The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-07-07

cepted. The old man could not rel ,ice
He could only realize the one miserable
fact-she must 90. He fastened hOm,
very detected. and when in sight of tn
house, thought it had never looked 81
poor. The roof was broken in severa
places and states wanting. The window
in which a faint light elimmered, wa
patched with paper, the walls were dis
colored with the damp, and the door wa
low As he CROPPED his way up the rickety
stairs he sighed involuntarily:
"Oh, Dot, Dot, I'd like to take all th'
warmth and shine out Of that house be
fore l ever tell Of it to you"
On entering he peered through thu
darkness for the one object which made
the room light to him. The child knel
| close to the fire, sewing some coarse gar
ment. Her gentle, quiet face. with th'
short brown hair brushed smoothly of it
possessed all the thought. power and pur
pose of womanhood. Her eyes sparkle(
with pleasure on seeing the old man, bu
she greeted him with a comic pretence O
anger.
al was hoping" she said, with dignity
"it wasn't you / Thought you'd have
stayed outside al night rather than come
| in and look me in the face. Perhaps
you've forgotten what 1 told you yester
, day."
Tom hung his head with happy con
sciouspess Of guilt, and could not restrain
a chuckle of enjoyment.
"No" he eaid, meeklv; remember
It was not to be late again"
"The very words" replied Dot. sternly
think I'd do? Weren't you frightened OF
me?"
"No," said the other, submissively.
"Well, wonder you weren't" she con-
tinued, with cruel determination "Pve
been thinking, and have settled what to
do. First, l hit upon no fire, but that's
too common to be any punishment at all.
And then 1 said no supper, but that
wasn't hard enough. So now / have it
dry bread, and nothing to eat with it.
I've put the beer, butter and bacon into
the press"
" At this, unable to keep up her part
any longer, she looked at him, and they
both laughed gaily. The fact was, the
three aforementioned articles were dain-
ties never seen in poor Toms cupboard
from years end to years end.
Enough was truly feast to them, and one
of very rare occurrence. This grand
stretch of Imagination fully supplied the
absence of these luxuries. Tom was en-
chanted.
al don't wonder" continued she, grave
ly, "you think the supper bare. But my
mind made up, and however much you
beg, Pm not going to give in"
There was no doubt the table was bare.
The assortment of glass and china was
anything but magnificent. 1t consisted OF
one cracked jug, one tumbler, two sau-
GERS, and q clumsy pOcket-knife, rather
the worse for wear Nor was the palate
tempted by much variety. In solids they
had the choice between two things-bread
or nothing-and in liquids, water or moth
ing. ~,
The old mans face clouded. All his
former misery returned, and his mirth,
was gone Dot observed the change.
81 see," she said, quietly, you're dis
contented, and Pm glad. It's well you
should feel uncomfortable for a little
just what want"
They seated themselves, but he could
not take a mouthful. His eyes were fixed
on the child with long devOuring gaze.
She, indeed, was his sustenance and re-
freshment. How could he live without
her?
"Dot," he whispered, with sudden
effort, "dOn't everything look poor?
Wouldn't the floor be warmer to tread II
it had carpet? and the room feel less
cold if the CRATE held all the Goals it could
hold? and wouldn't a curtain at the win
dow help to keep out the wind! Say,
don't you feel it poor?"
She opened her eyes in silent astonish-
ment and looked around her. After few
minutes scrutiny, 81 should say" she re-
plied, "there amt no doubt you're the
Ileasantest thing in the room to look at"
And in truth that was not saying much.
"Tell me-" repeated Tom, anxiously,
is it poor, very pOOr?"
The child nodded assent.
"Ah!" he sighed, 81 knew 1t" then
added, gently, allow would you like to be
always warm and well fed-to have every
thing soft underfoOt, and no wind to keep
you awake at nights Could you fancy 1t
for a moment ?"
She shook her head No, she could
not.
"Shut your eyes," said the old man,
tremblingly, "and try. Shall describe
it to you as well as l can"
She obeyed, and he laid the picture
before her in as bright cOlOrs as he could
muster. When complete, he disclosed the
Postmistress' kind proposal.
"My darling" he fsltered, when he had
scrupulously satisfied his conscience, "you
didn't guess l was bringing such good
news with me, did you? Can you believe
you have only one more night to spend in
this poor place-only one more night to
be miserable"
Dot was silent for some time.
STRANGE" she said, musingly, but there
she paused.
Child" said tne old man, "Tll go with
you to the door tomorrow, but III not go
in. l couldn't bear that. i couldn't stand
seeing your face when you learn for the
first time what poor little beggar you've
been all these years, unbeknown to you.
I'll wait outside, and you'll come down
and say good bye before l go altogether.
Don't put On any finery they'll give to
you. I'm far too wretched q creature not
to like that frOck best. I'll not keep you
a minute Do you understand ?"
Dot nodded. 1t was difficult to guess
what was passing through her mind.
Now" said he, tenderly, Ego to bed.
The time will pass quicker sleeping than
any other way"
She obeyed but before lying down,
drew near the old man and threw her
arms round him without a word. 1t was
impossible to discover what lay behind
those sober brown eyes. Tom stationed
himself beside her till she fell asleep.
The fire died out, but the moonlight
streaming through the small window shOne
upon his motionless form in the small
place. Night passed, and the gray dawn
appeared, yet he never moved, nor closed
his eyes. He could not bring himself to
leave her. w hen she awOke, his face was
the first sight that greeted her.
"Dear," he said, cheeriy, "only few
hours now aren't you very happy ?"
Their scanty morning meal, consisting
of the remains of last nights supper, was
taken in silence. When finished, Dot put
on her shawl and arranged her shabby,
threadbare garment to the best advantage.
Tom watched her without word. The
| nor IL 4 Al - l.