The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1871-03-01
r TWENTY-FIVE CENTS.

|he apturGeu lace, whose largo brown
eyes, shadowcd by tangle curls Of
faxen h ,ir, were appealing 50 pitiful.
~ to his Own. "W hat do want with
chestnuts3"
"But, please, sir, buy 'em," plo .ded
the little one, treasured by the rough |
kindness of his tone. "Nobody seems
to care for them, and-and--"
she fairly burst into tears, and
Moore, who had been Gu the point Of
brushing carelcssy past her, stopped
insiinctNely.
"Are YOU very much in want of tho
money -
SIN deed, sir, we are," sobbed the
child, "mo,hcr sout me out, and"
"Nay, little one, don't ory in such
hcart.broken way" said Ralph,
rm Jothing down her hair with care
less gentlcnc>s. 81 don't want your
chcs,nuts, but here's quarter for
you, if that will do you any good"
He did not stop to hear the delight.
cd, incoherent thanks tho child poured
out through rainbow of smiles and
tears, but strolo on his way, mutter.
esing between his teeth
"That cut of my supply Of cigars
for the next twcnty-four hours.
don't care, though tho brown.cyed OBJ.
icct really did cry US if she hadn't a
friend in the world. Hang it!
wish was rich enough to help every
poor creature ou' Of tho slough of dos
pond"
While R.lpl Moore was indulging
in these very natural reflections, the
dark-eyed little damsel whom he had
comforted was dushing down the street
with quick, elastic footsteps utterly
regardless Of the baskets of unsold
nnts that still duugled on her arm.
Down an obscure lane she darted, be-
tween tall and ruinous rows of houses,
and up n narrow wooden staircase, to
nroom where pale, nontooking wo-
man, with large brown eyes like her
own, was sewing as busily as if the
breath Of life depended upon every
stitch, aud two little ones were con-
ten,edly playing in the sunshine that
temporarily supplied the place of
fire.
"Mary back already7 Surely
you have not sold your chcstnuts 80
Roon -
Goa mother, mo,hor, SEQ !" ej ,cu-
lated the almost brcathlcss child "a
Eeutlcman gave me whole quarter.
Only think, mother whole quar-
tor !"
II Ralph Moore could have only
focn the rapture which his tiny gift
diifuscd around it 10 tho poor wild ow's
pove,ty->tricken home, he would have
urged still less the temporary rrivation
Of cigars to which his generosity had
suhjccted him.
Years came and wont. The little
chcsnut girl passed as entirely out of
R,lrh Mooro's memory as if pleading
eyes had never touched tho spot in
his heart but Mary lee never for.
got the stranger who had givcn hor
the silver piece.
The crimson window curtains were
clio ely drawn to shut out the Storm and
tempest Ct Il bleak j, cembcr night
the fl was glowing chccrfnlly in the
titled Crate, aud the dinner table, in
glitter With cut glass, raro china, and
polished silver, was only waiting the
presence of MIR. Audley.
"Whlt can it bo that dctains papa"
said Mrs. Audlcy, a fair handsome
matron of about thirty, as she glanced
at the dial OF tiny enameled watch.
"SiX O'Clock, aud hs docs not make
his appearances"
"rhcre's a man with him mamma
come on business said Robert Aud
ley steppiug to tho door. But as s
oreucdit the brilliant gas.light fell
iull on the face Of an humble. o.looking
man, in worn and thread bare gar.
ments, who was leaving the house,
while her husband stood in tho door
way of Lis study, apparently relieved
10 bc rid Of his visitor.
"Chrrles," said Mrs Audley, whose
cheek had paled and flushed, "who is
that man, and what docs he want1"
His nnmo is Moore, bolieve, and
lie came to 500 if | would estow upon
him that vacant messcngcrship in the
hGuk.''
"Aud will you p
81 cont know, Mary, I must think
about i'.'
"tharles, give him the situation"
"Why, my love Z"
")'ecausc ask it Of you as favor,
aud you have said n thousand times
!ou would never deny me anything"
"And 1 will keep my word, Nary"
said the lover husband, with IN affeo-
tionate kiss. "I'll write the follow q
note this very evening. believe
l've got his address about me some.
where"
An hour later, when Bobbio, Frank
anl Engenie wero snugiy tucked in
bed, in the spacious nursery upstairs,
Mrs. Audley teld her husband why
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