Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-01-25
THE FAITHFUL GUEST.

There was something, forgot what, to
take grandfather aud grondmother away
from home one day in October Of the year
lived with them in Burns Hollow. lt'
may have been funeral or scmereligious
meeting, for they both drove oil dressed
in the gig, with old Ajax" haruassed
to it and after had tucked in grand
mas iron gray silk skirt and ran back to
the house for graudpa's spsctacles, and
hnd seen tina zig vanish in the distance,
telt lonely. Burns Hollow was louo-
some, rambling mansioh, which might
have sheltered regiment, had a ghostly
air about il when one wandered through
the upper rooms alone.
There woro but two servants in tho
Kitchen, IIaanah Oakes and tho Irish
lad Anthony. | heard them laughing
morriy together, FOR, though Hannah
was AZ old woman, she was full Of fun.
and in tvo minutes the door opened and
Hannah came with the tray.
"rleaso, MISS" sho sajd, as ,ho set it
down, "moy | eun over TO Middleton to-
night? My sistsr's daughter had il boy
last night, they say, and want to sea it
naturally IT'S the 0rst Two ever had Of
gwndoice or nephew"
Who brought the news ?" asked.
Anthony, miss. said Hannah. "He
mot George that's my uiece's husband
whom ho was cut after the COW, stray
ing as She always is, and told hlm to toll
Hannah she's u grondauut.h
You may CO." 1 said, "but don't
stay late. Grandpa and grandma may bo
away AL night, and feel nervous. To
bo sure, there is Anthony, but noyor
rely on him. Be certain not to stay lato."
| repeated this injunction with sort OF
fright stealing overme-ap preseulmont of
evil, light say-and something prompt
ed me 10 add; "Bo back at nine, 49,
Why, | cannot say bat foltas it by
nine | should bo In ,ome peculiar danger.
Hannah promised, aud after doing all
l required, went away, and board her
heavy shoes ou the garden walk outside.
Early as il was, had dropped tho cur.
tain and lighted the wax candle, on tho
mantol, ana l sat long after my ten, find
iuga certain compsnionship in il, as
women oSnll ages viii.
sat thus n long time, and was start
led nom my rovorio by n top at the door
"a tmid sort ofa rap 80 knew at once
that it was uota member OF tho house
nor an intimate friend. waited expect.
ing Anthony toopan tho door, but Gndng
he did not went to it my,olr,
thod grown quite dark, and the moon
rose late fhatnight. Al first could only
make out q crouahng Hgmo at the bot
tom Of the porch but when spoke 10
advanced, and by the light Of the han
0mp aaw black man, J had always
had ~ surt OF fear OF u negro, oud instinct
iYely .hnul, AWAY, buta. dill so he
spoke ina husky whispers; "Ths s
Ma.sa Morton's iu'tlt2"
" Yes" rcpdol, bot grandfather Is
out.'
! re'roated a3 h2advnosd,
"Plca.o, Miss" no sad, Judge n.
sent mo here. lle said mossa 'ud holp
me on. Lot me stay here "A night, Miss.
SO tabled Gve days since left him,
hidin like. So awful hungry, Pears
like d drop, an ole massa actor mo-
For do lab ob hcabcn, Miss, let me hide
somewhere, and glib me jss' Il crust
Massa Morton 'ud help me, nnd it's kept
me up. NiAus viii, know"
knew that grandfather had giyon
,uccor to some Of those poor wrclchos be-
tore but / felt that I might be doing
wrong by admitliusa stranger TO tho
house, during hi. absence.
Caution and pity struggled with me-
At hst said, You have noto from
the Julge, -upps.o, sir ?"
1 had some wrtin on paper" said
The man, but I'.e lost it dc night it
ruiued SO. All Miss l'se tellns the
I uun-Judge sent ms ms sure as Ia a
-iuner l'se been helped along SO far, aud
pears like re. to CAnady. Can't 30
bacl, noways. wife dare and young uns.
Got clear "a year ago, Miss, I1lpray tor
you ebry day Of my life ef you'il be ~
good to me. Tank you, Miss
For somehow when he spoke OF wife
and children 1 had stepped back and lot
him n
1t was the bacN hall door to which the
rap had come, and the kitchon was close
at hand led him hitber. When / saw
how worn he wss, how wretched and how
his eyes gli-tened, and how bi. heart beat
under bis rough bluo shirt, SO that you
could count tho pulses, forgot my eau
tion. ! brought out cold meat and bread,
drew mug Of CIDER and spred them on
the table. The negro ate, and | went to
Gud Anthony, to whom / intended to give
directions for his lodging throughout the
night.
10 my surprise, Anthony was nowhere
about the house or garden.
Hannah must have taken him with her
across tho lonely rood to Napoleon.
II WINS natural, but was angry.
Yet longoa for llannsh's return, and
listened very anxiousy until the clock
struck nlne. Then, instead OF her foot
stops, heard the patter ogaindrops and
the rumbing thunder, aud looking out
saw heavy storm coming on.
Now, certainly, grandpa und grandma
would not come, aud Hannah, waiting
lor ne storm torass, would not be here
for hours. However. nv fear Of tina ma.