Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-09-28

Hildrcd could not swallow, Int Il re-
freshed her to see the happiness Of he,
child, dtid she took kesh couraee for On,
work Which was beenre her. She made
no plans. arranged no vssas, thinking sh,
"should scc." when once there.
The old horse, sftsr his dinner, was re
hsrnessedi and the travellers sent on thsil
way. and only set down At the ,ostskirts d
the town mentioned as their Destination
OF that visit wc can give 10 account,
only the. angels have that record It was
simply told ~ that per Sally died som.
kfortef, knowing thst while Hildrcd iised
the motheriess ba6e would be cared Tor,
and. if possible. kept from ! knowledge ol
/ ~ uotkaz's sia. .-~lss.-- .sss~a - ss-sszs.
I On the morning Of the third day. Hill.
dred left the place. leading ono child and
Bearing in her arms another. People look
ed anxiously and ride boys screamed still
ruder names as she passed. Turning of
from the main road she vent down by the
sea-shore, for greater quiet and maybe for
another reason too. We know that when
she sat down to resti was by the same
gray rocks she had stood under that day,
so long ago It seemed to her that it
must hate been another world then an
other existence as separate from this as
Heaven from hell. v.H
The blind boy sat wordless, awed by
the sound Of the waves as they broke at
his feet, the strange woman's child slept /;
tho angel Of sleep. who watches over all
babyhood alike, kept guard over it upon
its sandy bed. Hildred could not hold it
in her arms while she stayed there, and
memory swept back to the past.
There came another to the grim old sea-
gall that isorniag, ,-aus- Who had lust
learned of Hiidred's work she had taken
upon herself.
"Have the angels come to dwell among
men. Hifla - aroused her to the knowl-
edge that she was not alone.
She sprahg 20 her feet with a cfy.-
"Oh, Henry Mr.. Stanley, mean
how came you here r
II came because I knew ! should find
you, and ! am going to carry you home. -
Home" she said. drearily. as she sank
back to the seat, II have no home"
Come. Hilla, let me help you up, i.
is not good for you to stay here" He
stopped over the babe, but she was before
him.
"You shall not touch it, ffenry. could
not bear to see you lift it.
He took up the little boy who sat with
wondering face just where his mother had
first placed him. This is your child,
Hildred." and he pressed long, loving
kiss upon the child's face. .He has your
lips. too" he added, and held him closer
as he moved on.
There was not much said during that
ride, but in the silence God talked to them
as he does sometimes when human Ian
guage fails. This was the first time they
met: the second was in this wise. When
Sallys boy was four year old. a great,
strong. lusty fellow. outweighing, by a
number Of pounds. the puny, sightless
child tha. was so dear to Hildred, she had
placed them both in their little beds. aud
when she saw them both asleep, had ta-
ken her bundle Of work, already overdue,
and gone to deliver it. Hay.e was in
some saloon drinking aud drowning what
little sense he had. She left her work,
and being bid "come again for her pay, +"
had started home with heavy heart. for
she could not tell where the children's
breakfast was to come from She went
on wearily, unmindful ofthe clang Of bells,
the cry Of % Fire." ard the hurryine
crowd, until she became conscious that, as
she neared her home, the tumult increas
ed, and the flames leaped higher and high
er. One look, and she rushed into the
din and smoke, mp the sinking stairway,
with only one thoaght--to save her pre-
cious boy A faint murmur guided her
footsteps; covering the sleeping child with
blanket, she made her way out Just as
the whole upper part Of the building sank
down into the raging 6fe. -.'.
Rough but kindly hands cared for her
till she became conscious of the terrible
strife through which she had passed.
When she called for her child, they
brought the great round faced boy with
Sally Graves eyes. " Not him." she
shrieked. "my own, my angel boy
They looked from one to another. and
then she knew she had saved s'that child''
while her own had perished in The flames.
Out Of the horrors Of that night Gilbert
Hayne was -'.bcrn anev.h We are temp
ted to ask ..Was his salvation worth the
fearful price that Hildred had to paw ="
Such a pitiful remnant Of his life was left.
Iiildred never thought Of what she had
done, brit said, humbly, ';Tt was given
my boy % save his fatiter.s and in her
heart added, "and verils he sball hide a
multitude Of sing" ! Il. Es-~-
Outward peace and plenty came 10 her
home, Hayne was tender aud good rs il
was possible for such man to be. .sThat
child' grew pace. developing some Of
the characteristics ofboth father aud moth
er. sofseued doxn by the refining influence
Of Hildred's gentle, patient csse. To her
there came ever the voice Of her child. and
ere any one had acticed she was dropping.
she stood by the riyer's bank, waiting to
be taken over. That was the second time
that they two met. He came-God sent
him. perfsaps--he stood beside her when
shellaid. dexa her cross, and 10 knew the
.eroE~+ was oaly just above. Il
II Gilbert Hayue marked hes earthly sea-
ing place with . plain white Sab, afsa he
.sestr knew Who icassd 70 b ca upon ii
s"she gave hsr life fux others.n
Has u taken TOO msay voris d Tell
Hildred's stofyf Wen. q 4 bat che mer-
EST glimpse Of her cross. The rceor,l;nv
angel. behind the esrssia Of ske skv. viii
surely keep the wholc against the time Of
ecsnpensatscss