South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-01-11

heard me speak OF my dear friend, Mrs.
GoldthSaite; IL you could only fiud her.
NellieI But. alas, have not heard Of
her for years But there's a letter: |
wrote it when Twas in before; YOU will
find t under the cover OF my Bible
Nellie II is .dressed to my dear friend,
Alice Goldthwaite. Ii by any chance
you ever hear of her, send that letter
and she will be your second mother.
You won't forget Nellie?
No, Mamma, | won't forget
Then there was silence The labo.i ing
breath became slower. the white face
more ghastly. Nellie sh-ielled aloud in
her terror and agony.
Mamma, Mamaia, tell me what to
do?"
You can do nothinr. my darling? Oaly
kiss rae. Nellie. Oh Father in lIeay-
en-. into Thy tender han $ commit
MY fatherless c,nld'
And that was the end. The white
lips spoke no more. NclIie's mother
was dead.
Nelly vas now wholly rriendless.-
Bat Mrs. Hathaway. OF Walnut Hill,
being in need of II girl TO look after her
baby. offered her home. Nellie had
no choice but TO accept the offer,
For long. weary year, she had lived
there, until that wjntry afternoon, which
opens our story. A little maid of all
work, doing any and everything that
came to hand. and receiving small thanks
and encourage and smaller pay.
Take Robbie into the library. Nellie,
while Jane tides up the nursery com
manded Mrs. Hathaway 'and be sure
you don't let him get into mischief
Nellie obeyed Robbie was rest
less little fellow, and for some minutes
he kept her close at his heels; but at
last, she got him quoted over picture
book aud then she drew small scrap
Of paper from the pocket Of her dress,
and began o examine it closely. 'Chas.
Goldtwaithe, Esq. Attorney at law.
Grafton were all the legible words the
bit Of newspaper contained. For weeks
Nellie had carried it in her pocket.
i wonder where Grafton is, AMI if
Charles Gol,lthwaite knows anything of
Mammals flieui?' she thought looking
wstiully out into the falling twilight.
Crash and loud scream from Mas
ter Robbie. Nellie turned round. The
little fellow bad climbed in chair, and
pulisl down hts m9tlier'- pet Dresden
vase, and shivcred 10 into fragments.
Oh! Ny buttons See What Roh's
done Won't You catch it, Ncll?' cried
Rosabel. putting her head in ut the door {;
I'm going straight TO tell Mamma
In two minutes Ms. Hathaway ap-
pcared.
You wicked idle. lisobcdient. girl
she cried, pale with anger; didn't
charge YOU to keep Robbie ont of mis-.
chief? Take that. and that, and that :;
and | wish you'd take yourself out of
my house you're not worth your salt
She strnck the child sayagely. as she
spoke, blow after blow Then. gather
ing up the fragm nts o; the vase, she
bounced ont OF the room.
Nellie hail not uttered one word, but
her dark eyes were filed with tears. her
lips quivered, her little heart tbrobbed,
almost 10 bursting. Poor. motherlcss
child. There was no one to take her
part She lifted Robbie in her arms,
and carried him to the nursery; then
taking her shawl and hood from tho rack,
she put them Oh, AMI stole silently from
tie house
i will not stay another hour she
said. i must try and ind poor Nam
mas friend
Away she went across the yard lit
tie. homeless bird. seeking shelter
from the storm. On and on, past the
village church past her mothers grave,
white with the winter snow; over the
fields, and down TO the station, where
the lights were twinkling in the dark
ness. The train was on The point of
mOyis2 out.
Please. sir. viii this train take mo 90
Grailon2 she inquired
Grafton? Not quite That's some
miles on ahead from tho next station.
All aboard =
The train was moving. Nellie went In
With the rest. When thc fare was cols
Iected. she took her little purse from
her pocket. apj poured is contents into
the conductors hand.
i hope there's enough TO pay sir she
said, simply.
lie gave hec back some change. and
smiled kindly 30 her, rs he disappeared.
Aud through the wiutry darkness. the
train flew on. Will: her little face close
TO tie glass, Nellie watched the ayinr
trees rs The slow hours went by.
At Int, the train stopped 40 a little
way-sidc station.
Passengers Tot Grafton somebody
shouted.
Some ha'f.adozeu persons got out
anil Nellie followed them but they soon
disappeared, aud she found herself
standing, utterly alone. under the dim
light OF the winter stars.
a sudden sense Of desolatiou possess.
ed her. and che began 80 cry. and re-
greet The rash step she had taken.
While she stood titus. an old man came
along with q lantern iu lis hand. He
stopped short at sight Of the lonely. lit
tie figure.
Hello wha:s this%
Please, sir. want 90 % 20 Grafton.