The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-02-09
,yne moon had lust risen. and her

Tne moon had just risen, and her
livery CLEANS shone into every1dark
corner, flooding the grass with q
stream of light, as Daisy walked
down the one wide street that ran
through the villagesshefA went straight
on to the little yellow tavern with
the noisy sign swinging lazily in the
soft Summer breeze. A hundred
plans ran through her head. Should
she go boldly in and invite him to
come home? Eo-he would resent
that as interference. But if she
watched and waited. she might ex-
pose herself to rudeness from some
passer-by. particularly as she was
dressed rather better than the yonng
girls of that retired little place. a.,
While she was deliberatjng. she
heard angry voices and the clink of
glasses, and then the voice Of a
strange man, who was calling her
father a fool and "chicken-heart
ed" She did not wait any longer,
but hurried in, and found her father
standing by the door, while two men
DlSDubOu dG u LdDlS Aedfs
ooh. father!' she said. here voice
trembling with fright, I've just
come home to see you and mother.
Do come home with me p'
Her father looked at her stupidity,
surliIy, while the two men at the ia
BILE leaned over to hear his reply.
"What are yon doing hereT' he
muttered. This is no place for
you. Go home"
She turned away, when contemp-
tuous laugh from the men made her
turn back.
Father" she said. "go home
with mel These men are not your
friends-even now," she said, as a
sudden inspiration seized her, they
are trying to make You do some
mischief!"
GA foine daughter yer blessed
with" sneered one of the men, who
who wore binder. over one eye
this is what what ger calls city
manners, amt il?
Go home, girl, and never dare
show yourself here again. | sup
pose that whining mother of yours
sent you here. "Say," he continu-
ed, " have you got any money? /
must have some at once-I owe
these gentlemen here FIVE pounds,
and want to pay it."
Daisy looked at him pityingly
Even her young mind took in the
depth of degradation into which he
had fallen. :" No, father, | haven t
so much money
"Have you any, then?'
Il have one pound, but mother
shall have that. She needs it,
"She don't need it-she can work
and | can't. Give it me T. he shout
ed, grasping her by the arm.
ooh, father y she entreated,
while the two ruffians seized her.
with "a" Take it from the girl
She can't keep it off ye! What's
hers is yours-ain't you her father
Where's the money!" shouted
her father. Give it to me, oras1A
kill you.
Tie struggle was brief. James
Graham struck the tender, loving
Young girl a blow that crashed
through her brain, and she fell to
the floor in white, huddled heap,
sense ,ess and motionless.
Did he panse to lift his child from
the floor? No-he reeled TO the
door, followed by the two men, who
were terrified, bnt too cowardly to
offer any aid, lest they should be
arrested. She was found by the
landlords wife, who, with the help
of her eldest son, carried the poor
girl to her waiting mother.
And such return Words can
not paint the blackness of despair
which fell upon Daisy's mother, nor
how bitterly she blamed herself for
permitting Daisy to go after the be-
sotted wretch, to bring hun home.-
But her anguish was as the light
foam to the wave below, compared
to James Graham s remorses when
he found his cruel blow had depriy-
ed his child of reason. lie. turned
from his companions, his evil ways,
in horror. Daisy had saved her faith
err, but at what q cost! A. the price
of her own b:ighted reason, her
mothers broken heart and the sting
of remorse winch would never end
in this world for the miserable man
who cansed it all. Poor Daisy will
never know any one in this life. and
all she ever says. is, Father. come
home "a perpetual reproach TO
her wretched fathers heart.