The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-09-07

fine face"
oh, yes" said Mr.. Niles, giggling,
Il know. One of the strong minded
sisterhood."
"She has an exceptionally clear head
for business, if that is what you mean, -
replied Mr.. Abbott "Rides the suf-
frage hobby hard, [ believe; but child
less women must have some such out
let. But she has amassed a consider
able fortune by her business tact
"Indeed?" said Matthew, gravely.
He looked at Sarah with altered eyes
He had a respectful awe of anybody
who could make money.
The train rolled swiftly on. Doctor
Sarah talked to Eli, who accompanied
her as far as Philadelphia, of her argu-
ment on the sixteenth amendment, but
her eyes under her veil scanned de-
iberately her old lover and his child.
How miserably poor they must be!
Matthew did not wear now the new
suit which Mrs. Epps had given him,
the child's clothes, her hair, her man.
ner, all showed the lack of a mother 5
care.
"But it's no business of mine," she
said.
Il leave the cause in thy hands"
said Eli, parting with her ut Philadel-
phia. 1.-The eyes of the country will
be upon thee tomorrow"
Evening was falling. The train
rolled smoothly on in the soft twilight
through the drowsy Maryland villages,
with negroes Longing in crowds about
the stations, through rich pastures
crimson with clover, and the old apple
orchards; over long bridges, with
stretches of gray tapping water be-
meath, and here and there a tilmy sail
moving dim and spectral in the faint
shine of the rising moon.
Doctor Sarah pointed them out to
Matthew, who now sat behind her.
4" Surely ghost sits at the rudder yOn-
der 1t might be Charon coming for
us in his boat" she said.
Matthew smiled. Women were all
silly and fantastic alike. But it was a
kindly smile. The little mans aff'ec-
tionate heart smote him for his rude
ness. She had meant kindness, and he
had snubbed her brutally. She could
not be a bad woman, when Mr.. Abbott
thought so well of her. He. was glad
when Winny went over and sat down
by her. The lonely, neglected child
had understood the meaning in the
wOman's eyes. Presently she fell
asleep, and Sarah put her arm about
her and drew her down on her shoulder
Then Matthew came over to them, and
the doctor nodded and smiled and
pointed out CharOn and his boat.
After all it was comfortable to be in
accord with his old friend again. 1t
was friendly world! That little Mrs.
Epps, now, was a good Christian soul,
though she had her whims. Matthew,
although conscious that he was the
only entirely sane person in the world,
felt tonight a sense of the beauty and
goodwill and happiness in it as never
before. Usually his little mind was
kept acerb and restless by the stringent
want of money. But this evening he
needed nothing. He looked at the
nodding passengers in the silent car
with a good-humored smile, and then
at the sleeping valley flooded now with
the light of the risen moon. 1t was the
time when, if he had been at home, he
would have had prayers with the chill
dren. He always had the feeling, as
they knelt, that their mother was near
them. 1.-The Lord is our shepherd"
said the devout little man, silently.
He leadeth us beside the still waters"
The valley before him wavered gid
Oily; there was deafening roar, hot
rush of vapor, and then he was lying
in the wet grass, the moon going out in
darkness.
Doctor Sarah was unhurt She gath
cred her legs and arms out of the mass
of struggling bodies, and then, without
a word, began to tug at Winny. The
child did not move. DR.. Sarah pres
emily caught at the arm of a burly fell
low who was shouting out terrified
oaths and questions.
"Try and compose yourself" she
said, grimly. ave have run into a
freight train, and half of us are killed.
Take hold of this child. She is a
cripple"
Cripple? God help us! She's done
for, then. | believe I'm not hurt"
shaking himself. He drew Winny out
with exceeding gentleness, and carried
her to the field, followed by Sarah.
"It's too late, ma am" as he laid her
down.
The doctors practiced hands were at
work. mo; she is alive, but her other
leg is broken. What village is that?"
For the people from the next station
were crowding about the train.
1t proved to be Matthew's parish. In
half an hour he was carried to his own
house by some of his Pensioners, who
seemed very fond of the little man.
He was conscious, and the physicians
could find no external injury.
1T is the steam which he has swal-
lowed" said Doctor Sarah. Bring
the other children to him. 1t will be
too late in few minutes"
1t was such bare little house, Her
keen eye took note of every mark of
poverty even while she stirred draught
for the dying man. The village doctors
were busy with Winny.
at is compound fracture" one of
them said. "A case for months"
Have these children no kinsfolk?"
demanded Sarah.
"None. Poor Mr.. Niles has scratched
along as he could for them alone"
land what is to become of them
now, God only knowsr' groaned a