The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-04-05

pell, anu heard heavy step In the door
way. get down my cofFee.cup hastily
and hurried in to confront great muscri.
LOT. fellow with big beard and SLOUGH
hat, whose presence seemed fairly 10 wipe
out the little shop. This was rather dlf.
terent type from my usual customers and
was q little shy Of him. He hesitaISd and
seemed bewildered when / spoke TO him
men never do get used 10 shopping-and
II was some time before quite made out
what he wanted. TWAS some sort OF wool.
en- goods-a scarf or kercLiei, think.
These were not very saleahle stock lust
now, and | had put the box containing
them out OF sight somewhere. While II
rummaged about, the stranger stood in the
doorway, watching me in q way did not
likei perhaps he wanted to steal some.
thing. He looked needy enough and
shabby enough.
"0h, here they are ct last" said /,
eagerly, handing down the package from
high and dusty shelf. The man did not
seem TO hear me. He was looking at Tod.
dies, darling about like butterfly out.
side.
Whose child is thatP" said he abrubt.
".
It was an impndent question, and felt
my blood flush up holly for q moment.
But | reflected that this man looked way.
worn and weary; perhaps he had come a
long journey, and left q little child like
this athome.
1T Is my child, said, pleasantly.
"Yours!" he repeated.
"Orat least" said l. III not mine, II was
lett with me to be cared for"
"Lett with yon," echoed the stranger.
"Ay, so have heard. Left with you by
the wretChed man, the ontcast, the de-
graded, who knew none else on whom 10
thrust his burden when his tlnseled wife
Tell from the tight.rope, and died there,
grovelirg 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 miner What object had he
In view In lingering about the shop? But
to be proved"
The stranger stopped and looked keen.
ly at me. "Verlly," said he, with low,
sardonic laugh, "he has reaped his reward,
1t seems; he Is both dead and forgotten,
began to feel afraid OF this man, who
seemed bent upon insulting or alarming
me. +:
pointed sternly to the door. "Sir,"
SAID !, III you are satisfied with the goods,
peg you will take them away. / have
other things to attend to-"
. For moment after the great hulking
hgure disappeared through the doorway
Of my little shop l covered my face with
my hands, and all the past OF my life rush. /
ed entirely over me. had not outliyed it
yet, after all.
Suddenly remembered ToddIes, and
fastened to the door to look after her.
My customer had disappeared; the huge
willow trunk hid the road from view, but
ielt relieved, for there was my little one :
back and forth with the long
pendants Of the willow. Only one instant
!, saw her in the sunlight-one instant,
There came rushing, tearing, and tramp.
ng IN the air, and agreat bull, tossing his
horns turiously, and with eyes glaring
nadly before him, came snorting and bel. Z
owing up tho street. The great willow
roddles! ''''''
Then l know not whether tainted or c
whether screamed for help. saw a tall '
tgure leap out from somewhere in front OF
he mad animal, and the next moment Tod.
lies, half laughing, half crying, was nest
ing in my arms.
The man whom had sent from my
loor lew minutes since stood looking on
Is yearningly-th man who had snatChed
ny darling from its terrible peril.
Both dead and forgotten" he said.
On, Jeanette! Jeanette! do you not
know me?"
The rainbow ribbons in the little shop B
window spun dizzily round, and all things
grew dim before my eyes. For l knew
mat 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
he little one, who did not resist him. i
y brought you my motherless little one
years agone. A beggar and a sinner
though | was, | dared to pray your chart.
y 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, 2
my punishment has been bitter. And shall
leave you now, Jeanette, you and my b
child, and depart forever, hateful in your n n
eyes for all years to come-hateful when Z
not tOrgottonE" T
But something filled my heart just then, !!
ike the rush Of mighty river. looked
back at my quiet life, my bright little shop,
he years of silence and OF sorrow. telt
Ioddle's warm heart beat against mine.
ae had saved her. And I looked at
Richard Gray, and put my hand in his.
Since then have tried to be o lady In Z
The lar West-a lady in a log cabin, with i
1ut china, or carpet, or neck ribbons, and