home, and she should keep house for us :
And began to fancy, very soon, that ther
could be no such happiness az parent felt
The girl was growing tall, it is true, and
was only ten years older than she was; bu
when she checked her light tread to kee
pace with me- when the childish laugh but
bled and rppled at something which coul
only make me smile, | felt that years at
not the only things that age us
| I was working hark at MY profession toe
Ihad heart and hands full. In year
found that could pass Aletta on her hus
| hand,s arm without d nang In d year NOR