South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-07-28


childish voice.
looked down in surprise nj the III.
tie girl that was standing at NV friends
knee; for though this was our trs, meet,
ing, after separation OF some years,
had supposed him to be childless.
She had entered the room so noise.
lessly that, until she spoke, neither Of
us had been conscious OF her presence.
Good night, my daughter" said my
host, smile of infinite tenderness soft.
ening his rather stern features. and
holding out his aims rs he spoke.
The child sprang quickly to the shell.
ter of that broad breast, laying her soft
cheek lovingly against his.
AS he held her thus. stroking tender.
ly, as a mother might. the shining hair
that mingled with his own jetty locks.~I
thought that had never seen lovelier
picture.
She was in form so petite. with fea.
lures almost infanile in their delicacy
outline, he so strong and stately. her
complexion was exquisite fair, and her
eyes Of the softest hue, while his were
black and piercing. and his face bronzed
by the exposure toissun and storm'inci
dental to adventurous life.
A matronly-looking woman opened
the door, ,pausing upon the threshold. rs
if reluctant 10 disturb. them.
As soon as my friend observed her,
he arose, and blessing the child with a
solemnity and tenderness / had never
witnessed in him before, dismissed her.
mot your own daughter" i said, rs
soon rs we were left alone.
"So; but could not love her better
if she we're. She is the most precious of
all my earthly possessions, as well she
might be. My darling little Kate she
saved my life !"
What that slender, delicate child?"
"Yes; when she was--shaller and
younger than she is now
Il will tell you how it was" added
my friend, sreplying more to eager in
| quiries in my eyes than to ANYTHING
had said, ut is not long story"
And pushing towards me cut glass
dish, OF. .some quaint and curious pattern,
filed with heavy cluster of grapes, my
host settled himself back in his easy
chair and commenced as follows:
About two years ago important bust.
I
part Of Canada. Partly because l was
more accustomed TO that style Of loco
motion. and partly because public con.
veyances in that section of country were
slow and uncertain | started on horse.
back.
i had been about fortnight on my
way and was beginning to congratulate
myself that | was near the termination
OF my Journey.
1t was near shutdown, and the sky be.
gan to look rs if q storm was brewing.
i had ridden many miles through a rude,
thinly settled neighborhood. 1t was
therefore, with feeling of relief that /
saw few rods ahead of me, what seem
ed to be apublic house. 1t was so long
since j had seen one that instead of its
dark, drcarv appearance, it had plea
SAINT look to ME.
There was neither trees nor any sign
of vegetation around the house, in front
OF which crazy looking sign was creak
ing in the wind that was rising, and up.
on which could be seen few letters oil
what was evidently once-"Entertain.
ment for Man and Beast" now nearly
effaced by exposure to the weather.
As rode TO the door, l saw stout,
middled aged man stand;ng.in the rude
porch cleaning gun.
Good evening. friend" I said. "can
you tell me how far it is to the village
| of A."
The man gave..a quick, comprehensive
! glance, and then dropped his eyes.
at is matter of eight miles," he re.
piled lust beyond the Black Forest,
| the edge which you can see from here.
You had better not attempt it tonight,
he added as Inc saw | was hesitating rs
TO whether. II had better stop or push u.
head now that / was so near my jour.
ney's end. There's n storm coming
up besides good many travellers have
been robbed in the Black Forest lately"
II believe won't risk it, then, said ;
| 'for have that about me that wouldn't
care TO loose"
! recalled afterward the sudden bright
ness Of the landlords eyes rs said this,
/ but IL was so brief that il made little
/ impression on me at tue time.
Rcmarking that his hostlcr had gone
away on m errand, lac took charge of
my horse. and taking my saddle.bags in
my hand. entered the house.
/ II consisting OF large hall, with a
. gOod-sized room on either side. As soon
as stepped in, my attention was ar.
rested by a little girl, in spite Of neg
lected appearance. one Of the most per.
fcctly lovely littleIcrcatures that ever
saw.
! learned soon afterwards that she
was nearly nine, but 80 small and deli.
cate was she. that she looked full three
years younger.
/ In one Of the rooms large. coarse.
featured woman. with n peculiar dsa-
grceable expression OF countenance. en-.
gagged in some domestic duties. the other
was vacant, and, entering il, I took a
seat on The settee.
The little girl came and stood by the
open door, fixing her large. earnest eyes
upon me with a mournful intentness of
expression that I bad never seen in