The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-01-27

anxious to put his guest at ease He evi-
IDENTIFY succeeded; for she stretched two
shabby little boots toward the fire and
leaned her head against 81 grmy BEAM
saying, with a sigh OF WEAKNESS:
''lt is very comfortable; but the heat
makes me feel queer and dizzy"
''Ioure just about used up; and I'm
going to give you sup of hot coffee
That'll bring you round in jitfy Its
time for supper Hey, Sally? ?n
AS he spoke the man set his pail in the
hot ashes, unfolded a parcel of bread and
meat, and, laying rude sandwich on q
clean bit of paper, offered it with hospi-
table
"Haye a bit Do, now. You've had a
hard pull and need something to set you
up"
Leaning forward to give and take, two
faces came into the clear red glow of the
furnace fire, and a glow of recognition
flashed into each so suddenly that it start
ed both man and maid into involuntary
frankness of expression.
"Why, it's little Letty.n
''And you are my tramp
A change so rapid as to be almost ludi-
crous came over the pair in the drawing
of breath She smoothed back her hair
and hid the shabby boots, yet sat more
erect upon her stool. as if she had right
there and felt no longer any fear He
pulled off his cap with pleasant mixture
of respect, surprise. and satisfaction in hi,
manner as he said, in half proud, half
humble tone:
"No. miss; for thanks to you, I'm de-
cent man now"
Then you did find work and get on?
| she exclaimed, with a bright, wsttu look,
that touched him very much
Didn't you get my letter >" he asked.
eagerly. Il sent you the first dollar |
earned. and told you and the old lady |
was all right"
Lefty shook her head, and all the light
passed out of her iace, leaving it pathetic
in its patient sorrow.
Aunt Liddy died q week after YOU
were there, so suddenly that everything
was in confusion, and | never got the let
| ter | wish she had known OF it, because
it would have pleased her So We often
talked about you and hoped you'd do well.
We led such quiet lives, YOU see, that any
little thing interested us tor q long time"
1T was a little thing to you, dare say
but it was salvation to me. Not the mou-
ey or the food only, but the kindness of
the old lady and the look in your sweet
face, miss. I'd got sc far down, through
sickness and bad luck. that there didn't
seem anything left for me but deviltry OF
| death. Yes. That day it was toss-up
between any bad Job that came along first
and drowning, like my dog. That seem
ed sort OF mean, though, and | felt more
like being revenged somehow on the
world. that had been so hard on me"
He stopped short, breathing hard. with
a sudden spark in his black eyes, and
nervous clenchng Of the strong hands that
made Lefty shrink, for he seemed to speak
in spite oi himself. as if the memory of
that time had lett its impress on his life.
but you didn't do anything bad. I'm
sure you didn't; for Aunt Llddy said there
was the making of man in you. because
you were SO quick to teel u little bit Of
kindness and take good advice"
The soft, eager voice OF the girl seemed
to work the miracle anew, for a smile
broke over his face, the angry spark was
quenched, and the clenched hand opened
to offer again all it had to give, as he said
with characteristic mingljng of iun and
feeling in his voice:
Il don't know much about angels; but
L felt as II Id met 4 couple that day, tor
they saved me from destruction. You
cast your bread upon the waters, and il 5
come back when. may be, you need it
most as much as | did then Iisn't half
so nice as yours; but perhaps blessing
will do as well as uutter.n
Lefty took the brown bread, feeling
that he had SAID the best grace over it
an n Ix-,i chn at lp ia -nI Iy
moved to open his heart by the memory
OF the past and eager to show that he had
manfully persisted in the we'll doing his
angels had advocated.
THAT was nearly two years ago, you
know, and I've been hard at it ever since
| took anything that came along and was
glad to get it. The hat did that, firmly
believe And he laughed a short laugh,
adding soberly: bat | didn't take to
work at first, for I'd been a rover and
liked it; so it took long pull and 4
strong pull and a pull all together before
| settled down steady. The hat and the
he was going to say 'kiss;n but 4 look
at the lonely little creature sitting there
so contdingly made him change the
word to ''the money seemed to bring me
luck; and followed the advice Of the
good old lady and stuck to my work till
| got to liking it. Eve been here more
than a year now and am getting on so
we'll | shall be oyerseer before long. I'm
only watchman for a time. Old Dan has
been sick and they wanted some one they
could trust, so they chose me-
1t was good to see him square his broad
shoulders and throw back his head as he
said that; and pretty to see Lefty nod and
smile with sincerest pleasure in his sue
cess.
1T looks dark and ugly now but I've
seen foundry when they We're casting,
and it was splendid to watch the men
manage the furnaces and do wonderful
things with great hammers and moulds
and buckets Of red-hot melted iron. |
like to know you do such things, and
now I'm not afraid. 1t seems sort of ro-
mantle and grand to work in this place,
where every one must be strong and
brave and skilful to get on"
''That's it. that's why like il; don't
you see?" he answered, Frightening with
pleasure at her artless praise. "You just
come some casting day, and III show YOU
sights you won't forget in q hurry. If
there wasn't any danger and noise and
iron and keeping rough set of fellows
in order l shouldn't stay, for the restless
fit comes on sometimes and feel as if
must cut away somewhere. Born so and
can't help it, Maybe l could if | had
something to anchor me; but as you
say, nobody would care if l was in the
river and that's bad for a chap like me-"
sally would care" said the girl, quite
soberly, for she sympathized now with
the mans loneliness as she could not
have done two years ago.
80 she would; but I'll take her with
me when | leave-not fol the river, mind
you. I'm in no danger of that nonsense
now. But it 60 on a tramp (and may
if the fit gets too strong for me) she will
60 too. and We'll be Dick Wilmington
and his cat over again"
He spoke in a devil-may-care tone and
patted the plump tabby with a curious
mixture of boyish recklessncss and
mans sad knowledge of life in his face