South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-03-09
TRIxY.



Martin Bruce spoke the words with
a sigh OF utter WEAKNESS, and lifted his
head from his work, taking his magnify.
ing glass from one eye - he did so.-
Upon the table before him was large
steel plate. on which he had engraved .
design requiring the. most delicate and
careful work. and TO which he had given
several days continued labor. As he
looked at 1t, completed. the expression
of proud pleasure involuntary upon the
face Of n man who had finished the piece
OF work satisfactorily, became clouded.
THAT poor child r. he muttered, and
listened TO a sound OF suppressed sob.
bling coming from above his half opened
door. With the cloud still upon his
face he went to the landing and looked
up the narrow stairway to the attic. As
he expected, he saw little figure crouch.
ed upon the upper stair, the head bend.
eG low over folded arms, the bare feet
tucked up under ragged skirts The
sobbing. though distinctly audible, was
evidently carefully choked down.
"Trixy." Martin said, in q low voice
In moment the child was beside him,
with quick, darting motion that suited
well the slender figure, thin to painful
angularity,an face that was almost i'm.
pish i'm its look Of want OF precocity.
Martin Bruce. tall End strong with a
handsome blonde face, bent low, and
met the gaze Of large intensely black
eyes swollen and inhamed by tears
Silently he lifted the child, and taking
her into his own room, closed the door.
WHATS the matter now?' he asked.
IL dropped the biggest pitcher, full
Of milk
"Whew!''
81 couldn't help it - sobbcd the child ::
lit was so heavy that my fingers got all
stiff with ache, and before knew it my
wrists just give twist, and down il all
WENT
"Whippcd?"
"Oh, didn't she See!''
And ragged frock was slipped down
to show the sickening welts on the thin
shoulders. Martin Bruce gave a shud.
der as lie looked, and going to q stand
brought some arnica, which he mixed in
cool water and tenderly bathed the
wounds with an old handkerchief.
docs it hurt so much?" he asked, as
the poor child WINGED under his touch.
"Oh, my II mean yes sir! But |
don't mind; l know you'll make it bet.
ter. Oh" and again the tears broke
out. Il wish | was dead!'
You are too young to wish that Trixy.
I'm fourteen. if an little!'
Fourteen How time flies 1t seems
/ only yesterday since 1 first found you
crying OH the stairs, and its three years
ago.
TriXy nestled close to the hand OK.
tended to caress her gently, rs these
words were spokcn-the only hand in
the big boarding house that was ever
filed with kindness TO her. She was one oil
the New York waits from an almshouse
bound out to q cross task. mistress. who
had been systematically tyrannical from
the first hour she had the child under her
rule. .tasked, half starved and
whipped. Trixy was stunted, thin and
miserable in appearance, while her ig
norance in all useful knowledge was
balanced by precocity truly wontler
ful in lodging her tasks and eyadine
her punishments.
"a nasty, deceitful little baggage
Mrs. Hayes declared her to be, and |,
was mournfully true.
But Martin Bruce. who occupied one
OF the back rooms Mrs. Hayes provided
for boarders, had been moved with ten.
der compassion for the child from tho
first time lie found her sobbing out hei
misery on the attic stairs. Many an
orange and packet Of cake had Trixy
munched in Mr.. Bruce's room. MANY
a cool lotion had been put upon smartinp
cuts and vets by Mr.. Bruce's tender
hands. Many a tender caress and kind
word had passed the bearded lips to com
fort Trixy.
Others had come and gone and been
kind one day and cross the next rs the
mood seized them but Mr.. Bruce never
varied in kind words or acts, though he
often gravely reproved Trixy for her
very conspicuous faults, and tried to
correct her vulgarities of word and
thought.
1t would be impossible to give any
adequate idea Of the worshiping affec.
ton the child gave in return for this
kindly interest. All goodness. all man.
~ perfection. was TO her embodied in
the tall, blonde man who came between
her and her tyrant, or comforted her
grief.
Fourteen" lie said again. ''Trixy
y IS time You were at school, il you are
ever TO go!"
Away from your"
81 am going to Paris -
Utter blank misery fell over the child's
face.
TO Parish" she whispered with white
shaking lips.
Yes Trixy, for three years you will
be quite woman when come back"
"Ges2' faint and shuddering;
And must get away from here.
No easy task as Martin Bruce soon
discovered. lie was not a rich man
though his salary rs an engraver was a
very good one, and It required some per.
sonal sacrifice to carry out his plans for