The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-06-27

had been bound pu. 10 q stern old
woman who had nearly worked the
girl u death. Al the expiration
Of the contract jane bad taken sit
uaiion at Mrs Cranes, where she had
comfortable home, ard though she
worked bard she was never badly
treated. Mrs. Crane was harsh in
manner and severe in judgment, but
she tried to be always just. To
Leila, Jane was very much attached,
for the child of fifteen looked upon
the girl Of twenty-five as a dear sis
ter, and treated her as such.
-Four months passed by and Jane
had heard nothing Of ber clover" :"
Aud now she seldom thought of him
unless the sight Of the gold ring she
wore brooght him to her mind. 1t
was now nearly Christmas time, and
the farm. house Kitchen presented a
busy scene. for great preparations
were being made for the expected ar
rival Of several cousins aud aunts
who always spent the holidays at the
Cranes. Jane went down to the
barn to hunt some more eggs, for
they needed dozen for the squash
pies Mrs Crane made delicious and
golden The bay was piled high in
the loft, and Jane went through the
whole lower part of the barn be-
fore ascending the ladder which led
to the loft. She hoped 20 fod eggs
enough down below, bu; was disap-
pointed in doing so, and accordingly
began her search through the sweet
smelling hay, singing gayly, tor her
heart was light All at once she
gave shrill scream, for IN Que cor
ner of the loft. half covered by hay,
she saw the figure of man. Jane
was brave girl, bat she could not
stand such a sudden fright. aud
would have screamed for help had
not the man raised himself on his el-
bow and spoken to her.
''Do you not remember me, Jane?'
he said Where is the ring 2"
Jane felt her heart throb violently.
IL have it," she replied, "but | did
not think to see you again. Why are
yon here p
Il believe | am dying" be said,
quietly resting on the hay bis hand
some head and reaching out TO ber
one white, sbapely. though very thin
hand 81 do not ask you to do any
thing for me- Let me die alone. I
am not so bad as you may think me-
I've committed no crime. | went to
prison for half numbering a man in a
BIT of drunken passion. I've never
touched liquor since. But no one
cares for me, my mother aud sisters
are dead, and the brother who should
have helped me stole my property
and left me beggar. and the girl /
was to marry Tilted me for rich old
man. No, Jane. there is nothing for
me to live for Ieame up in this loft
hoping to die alone and unnoticed.
came here, for here it was | heard
the first kind words which have greet
ed my ears for months
He sank back heavily at the con-
clusion of his long speech, which had
evidently tired him greatly to utter.
jane went up to him and put her
hand N his head.
"You are turning up with fever"
she said qnietly, 'and laying 10 this
cold barn toe.
IL am not Geld. The hsy is soft to
lie on," be replied
Jane took oil her heavy cloak and
laid it over him.
"fhere, stay quietly here until l
return" she said.
He made no answer, but lay still,
locking at her with sad, weary, blue
eyes. which Jane thought so beauti-
fol.
With fleet steps she returned to the
house, and burst into the kitchen,
startling Mrs Crane so that she
overturned cup of milk she beld.
80, dear, Mrs Crane. she cried,
and thea began to tell her of the poor
man lying in the barn. omitting to
speak of the fact that she bad met
him before, out Mrs Crane interrupt
ed her
ou'd better call father and the
hired man. and make them get him
out and set him trsmping"
But Jane begged aud pleaded that
she should nurse him, for he was
burning up With fever and not able to
walk. Oh, could she not have him in
the house; she would let him occupy
her own little room. and she would
sleep on the kitchen sofa.
"W ha, . take drunken tramp into
the house 10 nurse y cried Mrs. Crane.
bur the end IF ii WAS that Jsne ecax
ed her into allowing the poor man to
come in fer just day or two, and so
she ran bscK to the barn, aud with
the help of the hired man got him in
tc the house aud on to the white.
sweet bed in her own room
Leila was wild with delight, and
pronounced Li u perfectly elegant, +"
and insisted on carrying up all his
meals.
We mus, End out ali about him.
said Mrs. Crane, sofieaed by be-
seeehing look from The large blue
eyes of the drunken tramp
Bot it was long before they even
knew his name. FOR Is was Eve weeks
before be regained possession of his
right senses agaia. for when they
brought him from the barn be was
delirious with fever, aud talked inoes-
sanity about Julia" and my poor
meiher,r and ",hai hated Phil. y
Jane watched him night and day
With unfagging desoli %, learning
through her very care Of bis wants
to love bin dearly But for I've
weeks she was obliged to nurse and
watch bin, and then be began to re-
cover. They would nct let him talk
q, first, for be was yery weak, but
Leila during the time she was consti-
tuted as day nurse, while Jane slept,
told him long stories Of James good
ness aud loseliBess. and so it was no
wonder .ha, when the pale nurse en-
tered The room her palient watched
her every motion.