Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-09-16
For His Sake.


there landed among them gentleman
who had been absent from England nine
years. All that while he had passed
under the burning suns of India. He
had suffered as soldiers suffer. He
had fought as soldiers fight. He had
met the soldiers fate of scars and
wounds, and one of them had invalided
him home to England.
1t was the first time he trod her
shores for nine years, as we have said,
and for the first time in any year he
was going to see his son, the little boy
born after he had left home, and whose
birth had been his mothers death.
Captain Penryn had only been mar
ried year when he was ordered abroad
with his regiment. Six months from
that day letter had reached him, tell
ing him his wife was dead. The letter
was written by an old nurse, the only
friend who had been with her. 1t end
ed thus;
"The baby, as fine child as I ever
saw, is thriving. I've done my best for
it. Its mothers last wish was that ]
should keep it, and perhaps. sir, as
some one must you'd as lief I any other.
| shan't be unreasonable in my charges,
and I'm very fond of him already. With
my duty to you in this dreadful trouble,
your servant. ANN GOLDEN"
The poor roken-hearted man almost
sank under the awful news. He had
loved his wife passionately, and when
the baby was old enough to travel she
would have come to him in India. brav-
ing its terrible climate and the life of a
soldiers wife abroad, because they could
not live apart. Now lie did not want a
little baby on his hands, and he wrote
to Ann, as soon as he could command
himself to do SO, appointing her his
nurse.
Every quarter since that time he had
sent money to her for the child's board
and clothes. A receipt was always re-
turned with "her duty, and the young
gentleman was doing WE'LL" and this
was all he knew of his Ellen's boy-the
child of a love that had been as strong
as it was tender.
Now that his foot was upon England s
shores again, and the meeting was very
near, Captain Penryn felt new thrills Of
father-love through his soldiers heart,
and longed for his boys presence.
He would take him to himself, he
said. They would live together sharing
each others joys and sorrows. He would
make man of the boy-not a soldier.
for he knew the trials of soldiers life
too we'll; but something very honorable
and creditable. He should be proud Of
him, and he hoped-ah, how he hoped
that Ellen's child would have Ellen's
face. "My beautiful girl" he said tc
himself, with the tears standing in his
eyes, show little l thought of this hour
when kissed her goodbye ]"
And then his heart grew even warm
er to the pledge of their mutual love.
He had the address that Mrs. Colder
had given him in his pocket. He glanced
at it now to refresh his memory as t.
the number. A plain, respectable stree
in one of London's suburbs he remem
bered it we'll.
"But my boy shall see better things
now that l am here,' he said to himself
81 am not rich, but 1 can deny mysel
many things to make him happy. vii
he love me, l wonder 2"
Then he thought how his own hear
had been won by toys and sweetmeats
and coming to shop where the forme
were sold, paused before the gay windoy
and commenced to make mental choic
between a red and gilt stage coach AM
horses and train of bright blue car
riages. He had discarded both for
box of scarlet coated soldiers, when sud
denly he felt tug at his coat tail. an
turning around, he found grimy littl
hand half in, half out of his pocket
He caught it at once, with his handkel
chief in it. and gripped it tight.
He was soldier, and to soldier tn
keeping of law and rule is a great thine
To give the little thief to q policema
and appear against him the next day
was his first thought; but, as the creat
ure stood there, shaking and whining
the fact of his dimutive size struck tb
captain. He perceived his youth, whic
was extreme, and he saw that, beside
!, being young, and small, and dirty, an
ragged, he was deformed. His quet
: little shoulders were heaped up to h
, ears, and his hands were like talons.
long and bony were they. The captai
held the wrist of his mannikin frml
still, but not angrily.
"What did you mean by that, sir
he growled slowly, STOPPING down
3 look into the boys eyes.
: :: "I'm to hook it, said the boy vii
: perfect candor. "0h. please let me gc
Oh, please let me go! Oh, please sir,
/ won't do it no more-never, oh, please
"l've mind to have you sent
u saf1 ip oo.I L. /