The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-11-28
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER

side, and had lifted me in his arms, even
before the old beggar who stood 30 close
to me could stoop to assist me. eft is
only q sprain," stammered, trying to
free myself, yet feeling, oh so happy,
in those strong arms. 81 am sure can
walk"
"But 1 know you can't" said Mr.,
Everleigh impetuously. elbow shall I
ever forgive myself? 1t was nay rapid
gallop that made you start"
"No, no." cried, "I was talking to
this poor old man, and it came on me 80
suddenly-you are not bit to blame
only have been foolish. But do let
me try to walk"
My earnestness, joined to my strug-
giles, induced him to yield. He released
put my foot to the ground, the agony
my lip till the blood came, however,
and kept silence.
Mr.. Everleigh snatched me again into
his arms. ST knew it would be so" he
cried, "and now you must let me carry
you. john" and he called to groom,
who had been following him, "ride at
at once to DIR. Landor's. We must, my
dear Miss Chidleigh, have the foot ban
daged without delay"
"And I will lead your horse to the
cottage" interposed the old beggar,
"and tie him there. Come on, little
Kitty, you and will follow"
When we got home the house was
filled with the smell of crullers, which
mamma was baking for the feast
that was to be given, up at Aunt Mary's,
after the fair. Poor mamma, she looked
tired to death and when she saw me,
SHE fairly gave up for a moment but
Mr.. Everleigh, in few, kind words,
put her fears to rest and long before
the physician came, my injured foot was
swathed and bandaged, 80 that DIR.
Landor declared he had been regular.
ly taken in"
When evening came my foot was ever
so much better; 80 much so, that, when
Mr.. Everleigh returned with q carriage,
and insisted that we should all 90 up to
my aunt's to the fair, as we had prom
ised, was only too willing to consent
| For the first time in our acquaintance,
manner that made even me, humble as
| WAS tuluh bud1 WAS uOb WltuOut u
charm for him.
The beggar had crept, unobtrusively,
into corner while my foot was being
bandaged, but Kitty, remembering him,
left me when she found the hurt was not
serious. "Poor old man," she said
"we had really forgotten you. You
must be huLgry. Here, eat some OF
these crullers, and when mamma has
finished with Maggie she will make you
a cup of tea."
The cup of tea was made in due time,
and substantial supper set before the
mendicant; in fact, all the cold meat we
had in the house. When Mr.. Ever
leigh returned, and we proposed to go,
the old beggar rose to his feet:
&c 1 am a stranger to you, ma'am," he
said, addressing mamma, "and natur-
ally you will not,wish to leave me here in
Your house. I will wait outside till you
come back"
"Wait outside?" cried mamma, "and
in the cold? No, your face is an honest
face, if there ever was one. Sit down
again, here by the fire, and stay, and
sleep here tonight and take dinner with
us tomorrow. 1t will be homely meal
for a Thanksgiving one, but such as it
is you will be welcome to it."
"God bless you, ma'am," said the
old man, with shaky voice, and 1
I thought saw tears in his eyes. am
sure I heard him murmur, as he turned
away to hide his emotion "Of such is
the kingdom of heaven"
The charity fair, as the reader, by
this time has understood, was to be
held in my aunt's spacious apartments
Everybody was to be there. The gov
ernor even, who was on a visit to his
brother, a near neighbor, was expected
to attend. One of the senators for our
State was also to be present. 1t was to
be most brilliant affair.
So, when the dining room was all
a-glitter with lights, and echoed with gay
voices, and shone with handsome dress
es, and beheld the presence of the most
distinguished society of the county and
was filed with stalls of pretty things,
the big, chintz-covered chair was
wheeled into the hall, and I, my sprain-
ed foot resting on cushion, sat in it,
with table of pretty knick-knacks be.
fore me and Mr.. Everleigh by me.
My aunt did not look in good hu-
NOR, however, though her fair could
not have been more of a success, and
though everybody praised her philan-
thropy. Berenice, too, wore scowl,
that spoiled all her blonde beauty.
Somewhere about ten o'clock, when
business was at its briskest, there came
roll of wheels on the drive and bnstle
at the door. Presently, Jack, who ha6
gone to see what was the matter, rushed
back, his gray eyes dancing.
"Oh Berry, I say" he cried out
sitting burst of laughter, "You know
the beggar? The old man we turned
off this morning? Well, he's bacl
again; here at the door, and, oh my
buttons, but he's our uncle from China.
MY aunt, in her black silk and poin
lace, stood behind stall of cakes ant
ices. She turned sharply at jack
words. He saw her look OF consterna
tion, and screamed with laughter again
ST say, now, mamma, it is true
Don't you wish you'd let me give hin
the cold turkey, instead OF making i
into sandwiches" ?"
NV aunt did not utter word. Blu
she hurried to the door, and Berenic'
followed.
There he stood, our long-expecte1
uncle from China, little, weather
beaten old man, with pinched, pal'
face. A wicked twinkle Lit his eyes
NY aunt rushed up to him at once, an'
would have smothered him with kisses
But he merely gave her the tips OF hi
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