The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-08-02

neT lie DeCk DdSSct TcSteu ncr dcHiHg, |
fever-racked limbs on decent bed and
under decent roof.
Thanks to careful nursing and strong
vigorous constitution the fever was stayed
and in less than fortnight. Beck re-
turned, somewhat weak from her Sickness
but otherwise decidedly improved, to her
old home, if home II could he called. Her
clflocks were carefully combed, and braid
ed. A neat print dress supplied the place
of her old tattcrcd gown, and her bare,
brown feet were cascd in shoes and stock
ings.
'Sakcs alive, What Mr. Earle Il
thinkin about, riggin' that larum scarlm
Beck Bassct up so fine guess he'll find
out, and old Bctscy Hodges, the scandal
mongcr-n-chicf of the village sho X her
head with an air Of infinite wisdom.
"Wcll, one wouldn't ha' thought she
could ha been made to look so decent any
how" rcjoincd her companion.
But the greatest change that had come
over Beck was not the one, the most easily,
and readily perceived.
Kindness that open sesame to the human
heart had brought to light hidden springs
in her soul. Somebody had cared for her.
| One human soul of all the world had as
sured her that there was Il chance for her
and gave her helping hand. Family, faltcr-
ing she grasped it. but then there really
was but this one strong heart to help her.
The throng was against her The old sus-
picion and dislike were decprootcd among
the villagers
But one, did say? He had told her of
One who was above all others, and who
never, never turned away from troubled
souls, no matter how lowly, or how sinful.
But Beck's idea of God was rather con-
fused She had heard of such being in a
vague sort of way. She never went to
church, for she never had anythingto wear,
but somehow, it may have been alas only
through the coarse oaths of her father, she
had heard of God, but she laughed when
Mr.. Earle asked her g she ever prayed.
But she had promised to pray now and
he gave her a simple form to use, and to
her credit he it said, Beck never forgot it.
She could not be persuaded to go back
to school, but she did 90 to Sunday School,
and was placed in a class taught by the
minister's beautiful young wife. Poor
Beck made many slips. Her old habits
were strong and her temptations great
She earned some money during the sum.
mcr bv picking berries, Beck knew where
the finest, richest berries always grew, and
with the few pence earned filled out her
scanty wardrobe. Her father would have
robbed her, but the old fury within hel
woke and he quailed.
She avoided the school children, but one
day she had sat down forest just under thu
railroad bridge with her basket of berries
, by her side. She was hot and tired, fol
J the day was warm and she had taken
long, weary, journey, to gather the luscious
fruit which hcaped her basket. SUDDEN,
a well aimed stone struck the rim of tn
, basket with sufficient force to overturn i
and hurl it into the stream below bcfor
she could snatch it up Instantly anothe
stone from the same unerring hand strucl
her on the forehead, cutting sharp cash
and hooking voice shouted from abov
elbows the parson Becky? The Witch o
1 Endor's getting pious. Don't you wan
to fight Becky? Wouldn't take us TN
c awares again. Come and try it. You'll
c do for lister"
+ Beck saw they were out of her reach, bu
in that one moment her good resolution
were thrown to the wind. She passe
t the bridge where she would be shcldc
from her tormcntors, passed out on tn
u other side, and took the shortest rout
1 home with the old fire raging and burnin
II in her soul. She did not see Mr.. Earle III
i til she nearly stumbled upon him, for Il
stood in the path before her. ''Let me go
Z she cried 81 say, let me go. It's no lis
Il for you to do anything for me- ain
u never goin' to try any more. Let me go
- He saw that something unusual had o.
v! Cured, and he took the girls hot hand
e. his and held it fast. ''No, Becky, can
I, let you go, till you tell me what is IL
u matter"
>, ''It's them boys, Mr. Earle, if live
:. shall kill them" She raised her head no
" for the first time end he saw the cash upt
her forehead.
,e There was something very like I
Nj imprccation, it must have been mini
ss terial imprecation, lowering upon his lip
,e but he suppressed it
or . You must no. talk so, my child. W
ne remember who it was, when he was rcvile
ne reviled not again. Won't you come to q
d. me tomorrow morning? ! cannot ST.
IS now for am going away this evening"
IS She would not promise. ''Then sh,
Ie come to see YOU" "Its no use," she sal
in gloomily and walked away, somewll
cooled in temper for the moment, but wi
,g heart full to bursting.
n She did not go to the minister's ne
of morning but wandered away into t
or woods. She went down TO the river a
nh thought she would throw herself into t
n swift-rushing tide and so get away trc
re all the agony of living. But somethi
cd seemed to hold her back. Her simI
re- prayer that she prayed every night spral
ps to her lips, so she turned away and We
he into the woods again.
his How she spent the day cannot sa
W. Toward night she was miles from hon
Ter and found herself on the railroad ira
wandering aimlessly along There was
mt station on either side forquite distance
lv Just as she turned sharp curve whit
40. the road ran along high embankment, br
cn above deep, and rocky ravine, she cal
suddenly upon two men who were DIR,
ging some heavy logs upon the track