Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16

have turned out i'll, and spent the wealth
she brought him.
But had forgotten the shop in all this
reverie and reminiscence.
There was sharp twang Of the little bell,
and heard heavy step in the doorway. |
set down my coffeecup hastily, and hurried
| in to confront great muscular fellow with
| a big beard and a slouched hat, whose pres
| ence seemed fairly to wipe out the little shop.
This was rather different type from my
usual customers, and was little shy Of
him. lie hesitated, and seemed bewildered
when spoke to him--men never do get
used TO shopping-and it was some time be-
| fore quite made out what he wanted. II
was some sort of wooden goods-a scarf or
kerchief, | think These were not very
| salable stock just now, and had put the
box containing them out of sight some
where. While | rummaged about the
stranger stood in the doorway, watching me
in way did not like perhaps he wanted
to steal something. Helooked needy enough
and shabby enough
"Oh, here they are at last" said / eagerly,
handing down a package from high and
| dusty shelf.
The man did not seem to hear me. He
was looking at Toddles, darting about like
butterfly outside.
"Whose child is that ?" said he, abruptly.
It was an impudent question, and felt
my blood flush up hotly for moment. But
| reflected that this man looked wayworn
and weary perhaps he had come long
journey, and left a little child like this at
home.
at is my child" I said, pleasantly.
"Yours l' he repeated.
"Or at least" said /, if not mine, it was
| left with me to be cared for"
left with you," echoed the stranger
cay, so | have heard. Left with you by
| the wretched man, the outcast, the degraded,
who knew none else on whom to thrust his
burden when his tinselled wife fell from the
| tight-rope, and died there, grovelling in the
| sawdust-knew none other of whom to seek
charity than the woman who had loved
him."
| listened as one stupefed with opium.
What did this man know or guess concern
| ing me and mine? What object had he in
view in lingering about the shop? But l
said, coolly "That is story that needs to
] be proved
The stranger stopped and looked keenly
at me. "Verily," said he, with a low, sar-
donic laugh, she has reaped his reward, it
seems; he is both dead and forgotten"
began to feel afraid of this man, who
seemed bent upon insulting or alarming me.
81 pointed sternly to the door. "Sir, said
| |, off you are satisfied with the goods, beg
you will take them away. have other
things to attend to-"
| For moment after the great hulking
figure disappeared through the doorway Of
my little shop covered my face with my
hands, and all the past of my life rushed en-
tirely over me. had not outliyed it yet
after ALL
| Suddenly / remembered Toddles, and
! hastened to the door to look at her. My
customer had disappeared the huge willow
trunk hid the road from view, but felt re-
lieved, for there was my little one swinging
back and forth with the long pendants of
the willow. Only one instant l saw her in
the sunlight-one instant. There came a
rushing, tearing, and tramping, terrible
sound in the air, and great bull, tossing
| his horns furiously, and with eyes glaring
madly before him, came snorting and below
ing up the street. The great willow was in
his course, and, o God my little Toddles
Then l know not whether | tainted or
whether | screamed for help. / saw tall
| figure leap out from somewhere in the very
pathway of the mad animal, and the next
moment Toddles, half laughing, half crying,
was nesting in my arms.
| The man whom | had sent from my door
few minutes since stood looking on US
yearningly-the man who had snatched my
darling from its terrible peril.
"Both dead and forgotten, he said. "Oh,
Jeanette jeanette do you not know me 7"
The rainbow ribbons in the little shop
window spun dizzily round, and all things
grew dim before my eyes. For knew that
Richard Gray was come back to me. Poor
and degraded and deserted, perhaps, he had
come back to me.
He lifted his hat, and, STOPPING, kissed
the little one, who did not resist him.
al brought you my motherless little one
years agone. A beggar and sinner though
was, dared to pray your charity to my
child, whom its mother, flying from her
home, would have left to perish among the
gewgaws and clowns in whose company she
died. Yea, verify, my punishment has been
bitter. And shall | leave you now, Jeanette,
you and my child, and depart forever, hate
full in your eyes for all years to come-hate-
full when not forgotten ?"
But something filed my heart just then,
like the rush of mighty river looked
back at my quiet life, my bright little shop,
the years of silence and of sorrow. felt
Toddles' warm heart beating against mine.
He had saved her. And looked at Richard
Gray, and put my hand in his.
Since then have tried what it is to be
a lady in the far West-a lady in log
cabin, without china, or carpet, or neck rib
bons, and Richard says l have succeeded
Harper's Weekly.