, 1870-06-26

thurSht, power. xud purpose Of womAuhood-.
Her eyes sparlled with pleasure On seoiug the
pretence Of anger.
~ was hoping" she said with dignity. 'sit
wasn't you. / thought you'd have atsyel out
eide Ill night rather than come IN and look mo
n ~ ths 81 nsse, Perhaps you've forgotten ~hAs1
Tom hung his head with happy conscious
nees Of guilt. and could not restrain a chucho
"Eo. he r.id ueetly: "1 remember. It
vas not to BE- late ag.in."
n And get here you are. What did you think
I'd do7 Weren't you frightened Of me -
NO." ssia tho other submis1ively.
Well wonder you .werent," ehe contin-
ned. With cruel determination; ".Tve been
thinking, and have settled what to do, First,
hit upon no fire, but that's too common to
be any punishment at Ill. And than SKID DO
supper. but that wasn't har3 enough So
now have it-Gry bread, and nothing 10 eat
With i i. Iso pat the beer, butter, and bacon
At this, unable to keep up her part any lon
ger, she looked At him, and they both laughed
sally. The fact WIS, the three fsst-mentioned
articles were dainties never seen in poor Toms
Enough was truly feast to thern, and ono Of
very rare occurrence. This grand stretch Of
Imagination fully supplied the sbsence OF
these lu1nties. Tom WAS enchanted
"1 don't WONDER" continued she, grarely,
You think the supper bare. But my minds
made up, and however much you beg, Tn not
going to Eiva in"
There Was 90 doubt the table waa bare. Tho
assortment Of glsas md china Was anything
but magnificent It consisted Of one cracked
ing; one nnb'er, two saucerr, and clumsy
uas the palate tempted By much variety. In
colds they had the choice between two things
bread or nothing--and in liquids, water or
nothing.
The old n,an'e fase c.onded. All his former
misery returned, and his mizth WAS gone. Dot
observed the change.
81 tee," che said quietly. you're diseontent-
cd. ard FIN Elad- It's well you should fee1 un-
comfortable for lttle-Just what I want"
They seated themselves, bat he could not
take = mouthful. His eyes were fixed on the
deed, was his sustennuee and retreshment.
How could he live without herr
"Dct," he whispered, with sudden effort,
tdon't everything look poor? Wouldn't the
and the room feel less cold II the grata held
all the cos1e it could hold? and wouldn't
curtain 1t the window help. to keep out the
Winl7 Say, don't yuu feel It poors"
She opened her eyes in silent sstonishment
and looked around her. After few ninutea'
scrutiny, .' l al1ould eAy,~ she replied, "thazo
ain't no doubt you're the pleaaantest thing In
the room 10 lcok st."
And in truth That Vac not saying much
TELL me- 1ePeased Tom. anzioualJ, sis it
Tho child nodded assent ..-...
'.Ah!" ho sighed. IT knew it," then
added, gently, :" How would you Ike to be H.
WAYS WARN md we'll fed-to have everything
soft underfvot, and no wind to keep you
awake It nishta Could you fancy it for mo-
msnt7"
She shook her head. No. she could not
- Shut your eyes," eail tho old man, treus-
"a veil ~ l can.'
: She oIeyel, md he laid the picture before
her In a. bright colors as he could muster.
When complete, he disclosed the PostniztscnaF
my dsslipg," he f.lsered, when he had
ecrupulously satisdel his conscience, "you
didn't guess vaa bringing such g9od news
lave only one more night to spend in this
..sls.' .Ss P''S'-0'D' ''' " ~ ''''''
Do. w.s silent Tor soma tt::me.
"stsange,~ she s.ia, musss;2ssd{,y, but sharo
"thiId," sa;d tho old nan, "rn &c with
yeu to tho door tomorrow, but m not .5 in-
couldn't beas that- I couldn't stand sseinE
your face when you learn for the first time
what Poor little besgaz yuu'ya bean Ill thoss
5ea5s, unheknown to you- I'll wait outaido.
fna yonn ,.ne come down D sod 'ay good-bge before
they'll give to you. Tn far too wretched
creature not to like that frock beat I'll
n 70. kesp You minute Do you uadst-
Dot nodded It ras difficult to susaa what
was passing through her mind
NOW: said he, te1sdstfy,. 80 to bed. Tho
other way.
She obeyed: but, before lying down, drew
near ne Old man and threw her sruas round
n Srrv. l. kr
discover what lay behind those sober brown
eyes. Tom stationed bimseN beside her till
she fell asleep. The fire died ont, bot the
moonlight streaming through tho small win
dow shone upon hia notionless form In the
same place Night passed. Aad the gray dawn
sIP.zed, yst be nsver moved, nor closed his
eyes. He could not bring himself 10 leave
her. When she kwoke, his face waa the first
sight that greeted her.
Dear. he said eheeri1y." only few houra
nov. Aren't yon vczJ haPpy7"
:, Their scantT morning meal, consulting Of
the remains of laat nights supper, uas taken
in sileuce: When fniahed, bot put On hor
sh1Hl md arranged her shabby, th1eadbare
her rithout word Tbs two then descended
tho stair into the street. Suddenly he turned,
and, Printing to the house, whispered to her-
Don't il seem impossible, now, you could
have been happy in such plAca7 and strange
till last night? ~
When they reached tho PostmAstera house
she left him. He followed her e.serIy With
his eEes TIL the door waa closed
!" shouldn't wonder" be muttersd, "a he
paced up and down, "if she ware to forget
ne after AL; \ would be only natural,
wouldn't IL" and he appoaled to himself u
10 second PeEson. Receiving no reply, ho
didn't Gks what's warm better than whnt'a
cold, and what's beautiful better than whal's
uely & VIZ I'D I. t.sts' 1eoa1ln't grudse ii.
Dy this time be was again N front Of the
house He stopped involuntari1y, and closing
Ills eyes, stretched out his hands toward it,
saving: r..,., -,,
When he Looked up she stood by bis side.
and the door was shut. Ho bent over her
With infinite tendetneas~
"My darling" he s.id, "In not keep you
Say oue goodbye. and then Co."
But the child had slipped her hand into his.
Just ittlo way up the street," sho
" No, really! !" exclaimed he. delighted.
They reached tho corner, and he turned.
4 few stepa further" pe1tisted she-
-" No, re1ly!" repeated the other, aston
~ want,~ she said, as they draw near the
house, int to SO mp and give last look;
do you mind p
They mounted the stais, and hs fingered 1t
tQ9 00OF.
'tWby ahould you :" he urged sorrovfully.
Is Wouldn't it be batter to say goodbye
hers 7"
She pushed gently passed him aud entered
"Yes," sAid he. sadly watching her face !;
"yuu didn't know TIL now how w1ctched it
WIS, did Eou 7"
Dot turned to lin and hung her head with
out speaking. There was evidently something
hhe wished but w2B Ashamed 70 saw
Dad she whispered 1t length, =" therefa
no help for 1t. 1was born nise1Shlo beFrar.
And must remain 30. Please, I'll STAY
He pointed silently to the few aahes in the
1.te and tho broken Loaf On the table. She
Understood.
mo-" she pleaded gently, s.I haven't for
md stay"
Receiving no xnaEer, she nelt beside his
chair and put her arms around him.
!" Are you dtBAppointed7 Arp ypu eor1v -
ahe exclaimed an1iously.
Tbs old man took the snan face in his two
hands without word.
~ ses, she said. i" you couldn't believe il
Of ne. could you:" and youts vssy vsxe1l.'
child said Tom slowly, "a did I show tov
15ts Das me p1.9e s.S .1d ndsed your soiugt"
NO." pbe answered, eorrowfully. uit
VAT, Want s y0n, nor nobody but my Own mean beg
Then you choose to reunin bare 7~
'Yes shs whispered, looking verv muc1,
ohamed. Idont wonder you can beliaveit"
tures Of the old man For The sake Of this
moment, al tho past years Of Accumulated
misefisa were ~ nothing.
aoh, Dot!" he rurmuzed, trenblinEfy.
"0h, Dot, Dotl"
But he cou1d say no more.
The Pcatnistress greeted the chiId On bar
temperance with u13lls-
.tC~ 1,~s xo1y vhA snsd L;nJ1v. II r +r~<,,n4k s.