The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-04
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tnc DuStic VI tne WHIT, ana waiting 10
open her novel till they should begin to
thread the tortuous windings of Cohansey
Creek.
A little before the boat pushed off. The
attention of Miss Fitch was attracted To n
woman who walked hastily down TO the
wharf, and after asking question or two.
came on board and up into the cabin. The
woman was poorly dressed IN q shabby silk.
which had once been rich and handsome.
and she held by the hand child some six
years old, attired in the same way-a thin.
wizened, scared little creature, with great
black eyes and stoop which almost
amounted to deformity. The appearance
of the pair was fororn in the extreme, and
the woman in particular had a wild, bag
gard look of utter misery. Miss Fitch had
heart which always went ont toward any
thing like forlorn child. She watched
the little girl with iniercs., and presently
offered her cake which she took from her
bag. The child went timidy toward her.
and then, as if attracted by something i'm
her face, sat down on a stool at her feet.
" Yes, yes" said her companion in brok-
en- English, ''you stay by the pretty lady
she be good to you
- Is She sick y asked Miss Fitch.
The woman shook her head as if not I'M
Outstanding the words, and then leaving
the cabin she went out on the little upper
deck to which it opened and stood look
ing at the shore and the ships. The little
girl showed signs of drowsness, and Miss
Fitch lifted her to the cushions by her side,
where she was soon asleep. Miss Fitch
became engaged in her novel, glancing now
and then at the chld's guardian, who still
stood gazing ut the shore The boat was
now passing the fort and it was growing
too dark to read, when Miss Fitch, looking
up, saw the strange woman suddenly spring
over the railing of the deck and disappear
under the wheel.
Others beside herself had seen the leap
The boat was instantly stopped. and every
effort made to save her, but in vain. She
was probably struck by the wheel, for she
never rose.
I" Well, I've done all | could said Cap
tain McGregor, coming into the cabin
W ere Miss Fitch was holding on her lap
the still sleeping child Poor thing!
she's gone To her account sudden enough.
| mistrusted something wrong about her
from the st, and | rather guess she meant
to do it when she came aboard. It's
wonder she didn't take the child, too. Poor
little thing how sound she sleeps don't
she =
"Rather too sound am afraid" said
Miss Fitch Il fear she has been drug
ged."
'Likely as not. 1t might be a mercy
if she Fever walked, poor lamb Sh.'i
have to be taken care of somehow for to-
night, and tomorrow I'll carry her back
and hand her over to the authorities"
"And what will become of her after
that?' asked Miss Fitch, looking down at
the little dark thin face, so unlike any
thing Sba had apI ,t.hicb
seemed some way not utterly unknown to
her.
''Oh, she'll have to go to the almshousc
and take her chance among the rest. 1t
seems poor lookout for girl, don't it
worse than for a boy"
Miss Fitch did not answer for moment
or two. Then she said, as if changing the
subject, II suppose this will make lis
rather late.
"Well, yes. I've lost more than an hour
in this business, but it couldn't be helped.
The poor thing wasn't much good to her.
| self or anyone else, l dare say, but, of
course, had to take Just as much pains To
find her as if she had been the best woman
in the world. You saw her when she went,
didn't you?"
Yes" said Miss Fitch, shuddering AT
the recollection. Il had my eyes on her at
the moment"
"Did she jump or fall, think z"
"Oh, she jumped there could be no
doubt about it. | never saw such glance
as she cast behind her"
"Well, well, the Lords merctul," said
the captain. Very likely she didn't know
what she was about. But what to do with
the girl My wife's down to Salem and
our house is shut up, so | can't take her
home.
II will take her home" said Miss Fitch
decidedly. "She needs care and watching
am sure she has been drugged."
"Wcll, I'm sure-but it's just like your
folks said Captain McGregor ''Tm
rather afraid you may get into scrape,
though. The child looks to me as though
she was getting down sick
$50 much more the need of care" an
| swered Miss Fitch. 81 have no one to
think of but myself and Katy, you know"
she added with a fearful smile, for she had
been much shaken. ave have both had
the smallpox, and it can't well be worse
| than that"
About three o'clock in the morning the
| little stray, wrapped in warm, clean fan
mel, was LAID in Miss Fitch's own bed. She
had reused a enough to drink some
of the coffee which Aunt Katy had ready
for her own nursing but she soon dropped
off again. Her underclothing, though
much worn, was both fine and clean, but
there were no marks to be found.
The next day Captain McGregor came
up to see Miss Fitch. ''Well, what about
the little girl p he asked. cam | to tai e
| her back y
Not to-day, certainly answered Miss
Fitch 1.-The child is very sick, and DIR
Elsmore thinks her recovery matter of
great doubt. 1t never would do to move
her."
And hardly worth while if she isn't
likely to live said the captain. at is
making you good deal of trouble, though. u
THAT does not matter" answered Miss
Fitch. MY hands are rather empty of
work at present | am only too glad that
she was guided to me- as she seemed to
be "
"Well, she's in good hands, whether she
lives or dies, remarked the captain, rising.
'If find out anything about the mother
surprising she was the mother I'll let
you know. Suppose the little thing lives
what will YOU do with her 2"
II shall see when the time comes re-
pied Mss Fitch. 81 have never found
thq, gained great deal by making M
my mind beforehand
''That's Just as true as you live. What
nice woman she Is y rumnated the cap
tain as he took his way to the boat. II
wonder why she never got married
suppose she's 700 fine and delicate for com
mon use, like my wifes old china. And
yet | don't know that same china has
ouilastcd good many sets OF eartheh-
ware
TO be continued.