Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1878-02-21
Joanna folded her arms. and stood wait

was toen young bride. having married
an American gentleman. She was French
aud so was !. but we had been living Ia
England since her parents died. when she
was child. NV mistress was at school
educating herself for governess; but her
health gave way. and she was obliged "a
| give up her studies. She had no relatives
and she was quite poor for she was sent "a
school by an old lady who had taken a
fancy to her, and had died leaving her a
sum to educate herself with. Well. the
gentleman had become acquainted with
her case, and he took care Of her. and mar.
ried her in . few weeks afler she left
| school. We came to this country about a
ynr aftsrward. We lived at q boarding.
house In New York. Soon after We came
over. the gentleman was obliged to return
to England to secure ssme property which
belonged 70 him there. He was 70 be
back a. soon as the trip could be made.
We'll. mistress waited as well a. she
could poor thing. She Was quite alone
but for me. When the time he had set for
his return passed by, and he did not come.
she became quite III. / don't know how
long we wated-it seemed like months,
and she grew worse all the time till her
baby was born. Then she got another
letter from her husband. He had been
delayed by business. but would come In
the next steamer. without fail.
"She was getting stronger fast. and was
looking for him hourly. when news came
that the vessel was lost at sea, and his
name was not among the few that were
saved. She only lived two days. She
begged me 10 take care Of her baby, and
died in my arms.
II had cousin living 10 PENNSYLVANIA !:
| had her address with me. took the
child and what money my mistress had
LEFT, and went TO the place: but she had
moved West the people said.
II was a stranger. and hobody would
employ me. l started on foo. to the sea
port; for thought. II could only get
back TO my own country. could live and
keep the child. had still enough money
LETT me TO pay my passage across. But
was obliged 10 spend some Of u, and bv
the time I reach ed this village I was SO
tired and dlscour aged that was ready for
almost anything.
II passed this house In the afternoon OF
that drcary Christmas eve. and 1t looked
So guiet and peaceful that | thought,
What good shelter 1t might be for the
poor homeless baby Arer had passed
down the hill and left the villsge away on
my right. looked back and saw the white
honse still looking down on me from the
hill, and Il seemed TO draw me back, |
walked on I'LL night. but found no place to
stay. aud then made up my mind to come
back
Il reached the foot OF the hill a little
after midnight, and walked back and forth
with the baby in nv arms to keep warm.
until near daylight. 1t soon began 10
snow, but | wrapped the baby so snugly In
its blankets that il kept warm all the while
la ha.l .l.y b. Il,
few things that intended leaving with il.
After had placed II on the steps, hid in
the grove Of oaks outside the gate. until
saw the smoke curling from your chimney.
Then crept away, and, leaving the village
road. kept In the by-ways until got some
distance into the country. met some peo-
pie moving hto another State. aud they let
me 20 with them"
And where are you going now?" asked
Joanna. looking Ia her face.
Il am going back TO my own kindred, If
can live 10 reach them. have 4 little
money, you see. but il Is to take me across
the ocean"
His name was Philip westmore.
That man" gssped Joanna, What
have you doue, womau?'
The tramp woman shrank from Joanna's
fierce eyes. What have done:' she re-
peated vaguely.
There isn't living SOUL" said Joanna,
''who dares 10 breathe that name TO my
mistress. And now-Hush."
Joanna" called her mistress, impera-
lively
Obeying the summons. she found Miss
Grey sitting by the Ore with little Emily In
her lap. The hoarse, peculiar cough, never
heard hy nurse or mother without . thrill
OF alarm, told that Group had seized It's vic
tim.
Run for DR.. Vincent" said Miss Grey.
briefly; and In another minute Joanna had
thrown a shawl on her head aud was
tramping through the siar-lit night.
DIR. Vincent was not In his Office. He had
been called to a patient several miles away.
Josnnas visit had caused little stir In the
village hotel, In an upper room of which
the doctor bad his Office; and as she wa,
turning away from the door. a gentleman
came out and said, In pleasant, courteous
tone:
III you are In want of physician, per
haps can be Of service 10 you"
Come on then, II you please said Jo-
anna.
He put on his hat said few words to
the landlord, and started in the wake OF the
woman, who walked at an astonished pace,
Wv no ls your mlstress! re asked.
Miss Grey. sir"
"Ah. indeed" with which exclamation,
whatever II might me an. the stranger re-
lapsed into silence that was not broken
until they reached the house.
Joanna opened the door of the sitting
room, and stood aside for him to pass.
"Walk in, sir" said she. And he walked
into the full glow of the fire-light, and saw
the woman sitting by the hearth, with the
child on her knee. 1t was sound asleep
now. Miss Grey had administered a guam
tity of alum and sugar. which "acted like
charm" and little Emily sluHbered
peacefully on the bosom which had grown
more soft and womanly since the baby head
had nestled there.
'rhe tramp Oman stood behind Miss
Grey's chair. As the tall figure In the door
way stepped into the light, there came
cry OF surprise and terror from the strange
woman. and smothered gAsping sound
from Miss Grey. And then, for the first
time in her life, Joanna thought her mis-
treas was going to faint, she looked SO
white and stricken, all At once.
Miss Grey" said the stranger. 10
voice that trembled. .perceptibly. perhaps
you recall lny name7 was told that you
needed doctor, and as DR.. Vincent was
absent, came to offer my services. ButlI
WAS not aware At the time that was about
to intrude upon you. madam"
Miss Grey lifted her head. THANK you.'
she said. trying to speak In the regal tone
that was her own,-"I believe the danger
is past, and can happily dispense with
your services"
She did not ask him to be seated. and he
still stood with hat In hand. locking upon
her with an expression half proud, half
pleading. She drew the child to her breast
with a gesture that said, - plainly as
though her lips had spoken it. You shall
not touch her,"
The tramp-woman came forward step
or two. looking from one to the other. and
spoke. a. though the words CAME without
any vOltion Of hers
The child Is his. lady"
The stranger looked at her In kind Of
stupOr OF surprise. that gave way In mo-
ment to eager excitement.
Martha ElsOn ~ he calculated quickly;
but before he could utter anything more.
Miss Grey had risen to her feet and stood
before them with flashing eyes.
What did you say, womanT' she cried,
fiercely.
s.This is hia huhv masam auswerod