The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-07-15
BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS,
BY RUTH CHESTERFIELD.

By RUTH CHESTERFIELD.
John Mallory was returning from his
days work, with his spade over his
shoulder, when he saw woman sitting
close to the WALL weeping bitterly
John had kind heart and was easily
moved at the sight of distress, so he
stopped and addressed the woman
You seem to be in trouble''-that was
what he said. The mourner lifted her
face, and he saw that she was a very
young woman, scarcely more than a girl,
in fact. But this did not lessen his pity
At all; possibly it increased it, for his
heart was human as we'll as kind.
Trouble: All, yes; l have come such
long, long way, and am so fatigue-so
much weary! went to the peoples doors,
but no one said anything only: Go way!
we haue no room for strangers Goto the
hotel, why do you not:'
so went to the hotel, but the land
lord was worst than all the rest Oh, how
he brighten me, he was so fierce, so loud!
lie call me tramp-a thicf-because he
found had no money. No money, yes,
that was it; and he babe me 60 about my
business: but have no business, and so
came out into the woods to die alone"
- Cheer up, then, if that is ALL said
John, and come with me- MY mother
won't drive You from her door, YOU may
be sure"
And John spoke truly, for his mothers
heart was like his own. She only needed
to know that the girl was a stranger and
in distress to give her a cordial welcome
Take off your things, my dear" said
own hands, land sit here by the fire
81, oh
chilled to the bone"
You are so kind-so very kind" said
the visitor, taking the rocking chair Of
fercd her; and then John saw that she
was not only young but singularly beauti-
full. though thin and pale as if from recent
illness
You're out of health You're not fit
to be abroad said Mrs Mallory. How
your mother would feel to see you looking
So"
ALAS, l have no mothcr!' said the girl,
and her tears began to flow afresh. Il
will tell you my story
There. there, I'm sorry l said tim
such blunderer! Never mind the story
now, but after supper when you are warm
and comfortable, you shall tell us about
yourself, that is, all that you wish to tell"
So, when the three had eaten their even
ing meal, and Mrs. Mallory had cleared
away the table and taken out her knitting
work, the young girl told her story.
She said that her name was Estelle Le-
Roy; that her father was French refu-
gee; but that she herself was born in Can
ada some years after he had left his native
country. he having married a Canadian.
After the death OF her mother he had come
to Boston, hoping to be able to support
himself and her by teaching his own Ian
guage; but just as he had found situa-
ton which promised to be permanent he
became very i'll; in fact, the climate of
this country had never agreed with him,
and he was always mourning for "la belle
France" He was sick a long time, and
when he died he left her penniless.
OF her relatives in France she knew
nothing; and although since her fathers
death she had written more than once to
her mothers friends in Canada, no letters
had ever been received in return. She
believed she could find them, however, if
she could get there, and that was now
her aim. What she had suffered since she
left Boston she said she could "never,
never tell"
It's all over now, my dear" said Mrs.
Mallory, $50 try to forget it, and just
try to make yourself contented with us till
you are better able to travel than you are
now
For whole week Estelle stayed with
the MallOrys, gaining in health and beauty
every day and developing a careless light
ness of spirit greatly in contrast to her first
depression.
That John was not insensible to her at
fractions may we'll be imagined, and what
the consequences might have been can
not tell, it his heart had not been already
preoccupied. That being the case, there
was no room there for the fair stranger,
save in the way of friendship, and he
showed his friendship by bringing Mary,
his betrothed, to see her
Curious it was to see the two together
Mary, the staid New England girl, with
her rosy cheeks, her calm, blue eyes and
yellow hair; her plain dress, and steady
Northern tongue; and Estelle, with her
olive skin, her hair and eyes as dark as
night, her fanciful, idiomatic speech, and
her airy figure, which gave grace even to
the worn garments which clothed it. 1t
was the brown thrush and the canary bird
sitting side by side on an apple-tree
Dough.
Still, they got on well together, these
two, and kissed each other when they
parted. But when Estelle parted from Mrs
Mallory she hung on her neck as if it
had been her own dear mother she was
leaving.
John saw her safely on her journey, and
when he took her hand to say farewell he
left in it small purse containing sum
sufficient for her expenses.
Il shall not forget you, ever-ever-no,
not till my dying day does Gomez said
Estelle, with tears in her eyes. "The
good God bless you for your kindness to
the poor stranger--you, and your, mother
and the pretty Marie" = - :.
In few weeks the Mallorys received a
letter from Estelle, saying that she had
reached her journeys end in safety and was
among friends. 1t was the only letter they
ever received from her ~ ~-
In course of time John and Mary were
married, and settled down on the Mallory
farm, and there for the present we will
leave them.
One day a handsome travelling carriage
drew up before the door of hotel in q
quiet New England village. 1t was an
event in the history of that hotel, for never
had such an establishment been seen there
before. Out came the two hostlers, out
came the stable-boys, out came the bar
keeper, and, lastly, out came the landlord
imself. @stl.
A gentleman alighted from the carriage
and was followed BY beautiful and rich
addressed lady. Bobbing his bare head
and waving aside his subordinates the OBJ
sequious landlord led the way to the par
lor, took the orders Of his distinguished
guests and communicated them to his serv-
ants. Then there was an opening and
shutting of doors, q ringing of bells,
rushing to and from Short tumult as
if the Queen had come.
When the travellers were left to them
selves the lady broke into merry laugh.
"Oh, it is too droll, Sir Edward; it is
the same landlord who, fifteen years ago,
babe me BECOME for thief and q tramp"