The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-12-07
When George is gone, Miss Won vlecls,

| You need not let your father know of this,
unless he asks you, and then tell the truth
and take the consequences" .
A few months after this interview, and
George had been sent to Cambridge, Drl
Spencer went to the mines, and sent word
down the shaft to have Jacob De Costa come
up. When the old man, begrimmed with
coal dust, found who his caller was, his faOe
betrayed the emotions he felt. I'd, ..i. ...
De Costa" said the doctor, in his brusk
business way. 81 want you to do me
| favor" ...
Yes, sirj yes, sir" repeated the old MN
er, nervously. ... ..
As lou have probably heard, some eight
or ten years before you came here, some one
carried away n child of mine"
"Yes, yes" Interrupted the old miner, his
hands and voice trembling.
"And my nursery girl was tried and SEN
fenced to twenty-five years imprisonment.
She might have been guilty, but if SO, she
has suffered quite enough, perhaps,and some
weeks ago, l petititioned the Governor to
pardon her. l received telegram this
morning from the prison keeper telling me
that she would be released to day and as she
is homeless and friendless asked what could
be done for her. telegraphed back to send
her to me. have really nothing for her to
do, and it would not be just the thing for
me to take her into my household. Now
what l wish to say is that you will hire her
say at S. per month to do your housework
and give he ra Glance to retrieve herself. Your
daughter is a bright girl, and ought to be al
lowed more liberty then is granted her at
present. Ifyou will do so l will have $25
per month extra added to your pay roll
Yes, sr-I will-send her to me-" said
old Jacob, his lips quivering with amotion,
and Q great tear making a streak through
the coal dust that covered his face.
GAN right" said the doctor and as the
old man turned away to 30 to his cottage,
and take the preliminary steps for the change,
the doctor said to himself, Well, after all
there Is more soul in old DeCosta then peo-
pie think" And stepping into the COM
pany's office, he instructed the paymaster's
clerk to add $40 extra every month till fur
ther orders, to Jacob DeCosta's pay, and
charge it to his account, commencing with
the one upon which the clerk was then at
| work. go.
One evening soon after, while Dr. Spencer
sat at his desk in his library looking over
large account book and comparing number
of papers spread out before him, he felt an
arm wind softly around his neck and raising
his head he met the happy, laughing face
and sparkling eyes of Minnie. .
"Ah, Minnie" he said, good-humoredly
were you trying to frighten me?' D.
90, no, only to surprise you some. o,
feel SO glad and happy doctor, thought Id
run over and tell you. You have always
been so kind to mel"
"Well, WE'LL" said the doctor encourag-
ingly. Tell me quick. Pm glad you did
come, now what has happened new?"
"Why you see, since you induced my
father to take poor Mary Kerns in his house,
he has changed. DR.. you don't know how
much. lie is more lively and talks twice as
much to me as he used to-" ..,t
"Oh, indeed! p said the doctor, laughing
at Mnnics artless enthusiasm and commu-
nicativeness. b..
Yes, and what do you think ?"
@Well, what, Minnie"
Why,when he came home this afternoon,
had the courage to tell him how kind you
had always been to me, and told him what
you said sometime ago about sending me
away to school, and now what do you think
he said ~ ......
al suppose" said the doctor, ironically
that he threatened to get a stick after me-"
"No; he said, fyou wished to send me
away, he was perfectly willing. Now if
you haveh't changed your mind" ..
"Oh, never change my mind" said the
doctor, initiating Minnle's enthusiasm, Gun
less find myself in the wrong. Yes, will
send you to Bethlehem, ifyou will promise
me one thing" .,
And as the doctor paused for moment
\ Minnie asked
"And what is that?" ..r .
"That you will not write any more to
George"
She looked the doctor curiously in the face
for a moment to see If he was angry at what
she heretofore believed he did not know,
But she saw shades of good humor darling in
his eyes
81 sm sorry" she said" because pro-
missed to write the news from home"
" You viii not be at home when you are
in Bethlehcm," said the doctor. You see
don't want George to know that you have
gone away from home to school. With his
head to full of knowledge that we shall all
have to carry dictionaries in our pockets, in
order to converse with him, it will astonish
HIM to find that you know as much as he
does"
" So it will" she said with merry musi-
cal laugh. Well won't write him any
more, only a few lines to tell him received
his letter to-day" .,,,
[" Well,st down and write it now, and let
me read it," said the doctor; aud she seated
herself at the table pen in hand and in a
few moments handed him the following.
DEAR GEoRGE.-They have found out that
we write to eaeh other,and am afraid they
won't let US write any more. If they do,
shall be so, so sorry. Don't forget me.
received your letter to-day. 1 shall not for
get you. Yours,
MINNIE.
DR.. Spencer laughed heartily OYER the let
ter as he read it then folded itj put it in
an envelope and said
A" That is good. But don't break your
promise. Here, direct and seal it, and will
mail it tomorrow, with another 1 shall
write, telling him that have learned of his
writing you, and he must do so no more.
He took out his pocket book counted 800
T and handed it to the girl.