Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-02-27

makes her way somewhere with her
prixe-it doesn't much matter where.
But there comes up a storm at midnight,
! binding, blood-chilling storm, that
might make veriest tramp thankful for
shelter Old Ware, sitting motionless
in his upper chamber, hears the rafters
shake overhead. He listens; perhaps
he is afraid the old house will come
down over his head. The wind raves
and shrieks about window and doorway.
He gets up by-and-by, and lifting the
dripping sash. looks out into the road.
He sees nothing; no boys will rob his
melon patch tonight, and no beggar
come whining to his gate. Afar off,
where the road circles toward the south
land, old Betsey has crawled into the
shelter Of way-side barn. No, there
is ncthing to be seen any where about.
Tinsothy shuts the window with shud-
der, and crawls to bed.
A week after this, Rebecca, sweet and
tintless as n new sMow.drop, stops at
the gate once more.
"Old Betsey, my poor old vagrartt,
left us last night, neighbor," she says
e The blankets aad pillows thee sent
were very great charity, but she
needah our charity no more"
No morew repeated old Ware,
vacantly.
"She died last night" answers Re-
becca. and iaer lip trembles little.
There is mo reply. Rebccca does not
break the long, long pause. She is
used to tic old mans moods. Finally
she sets her face to the road again; it is
getting late.
Rebccca," says the old man. alb
ruptly, placing his bony hand upon
hers Kesecca, you-you needn't put
her in Potsers Field She mighln't rest
easy, you know"
q have no such superstitions,
friend" SAID Rebecca, smiling sweetly.
y" 1t can make very little difference to
her now where she rests, poor Nameless
wandcrer7
'Shc had name once" says
Timothy, standing erect. with strange
flush on his face. A bright and beauti-
full woman once was my wife, Elizabeth
Ware
A long and weary winter has passed;
a summer has frightened and faded;
the autunea twilight is settling softly on
bloom and barrenness, as old Ware
stands ut his gate once more, looking
down the road. In his hand is some
thing wrapped in white, which he sets
upon the gate post as II gray-clad grace
full figure comes walking up the road.
" Rebecca,'" he says, 81 return your
napkin"
"Nay," says Rebecca, recognizing
her own initials" nay, friend, l have
an abundance"
"Open it," interrupted the old man.
abruptly. The gentle Quakercss is
used to humoring his moods, and as
she unties the linen, diamond ring
rolls glttering out upon its edge. There
is a box of shining trinkets within and
n small gold watch
They were all hers once, in the old
times" says old Ware, huskily, abe
fore she left me. You may keep cm
for her sake, and We will" lie pauses;
there is no answering movement from
Rebecca "Or," he adds, with irrita-
ton and sudden energy, "Ill Just heave
'em overheard when | quit here for
good and all. Yes, III quit here for
good and ALL | never had no home
nor no friends-she spoiled all that
and may as we'll finish it out that
away"
Rebecca clears her throat. at has
long been borne in upon me, Friend
Timothy" she says, in n high, con-
strained voice, as one who delivers a
difficult message it has long been
borne in upon my mind that thee is
living too much alone. There is none
to look after thee, or fix thee up bit
comfortable for the winter; and l have
had clear leading from the Lord
which l have suffered hitherto to be
hidden in my heart-it is that should
offer thee home with me Neighbor
Timothy, if so be it seems good in thy
sight"
"a home?' said Timothy, looking
up queringly at his weather-beaten old
mansion "As how, Rebecca %
AS how, Rebecca? There was n
group Of small boys hidden just below
the hedge, in the opening where the
great apple-tree dropped its fruitage on
either side the rails Tom and Jim
and Dick were there, bare-leggcd, and
sly as weasels. OF course the apples
belonged to them on that side of the
fence; but then night was the safest
time for getting them. There was no
outstanding the logic Of old Wares
dog by any argument of justice and
fair play. The twilight had quite faded
now, Il pale moon shone in the heavens,
and there at the gate stood Rebccca,
with her hand in Timothy's.
whist, fellows whist We needn't
to run" cries Tom. "Shes goin' to
have him for her ole man. Bully for
her ,NLeW neNer set tint dawn onto n