The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-10-24
'Then must CO." she said. "Thank
you for being so kind to me, sir. Good

eyes. wondered at myself, but it was
so.
II should like to see the child again. -
l said; and as I spoke I sried crowd
about tavern door upon the road.
"What has happened, friends'' I asked
Of tinker near by.
"Only blind fiddler dropped dead,''
he said. "But there's a gal there wild
about it,"
And then I passed him and went in.
An old man lay upon the floor, and across
his body a girl had flung herself. I knew
the gypsy hair and the brown-neck, the
scant cotton dress, and the un-bonnet,
hung with handful OF wild flowers u Jon
the floor; and bent over her, touching
her little despairing head.
MY child" said, che is happier than
we are"
And she looked up.
HE was all had" she said; sall, all.
So / had thought when Aletta gave me
back our betrothal ring. My heart ached
tor her. l said no other word, but |.
her to another room, while two men bore
the dead man up stairs. She wept wild
~, but my presence seemed to comfor,
her.
After awhile she drew closer to me, and
sitting on stool, leaned her forehead on
my knee. Soon my hand rested on it
and in IN hour she had sobbed herself to
sleep.
| said a few words to the landlady
when l arose to leave, and she promised
to attend to my orders, enforced by the
contents of my pocket-book.
1.-THE girl shan't go until I hear from
you, sir" she said. "Indeed, I don,
know whether she would go. She seems
lfriendless; and such a child for her age
Thank you, sir"
And | went on my way again, thinking
not of Aletta, but of the dead fiddler's
grandchild-the sun Drowned waif, SC
simple and ignorant and friendless and
alone.
was young yet--not five and twenty
"a bachelor, and likely to be one my
life long. had no proper home to take
her to, and no friend to aid me. At last
in my extremity, thought of Betty-ol1
Betty, who had once been my nurse, and
who loved me as she might her own son
l-snd in the cleaning made my way
to her poor home. found her trim.
ming her vines in the bit OF garden
igTound, and had my usual kiss across the
garden fence even before the gate was
loDened.
"I've been thinking Of you," she said
81 knew it was you as soon as 1 heard
some one coming. Tisnt every young
gentleman would weary himself coming
to see an old lady like me. Sit down
honey, and rest"
II came to ask favor, Betty"
"Just name it, Master Berthe"
"Will you take boarder, Bette"
BLESS me ! in n two roomsa"
"Only child. Betty"
"A child, Master Albert2'
l told her of the fiddler's death, an d OF
the girl.
81 have money enough" I said, "but
no female relative. can only come
to you"
"You always were kind hearted from g
hoy" she said. "Ill take the little girl,
Master Berthe
Then she put both hands on my shout
ders.
"You haven't fretted, have your" she
asked.
"Fretteda Why3" asked.
NAY. why indeedi' SAID old Betty.
Better fish IN the sea than ever were
caught yet" Then in q moment more
she added, 1--WE been to see the wed
ding"
/ felt my face flush.
"Shall l bring the girl tomorrow after
her g:andfather's fdnerali' asked.
when you please" said Betty.
But Master Albert, what do you mean
to do with heri You are doing all this in
q hurry. Just think Bit"
Il am going to adopt the child"
raid. ut will make me happy to have .
young thing to care for.
Betty laughed.
"You1l have young things of your
own. please God, some day" she ssid.
aWhy, at your age,life is Before you"
II shall never marry" said.
sShe caught my fingers in . close grasp
with her horny hard working hand.
II wish you was back again . baby on
my knee, master Bertie," she said. sd
like to sing you to sleep - did then.
All it's grief to rs old women to see
the young we've nursed grow up 50 tall
and old, with their troubles to shut up in
their own hearts that We can't comfort
them. Goingf Well then good night
I'm ready for anything THAI will cheer
you, Master BERTHE. I ought to say Mas
ter Albert always, now, l suppose, bot
the old times do come back sor'
l left her leaning over her gate looking
wistfully at me, knowing - mother
nighs have known the grief which I had
buried in my heart And if her words
had given me pain, it was like some ONT |
ment which makes the wound smart in |
its very healing. It WAS something to be |
loved 50 we'll. even BY the old nurse.
Late the uext day I led my young
charge from her grandfafher's grave to |
Bettys cottage. She kept my hand upon
the rad - little child might. Trad NO |
thought but that she Vas one, until old |
Betty1 cry Of @Goodneo> Master Berthe,
| though you said yo1ne childi Why,
thb i agTown giEir starslsd - iniD