The Republican journal., 1870-01-27

other day, Miss Mary would be free; and fol
a reason, at least, Red Gulch would know
her no more. She was seated alone in the
school-house, her cheek resting on her hand
her eyes half closed in one of those day
dreams in which Miss Mary-I fear, to the
danger of school discipline-was lately il
the habit of indulging. Her lap was full o
MOSES, ferns and other woodland memories
She was SO pre-occupied with these and hel
own thoughts, that a gentle tapping at the
door passed unheard, or translated itself in
to the remembrance of far-off woodpeckers
When at last it asserted itself more distinctly
she started up with flushed cheek and opened
the door. On the threshold stood a woman
the self-assertion and audacity of whose
dress were in singular contrast to her timid
irresolute bearing.
Miss Mary recognized at glance the du-
bious mother of her anonymous pupil. Per-
haps she was ponted-perhaps she was
only fastidous-but as she coldly invited hel
to enter, she half unconsciously settled her
white cuffs and collar, and gathered closer
her own chaste skirts. 1t was, perhaps, for
this reason, that the embarrassed stranger,
after moments hesitation, left her gorge
Gus parasol open and sticking in the dust be-
side the door, aud then sat down at the far
ther end of a long bench. Her voice was
husky us she began:
II heard tell thai you were gon' down to
the Bay to morrow, and couldn't let you 90
until l came to thank you for your kindness
to my Tommy
Tommy, Miss Mary said, was a good boy,
she could give him.
''Thank you, Miss! Thank ye." cried the
stranger, frightening even through the color
which Red Gulch knew facetously as her
''war paint" and striving, in her embarass-
ment, to drag the long bench nearer the
school-mistress.
Il thank you Miss, for that and if I am
his mother, there amt a sweeter, dearer, bet
ter boy lives than him. And if I amt much
as says it, thar amt a sweeter, dearer, angel
er teacher lives than he's got"
Miss Mary, sitting primly behind her desk,
with q ruler over her shoulder, opened her
gray eyes widely at this, but said nothing.
'It amt for you to be complimented by
the like Of me-" she went on, hurriedly, Il
know. 1t amt for me to be comm here, in
broad day, to do it, either; but come to ask
a favor,-not for me, Miss, not for mc,-but
for the darling boy
Encouraged by a look in the young school
mistress's eye, and putting her lilac gloved
hands together, the fingers downward, be-
tween her knees, she Went on in :; low voice
"You see, Miss, there's no one the boy has
any claim on but me, and l amt the proper
person to bring him up. | thought some,
last year, of sending him away to Frisco to
school, but when they talked of bringing q
school-marm here, waited till l saw you,
and then | knew it was all right and I could
keep my boy little longer And 0, Miss,
he loves yol so much; and if you could hear
him talk about you in his pretty way, and if
he could ask you what | ask you now, you
couldn't refuse him."
1T is natural" she went on, rapidly, in 4
voice that trembled strangely between pride
and humility, Its natural that he should
take to you, Miss, for his father, when first
must forget me, sooner or later,-and 50
amt going to cry about that For | come
to ask you to take my Tommy God bless
him for the bestcst, sweetest boy that lives.
-to-to-take him with YOU
She had risen and caught the young girl
hand in her own, and fallen on her knees be
side her
''Iye money plenty, and it's all yours and
his put him in some good school, where YOU
can go and see him, and help him to-to--to
forget his mother, DO with him what you
like. The worst you will do will be kindness
to what he will learn with me. Only take
him out of this wicked fe,-this cruel place
this cruel place. e.-this home of shame and
sorrow. You will; know you will,-won't
you? You Will,-you must not,-you cannot
say no. You will make him as pure and
gentle as yourself; and when he has grown
up, you will tell him his fathers name-thc
name that hasn't passed my lips for years
the name of Alexander Morton, whom they
call here Sandy! Miss Mary do not take
your hand away! Miss Mary, speak to me I!
Yon will take my boyp Do not put your face
from me. [ know you ought not look on such
as me. Miss Mary! my God, be mercitul =
she is leaving met"
Miss Mary has arisen, had felt her way to
the window. She stood there, leaning
against the easement, her eyes fixed on the
last rosy tints that were fading from the
western sky. There was still some of its
light on her pure young forehead, on her
white collar, on her clasped white hands, but
all fading slowly away. The suppliant had
dragged herself still on her knees, beside
her.
81 know it takes time to consider. | will
wait here all night but cannot 80 until YOU
speak. DO not deny me now. You will |
see it in your sweet face, e,-such & face Us
have seen in my dreams. I see it in your
eyes, Miss Mary! You will take my boy"'
The last red beam crept higher, suffuscd
Miss Mary's eyes with something Of its glory.
| tlickered, and faded and went out. The sun
had set on Red Gulch. In the twilight and
silence, Miss NIary's voice sounded pleasant
| y.
| 81 will take the boy. Send him to me, to-
night"
The happy mother raised the hem Of Miss
Mary's skirts to her lips. She would have
buried her face in its virgin folds-but she
dared not. She rose to her feet.
''Does-this man-know Of your inten-
tion?" asked Miss Mary, suddenly.
"No-nor cares. He has never even seen
the child to know it.
s'Go to him at once-to-night- Tell
him what you have done. Tell oim l have
taken his child, and tell him-he must never
see-see the child again. Wherever it may
be, he must not come; wherever take it he
must not follow! There, 90 now, please
I'm weary, and-have much yet to do"
They walked together to the door. On the
threshold, the woman turned
"Good night"
She would have fallen at Miss Mary's feet.
But at the same moment the young girl
reached out her arms, caught the sinful wo-
man to her own pure breast for one brief
moment, and then closed and locked the
door.
1t was with sudden sense of great re-