The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-08-25
an angel. after all. Lady Mary's laugh

an angel, after all. Lady Mary's laugh
ter ceased and tear stood glistening il
her eye as she asked:
Have you no motherP'
"No." said he. II had mother
once, with eyes and hair like yours, bu
that was when we lived far away. One
day they told me she was dead, and ther
the men put her in a box and carried
her away, and buried her under the
green grass; but that was long time
ago-a long, long time
"Poor boyl And have you any
father?" again questioned the little lady
"Yes, l think | have, but / don't
know where. When mother died, father
and | came away, and went into a ship,
and came over the waters to big city
London they called it. There we wan
dered about, sometimes hungry, and with
no place to sleep. Then father was
taken away by some men, and was put
into big building with a lot of rough
lads. | could not stay there, so | ran
away, and since then have been roaming
all over the country, looking for work or
for bread, but | can't get any-they
swear at me, and turn me away, and say
they'll give me up to the police. And so
have no home, and no bread, and no
clothes TO keep out the cold I'd like to
die here, if you will only stay with me, !"
he added, sobbing as if his whole frame
would fall asunder The tears stood
glistening in Lady Mary's eyes, too, as
she half unconsciously knelt down beside
the furnishing boy, and took his icy
hand in hers, and then placed them in
/ her warm muff
How cold you are!" whispered She
Are you hungry, too?"
Yes, Pm hungry, but | am used to
that now" family whispered he.
Lady Mary, little as she was, was won-
anly for her age. She never had known
what hunger was, but she had heard her
mother, the countess, speak of the mis-
cries of the poor and homeless. So she
dried her tears, and took from her basket
a bag Of biscuits, which she handed to
Reggy. These he devoured ravenously,
while his bcnefactress sat by, smiling at
his enjoyment of them Then said he
What do they call your"
"Oh, they call me Lady Mary" an
swered she, g because my father is great
lord, and owns the c>stle up yonder, and
as soon as you have eaten your biscuits
you must get up and come with me to
see him, and he will give you nice new
clothes, and plenty of money and every
thing"
Reggy's eyes opened wide in amaze
ment, and without knowing why, he
raised himself on his elbow, and kissed
little Lady Mary on the cheek; and, in
stead OF blushing and frowning, and get
ting angry, little Lady Mary only
smiled, and kissed him in return In
fact, they were so much engaged in their
loving compliments, that neither of them
noticed that a big footman, at least six
feet high, dressed in magnificent plush
breeches, splendid embroidered coat,
and a hat with gold trimmings, stood
looking down on them, with an awfully
sad and perplexed cast of countenance.
Joseph, the footman, or, rather, one of
the Beaumont footman, was the resplend-
ent individual, and he had been seLt
into the grounds to look for little Lady
Mary.
Lady Mary looked up and smiled
Poor Reggy also looked up, but felt
terribly frightened. He had never seen
such magnificent person before, and
felt certain it must be Lady Mary's
father come to take her away, and, per-
haps, send the ragged boy to prison or
the wOrkhouse for daring to kissing his
beautiful daughter. His first impulse
was to get up and Jun away as fast as
his legs could carry him, but he was too
weak for that, and new very we'll that if
bo l,1
Well, Joseph" said Lady Mary,
breaking the commentary silence, I'm
not lost, you see."
g No, my lady, you're not lost; but the
countess, your mother, would be very
sorry if she saw you a-playing with a
dirty little boy" replied magnificent
Joseph, in tone half respectful, half de-
predatory, and then, turning to Reggy,
he continued, premptorily:
:" You, you young vagabond, just take
yourself off, or the village policeman
will, as soon as get to the castle. S'pose
you want to steal my lady rs earrings and
brooch, do your"
Reggy suppressed the tears that stood
in his eyes. His face grew flush with
Indignation at the aspersion cast upon
his character. His hands clenched as if
he would like to knock the shoWily-dress-
ed footman down. He was SO angry that
he could not speak for moment.
Little Lad y Mary was also angry, but
in different way. She tossed her little
head, and her fair ringlets went dancing
in the air. her bright blue eyes flashed
fire, and her musical voice trembled with
passion, as, stamping her pretty foot, she
turned to the footman and cried:
!" How dare you say that, Joseph?
How dare you insult the little boy? Pll
tell mamma; and this boy shall come to
the castle with me, and see papa You
90, Joseph, and tell mamma | am com
ing, and Reggy, too"
Joseph was dumbfounded at this out
break of stately temper from his young
mistress, and turned sulkily away to obey
her imperative order, muttering some
thing which it was fortunate for him lit
tie Mary did not hear.
Now, Reggy, you must not be angry
or frightened" quoth she to the boy
wanderer, but come with me to see my
father"
Then she helped him to rise, and in
sisting that he should lean on her for
support, for Reggy was very, very weak,
she conducted him slowly to the castle
We will not accompany them, but pre-
cede them, and await them there.
In the large drawing room of Beau
mont Castle sat the earl and the
countess, awaiting their daughter and
their dinner.
Both were silent until the countess,
looking out of the window, cried:
L. l. Il