The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-01-10
THE CRIPPLE.


THE CRIPPLE.
Two young girls were standing by the
crossing waiting for an equipage to pass
drawn by a span az greys, who prARce>l
along as though proud Of their mounted
harness and liveried eoachmAn.
"Isn't il an elegant turnout And
60 think that all that style is wasted on
cripple.
The speaker was bright-looking but
evidently thoughtless girl, whose fancy
was taken by show and glitter more than
by more soid qualities.
Lucretia Armstrong's eyes had been
fixed dreamily ON poor child who had
been sweeping the pavement and whose
thin hand was reaching ont for a pitt
tanoe. She put coin into il, as she
answered
"I was not looking but why do yOu
say wasted on cripplef Has he no
mind or faculties TO toappreciate his bless
ings p
"What a girl you are 10 catch one mp
sol OF course he has as good an intel
lect as any one, and, by all accounts, bet
ter than most bat having everything
SO elegant makes his infrmity the more
conspicuous"
81 don't see why -
@Fhe spedkr~~Pansed abruptly, for
here, at the very booksellers where she
was about to enter, q carriage was drawn
mn. and a gentleman WAS ahghting from
!. helped by the footmAn, who gave him
his crutches, upon which he made his
way into the shop.
As he passed the friends he raised his
bet TO Kitty and smiled pleasantly.
I,ucretia's checks were burning at the
thought that they had been discussing
his infrmities, and she selected hel
paper in silence and hastened away.
As soon as she was well ont of the place
she said, earnestly:
q think that gentleman has the
most interesting face / have ever seen.
His ewes are superb--great luminous
wells Of thought. / wouldn't mind go
ing on crutches to own such face as
that"
Kitty laughed.
"Well, Cree, you always were an odd
little thing. see you haven't outlived
your little pecuharities. Have You still
vour collection of MANNED and exacting
pets? declare, il it had been anybody
but dear, lovable Cree Armstrong who
had turned herself into a nurse for ami
mails, we schoolgirls would have cut
Won in the old days. | suppose, how
ever. the child is father of the man, on
rather Tin this case) woman, and NJ
doubt you've kept up your practice,
since l left GOrton.
Lucretia smiled as her friend ratified
on. but merely said
81 see Won are the same Kitty-a,
much given to exaggeration as ever. Bu
who is the gentleman i? I see you know
him"
Ibis name is Gale Bertram. Brother
Charlie is very fond Of him, although ,
mere boy compared 10 him. Charlie hal
hobbies, you know, and Mr.. Bertram i:
so learned on almost everything under
the sun, that, if Charlie gets puzzled
all he has to do is TO go 10 his old gentle
man friend, and he's put straight in nC
time.
we're like you, poor Mr.. Bertram would
be laid upon the shelf for society,
fear"
"He doesn't care for society, so he't
be no loser"
"He's TO be envied for his indifrer-
ence, then, as he values il in its trus
light.
Kitty turned and looked at Lucretia
in a quizzical way from head TO feet.
"Well, my dear, if l did not see s
pretty, stylish young girl with my very
own eyes, / should rather say / wa,
talking with an aged philosopher, who
had outlived his youth. Lucretia -
this was said with great impressivtness
lyon shall have an Introduction.
foresee that Mr.. Bertram will be drawn
out of his shell"
'For shame, Kitty, said Cree, indig.
nantly al viii not be introduced after
such speech. should feel conscious
and uncomfortable after hearing hin
made fun Of. -
Kitty saw that she had gone too far
and turned the subject with ready tact
she was q natural tease, but did not like
to see any one in bad humor, and in that
way was restrained oftentime from
wounding by her mischievous propen.
sity.
Several days had passed since the
girls conversation, when the object Of il
cIlled to see. Charlie about the result OF
some experiment he had been making.
A newly-engaged servant answered
his ring.
All unused TO the ways of the family.
Instead of conducting the visitor to Char
lies den, as he called it, he was taken
directly 10 the music room, where his
young friend was listening to some
Scotch airs which Lueretia was singing
in her rich contralto voice.
AS he paused on the threshold for a
moment, an unobserved listener, she was
throwing her whole soul into the rem
dering Of "Oh, vert thou in the cauld
blast ?"
Tears were near his eyelids as she
concluded the plaintive little song.
Thoughts long before banished from a
mind which would not be morbid
looking resolutely at the.blessings vouch-
safed, instead of brooding over those
denied-now came ,thronging into his
mind with resistless force.
"Why, oh why could not the Great
All-Father' have taken my wealth and
left me an unblemished body? Then L,
too, could have looked forward to a
happy home shared by loving heart.
Now it is denied me. Lonely and
uncared for must I go through life r.
Thus for a few moments regretful
ideas came thick and fast.
But the song was ended, and, with an
effort, he became again his cheerful
self, as, balancing his broad shoulders
on his friendly crutches, he went for
ward.
Charlie greeted him cordially, and
introduced him to Miss Armstrong.
She bowed, and rising, went immedi-
ately from the room.
The recollection of Kitty's remarks
made her sensitive for nim, and she was
only too glad to escape from the
scrutiny of the dark eyes she feared
could read her thoughts on her too
expressive face.
Bertrarn attributed her departure to a
different reason.
Like all others, she wishes to avoid
showing her aversion to cripple" he
N thought, bitterly.
During her stay at the Langdon's he
formed a habit of calling often, and
never objected to being drawn by
Charlie into the family circle, although