The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-11-28

comparatively, she was always wanting
more.
And now he was coming Berry
screamed with delight.
"I shall tell Everleigh," she said. al
most instantly, and a little .spitefully,
"I dare say he'll speak now."
"It doesn't at all matter whether he
speaks or not, my daughter" said my
aunt, loftily, "when your uncle arrives
and we may look for him any day next
week-you will feel, my dear, that your
position in life is doubly secured.
Even Mr.. Everleigh would hardly be
match for you So now you and Maggie
go on with your work. I'm glad our
charity fair comes off tonight; we shall
be busy hereafter preparing for your
uncle. What a pity he couldn't be here
for Thanksgiving"
Having said this, my aunt sat down to
write out invitations and directions for
the charity fair. A devout church
member, and something of philanthro-
pist, was aunt.
"Mamma, mamma, I say" called
Jack, Berenice's hopeful brother, lad
some dozen summers old, thrusting his
curly head in at the door, "Have you
SOb any stdlo NlCbuulS, OT Olu ClObuOb, VI
anything to give awayP"
My aunt put down her gold pen, and
threw back the point-lace lappets OF her
breakfast-cap, with an air of annoyance.
Jack was such torment
"Why, Jack?" demanded Berenice.
"'Cause there's a beggar out here.
He looks awful hungry and amt got
20 overcoat say, mamma, can / give
him that cold turkey in the larder ?"
Mamma leaped to her feet.
"No. I want that turkey to mack
sandwiches Tor the fair /; don't dare to
touch it. Send the beggar away you
know 1 won't have tramps about the
place. Send him away, this minute /;
and go straight up to the library, and
write out your Latin exercises"
Jack turned from the door, a cloud on
his sunny face. Looking out of the
window, saw an old man, insufficiently
clad. Our big dog Carlo was snarling
at his heels. The beggar was 80 close
| to the window that he must have heard
every word my aunt said and he looked
crestfallen enough in consequence.
eft doesn't seem quite consistent" !"
[ remarked, for once letting my indig-
nation get the better of my love OF
peace, "to have the house about ones
ears, getting ready for charity fair,
and starving beggar walking from the
ioor unfed."
GA thieving tramp" cried my aunt,
| hotly. "Keep silent, Meg, and don't
interfere. It's none of your business
anyhow"
was prudent enough to make no re-
| ply, but my blood boiled, nevertheless.
Had remained much longer, should
have lost my self-control, fear so
got up directly, and saying that I had
promised to go home soon, left my
aunt's.
Our cottage was at the edge of the
wood, Just outside of the great gates /;
but the avenue was half mile long,
and before 1 reached the gates, I had
almost overtaken the beggar. He seem
ed not only old, but feeble, and walked
with difficulty he was probably deaf
also, as he did pct seem to hear my foot
steps. Just outside the gates, he met
my little sister, Kitty, who was return
ing from the wood, where she had been
to pick up sticks for our fire.
My dear" said the old man, address,
ing her, "can you tell me where I can
get bit of supper and a nights lodging
I am old and poor, and haven't the
money to go to o tavern. You look as
if you had kind heart, God bless it !
I've just been turned away from the big
house here; but perhaps you are not SO
hard-hearted as the mistress there"
Kitty's honest little face showed the
pity that she felt. But che was only a
child. and shrank from responsibility.
81 don't know sir" she said, diff
IDENTIFY. 81 think mamma will give you
something to eat; and maybe we can find
Il bed for you; that is, if sister Margaret
and sleep on the settee; for you see
our house is small. But, oh, here comes
sister herself" she cried, as she discov-
cred me, "and she'll tell you all about
it."
My heart was still hot with indigna.
ton at the brutality with which my
aunt and Berenice had treated the old
man. and l fastened to reply, warmly
"Yes, l will undertake that you shall
have supper and bed, although neither
may be as good as what they could have
given you up at the great house. But
what little we have, you shall share.
Stay, let me carry your pack for you. VI
He had q small one strapped on his back.
"Indeed, indeed, 1 am filter to do il
than you."
"Thank you," he said, slowly taking
a long look at my face, and then scru-
tinizing that of Kitty's. "You seem,
both of you, as if you were good children
and your offer to take my pack proves as
much. But I'll carry it myself, still.
Little one," and he turned to Kitty,
"what have you got those sticks for p
"For mothers fire, please" she said,
dropping little curtesy. 81 have just
been getting them in the woods"
My aunt" interposed, "who lives
in the great house here, kindly allows III
to pick up loose bits from under the
trees. We are poor, as sister says, and
so every little helps"
: "And you are duly thankful, I sup
pose?" said the old man, sarcastically
"Beggars must not be choosers, you
know, as heard just now myself"
blushed scarlet with shame for my
! aunt. "Indeed, indeed" cried, "yor
!, must not judge Aunt Mary too harshly
for l see, from what you say, that yor
overheard her. She must have been ou
OF sorts this morning
"And l suppose that voice which
!, answered her, and which I think
recognize" he interrupted, looking a
me keenly again, belonged to som,
one who was not out of sorts, eh ?"
Before l could answer 1 heard tn,
quick gallop of horse, and my poo
weak heart gave a great bound, for
recognized in that elastic football th,