The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-10-24

gone missed her strangely.
Invent home when the church was quite
empty. 1t had not been as hard to bear
as had feared. and oddly enough found
myself thinking OF that child little cyp-
sy head and those beautiful long tringed
eyes. l 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 a 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 sun bonnet,
hung with handful OF wild flowers u oon
the floor; and I bent over her, touching
her little despairing head.
My child" said, "he is happier than
we are.'
And she looked up.
Gle was all had," she said; ''all, all. >
So l had thought when Aletta gave me
back our betcothal ring. My heart ached
tor her. | 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 comfort
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 an hour she had sobbeo herself tc
sleep.
l said a few words to the landady
when | arose to leave, and she promised
to attend to my orders, enforced by the
contents of my pocket book.
1.-The girl shan't 90 until hear from
you, SIR she said. "Indeed, I don
know whether she would 90. She seems
triendless; and such child for her age
Thank you, sir"
And went on my way again, thinking
not OF Aletta, but of the dead fddler's
grandchild-the sun Drowned wait, SO
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 10 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
and IN the cleaning made my way
to her poor home. / found her trim
ming her vines in the bit or garden
ground, and had my usual kiss across the
garden fence even before the gate was
opened.
ave been thinking OF you," she said
II knew 1t was you as soon as | heard
some one coming. Tisn't 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 a boarder, Bette"
Bless me. in IT Y two rooms9"
Only q child, Betty"
"A Child, Master Alberto
| told her of the fddler's death, an of
the girl.
81 have money enough" I said, .'but
no female relative. l can only come
TO you"
You always were kind hearted from! e
boy" she said. I'll take the little girl
Master Berthe
lnen she put both hands on my shor,-
ders.
You haven't fretted, have you7" she
asked
"Frettedl Whyl" asked.
Nay, why indeedl" said old Betty
Better fish IN the sea than ever were
caught yet Then in moment more
she added, 1--we been to see the wed
ding"
l felt my face flush.
"Shall bring the girl tomorrow after
her g'andfather's tdnerall" I asked.
when you please said Betty.
But Master Albert, what do you mean
to do with herr You are doing all this in
a hurry. Just think Bit"
Il am going to adopt the Child"
laid. ut will make me happy TO have
young thing to care for.
Betty laughed.
you'll have young things of your
own. please God, some day" she ssid
WY, a. yoOt oSc,titc - oCioic you
Il shall never marry" said.
"She caught my fingers in close grasp
with her horny hardworking hand.
II wish you was back again baby on
my knee. master Berthe" she said. I'D
like to sing you to sleep as l did then.
All . it's grief to Us 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 that will cheer
you, Master Berthe. l ought to say Mas
ter Alder always. now. / suppose, bet |
the old times do come back so,''
left her leaning over her gate looking
wlstfuliy at me, knowing as mother /
Iulgh. nave known the griet which had
buried in my heart. and if her words
hsd given NE pain, it was like some ONT
ment which makes the wound smart in
its very healing. II was something to be
loved so well, even by the old nurse.
Late the next day l led nv young
charge from her erandfathers grave to
Bettys cottage. She kept my hand upon
the road as little child might. Irad no
thought but that she was one, until old
Betty's CRY of Goodness. Master Berthe,
though you said . young child! Why,
his is 8 grown 0irlg- sfarfled me INN