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

l couldn't grudge it to her, could II"
By this time he was again in front o
the house. he stopped involuntarily. and
closing his eyes, stretched out his hands
toward it, saying:
"God bless little Dot, always"
When be looked up she stood by his
side, and the door was shut. He bent
over her with infinite tendernes IS.
"My darling" he said, "I'll not keep
you. Say one good hve, and then GO"
But the child had slipped her hand into
his.
"Just q little way up the street." she
said.
"No, really" !" exclaimed he, delighted
| They reached the corner. and he turned
"a few steps further" persisted she
"No, really!' repeated the other, aston
ished.
II want" she said, as they drew near
the house. "just to go up and give last
look; do you mind ?"
They mounted the stair and he fingered
at the door.
"Why should you ?" he urged, sorrow.
fully. "Wouldn't it be better to say
goodbye here ?"
She pushed gently past him and en-
| tered.
"Yes." said he, sadly watching her face;
| "yOu didn't know til now how wretched
it was, did your"
Dot turned to him and hung her head
without speaking. There was evidently
something she wished but was ashamed
| to say.
dad" she WHISPERED at length, "there's
no help for it. was born a miserable
beggar, and must remain so, please I'll
stay"
He pointed silently to the few ashes in
the CRATE and the broken loaf on the table.
She understood.
No." she pleaded, gently, Il haven't
forgotten, but I'd rather be cold and hun
gry-and stay"
Receiving no answer, she knelt be-
side his chair and put her arms around
him.
"Are you disappointed Are you .sor-
ry?" she exclaimed, anxiOusly.
The old man took the small face in his
two hands without word.
81 see," she said, "you couldn't believe
it of me, could you?" and you're very
vexed."
"Child," said Tom, slowly ,'"did I show
how l hated the place, and grudged
your going?"
Dot hung her head.
"No," she answered, sorrowfully; ait
wasn't you, nor nobody but my own mean
besgarly self"
Then you choose to remain here?"
"Yes," she whispered, looking very
much ashamed. 81 don't wonder you
can't believe it."
A light cleaned over the worn, pinched
features of the old man. For the sake of
this moment, I'll the past years of accum
ulated miseries were as nothing.
"Oh, Dot" he murmured, tremblingly.
"Oh, Dot, Dotl"
But he could say no more.
The Postmistress greeted the child on
her temperance with smile.
$50 it's you," she said, kindly; al
thought you'd be back soon, but you
needn't have run yourself out of breath"
"Please, ma'am," said Dot, becoming
incoherent in her eagerness, "and thank
you all the same, but I've been thinking |
within reach to hear him, and may be he
might feel the room little strange with
out me, after being accustomed to see me
in it; so thank you, ma'am, all the same,
and I'd rather not"
"Not Gomez repeated the other, sur
prised. "Do you really mean it ?"
You see," said the child, her face
flushing, 81 couldn't feel warm with him
cold, nor satisfied with him hungry and
| know he'll lie awake at nights-not be-
cause of the wind, but for thinking Of me.
Besides, he always fancies his victuals less
poor when Pm by. So you won't be
angry, or ask me to stay? for I'd rather
not"
The Postmistress cid not reply. To
judge from the expression of her face, the
silence was not OminOus. When she
spoke her tone was deferential in its gen.
tlcness.
"Since you cannot stay with me," she
said, II have one favor to ask; will You
allow me sometimes to go and see yOu?"
Dot dropped profound courtesy.
Maam," she said, promptly, "me and
Dad will be proud"
And thus the matter ended.-CaSseUs
Mdgdzine.