The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-07-19

light Of this terrible blaze. Her own
and her mothers cries did not wakea
the uretehed mau, and it was not long
before they found that something more
dread than the fumes Of drink had set
tied upon him. He snored heavily, but
his eyes were open with fearful state'
and the left arm lay powerless beside
him. Struck dumb by paralysis be lsy'
a shattered wreck, without memory OF
,en>e. when the dreadful night was
done, and the doctor, coming hume from
the FIRE, was dragged TO his bedside to
say the common words that "Whlie
there's life there's hope," and that was
all.
As the doctor was going out, he said,
They say the barns we're set on fre; the
man was seen about, and ifthey get him
he'll 60 tc state prison. certain
Poor burdened. broken hearted Lizzie!
\ OF daring to tell her mother her dread,
unspoken thought, with no earthly
friend at hand, there came like an angel
voice
What time I am afraid, will trust
in thee" and she remembered the pass
ing stranger who had left the blessed
words
She crept up to her little room, and,
falling on he,- knees, prayed as she had
never done before. How help could
come in such terrible strait as this she
could not guess, but new peace and
courage was in her heart, aud new hope
in her footstep.
Neishbors came and went, aud, with
idle curiosity or bluuderirg sympathy.
made their comments on the stranded
soul that only waited for surge to drift
ont on the Outer Sea. How wistfully
Lizzie listened to the news they were
glad to tell. no one but her God knew.
nor how she shivered as she heard
them say, They're on his track,
now"
You see.' said neiehbor Taft, 'o'd
Grabb had jest got bag Of plaster that
was settin' by the barn, and some of it
was spilled round about. and the man
what sot it a6re trod in it, and then on
the clay walk and there's the mark Of
his foot ever so many timee.'
lie did not notice that Lizzie stole
into ,he other room. and. taking up one
If her fathers old. half worn shoes.
Looked at the sole. worn sldewise by the
unsteady feet, long aud wistfully, or
how radiant her face became as she
l,nsyed the senseless thing iu her arms.
For here at least wss one grain of CON-
rort-there was no terrible white on the
soles of the poor old shoes.
The week went by, and now. and then
there was q faint elcam Of returning
reason, and some attempt at thickened
speech. The poor dim eyes followed
Lizzie ceaselessly. When the patient
wife, a. loving as if no care had vexed
her. to .ded him faithfully, the right
hand would lift from the clean quilt,
and stroke the pale cheek tcuderly.
At las he pointed one day to the
book that Jarvis Lee had left, and. by
uncouth gestures. made Lizzie under
stand that she should read. And they
we're good brave words, too soft and
sweet the girls voice read over "The
Old Old Story, while adoUn she helpless
ace the great tears would roll to the
pillow
Ard so. fighting the suspicion Of his
guilt in the matter Of the Ere. and full
Of remorse for harboring the thought.
The days of Lizzie's trial went on until
the dreadful night had shrunk back
fortnight, and the shadow Of the King
,-ame nearer. Through the terrible
cloud, thank God. there came the Light,
until mother and daughter knew that
He. in his great mercy, had given tothe
poor distorted brain sufficient reason to
know the way Of Lille.
And so. one afternoon, as Lizzie sat
beside him, tall shadow fell across the
doorway, and the stranger, with his
basket almost empty, stood beside
her
Strength. help. and comfort, seemed
to come with the presence Of Christias
man. as with gentle tact be helped the
household.
He never guessed how Lizzie's heart
bounded when he said so quietly, Il met
, our father, aud came nearly home with
him that night. aud should have come
on if it had not been that | had seen an
ugly looking fellow about farmer Grabb's
barns. came up with him, and saw
him very plainly. a German who had
n grudge against Mr.. Grabb. / UNDER
stand that they caught him yesterday.
I was too late to save the hayrick, which
burned like finder, though worked all
night went on my way where I had an
appointment the next day, aud so did
not hear of this sickness in your hoase.
hold until my return"
This was a very common speech, but
no royal proclamation was ever more
joyfully received. Lizzie crept TO the
bedside, and kissed the poor helpless
hand over aud again.
Toward night the sick man grow rest
less, and was only quiet when bis wife
sat close BY his pillow. It was pitiiul
10 see his efforts. az he tried to say.