South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1879-09-19

gan taking dishes from the closet, sing
ing as she did so.
She broke oil in her song abruptly.
Il believe could feel as liuht-hearted
and gay as any young girl, If could
but rent my house. she said. aloud
Then she sighed, aud for some reason
did not resume Der song.
December went swiftly by, and the
new year beg an, aud yet Miss Abbic's
house had not been rented. The biz
placard still hung in the front window,
aud the members OF tho sewing circle
still gossipped over Miss Abbie's folly.
predicting that no tenant would ever be
found. The little joke about the Gaze
and the bird had been laughed over and
repeated until there were few people in
Baycross who lad not heard it. But
no one ever heard murmur from the
owner Of tho house.
Il think l will 60 over and open the
windows of my house, Louey. am so
much afraid it will grow damp if not air.
ed, and | don't think we shall soon have
q brighter day than this said Miss Abbie
20 her sister, one cold, clear morning, in
the last week in January.
1t makes very little difference wheth.
or it is damp or dry, so far as l see,'
answered Louise.
Il must keep The cage dry, or my bird
may catch cold when he fics in" said
Miss A5bie, with laugh. as she put on
her bonnet and shawl and went out.
Bat twenty minutes later she came
running back all out OF breath, and
dropped exhausted into kitchen chair.
'Loncy," she gasped run for Dir. Day
amt Mr.. Catherwooj. Tell them TO come
ut once there's is man in my house"
Louise waited TO ask no questions.
but frightened at her sisters pallor, ran
of 20 summon help.
Miss Abbie had recovered from her
exhaustion when tho gentlemen came in
with Louise, and quickly led the way TO
her new house.
i went into the parlor, the frs. thing
she said, IS she almost ran along and
was frightened almost TO death by see
ing man lying on the floor, his head
covered with blood. lie must have
struck 1T on the marble mantel. | sup
pose the poor fellow went in there TO
spend the night, &, stumbled in the dark
a tramp OF course said Mr.. Day.
Il think he must be- replied Miss Ab.
bic, for his clothes arc dreadfully dirty
and ragged
Il suppose he forced open one OF those
parior windows" said Mr. Catherwood.
These tramps never slicll at anything.
They are curse 10 the country"
"A drunken law!ess, vagaboni set"
said MI. Day. who had lost good many
chickens lately from his hon house.
The man still lay on the floor in an
unconscious state. He evidently belong.
ed to the tramp species, for his clothing
was soilcd aud ragged, and by his side
was soiied handkerchief in which a
few biscuits were tied up. His head
was badly Gu, aud the blood was trick.
ling slowly from the wound
w hat shall We do with The wrctch?"
asked Nj. Catherwood.
Garry aim 20 my homo at once" said
Miss Able. i will send for nurse
and - doctor.
You can't be in earnest, N - ABhie,'
cried Mir. Day. You surely won't hayo
this dirty, abandoncd--
Yes but will cried the little spin
ster. j found linn in my house, and it
is plainly my duty to care :or him. ]
would DO as much for dog, and this
poor creature has q soul. Don't stand
taking, please, but pick him up.
BOth these gentlemen shrugged their
shoulders. and smiled.
i don't envy you the job Of nursing
him, Miss Ab6ie,' said MIR. Catherwood.
And be Will steal your watch and all
you5 silver spoons. IS soon as he gets
better, said Mr.. Day.
I'll risk H. said Miss Abbie, in q
cheerful tone. POOR fellow | suppose
he has seldom known the luxury of
decent bed
Louise was standing in the kitch en-
doorway, waiting for her sister. She
gave shrek OF horror, when she saw
iie two gentlemen enter tue house with
their unconscious burden.
/ on are surely not 40 mad as 20 think
OF having him here. Abbie, she cried.
Don't say word, Louey, for It will
he useless / will take al The RESPONSE.
bility OF this affair
oh. shat wretcho5 house 7 exclaimed
Louise. 1t brings "a nothing but misery.
'Ihis - my bird, said her sister,
smiling.
And such q bird + moaned Louise.
Day had taken oil tho tramp's ragged
clothes, and put him into tho white soft
bed IN Miss Abbie's spare room, then
one OF them went for doctor. and Miss
Abbic, with basin Of warm water and
sponge. bathed the blood from the
head OF the poor fellow thrown 40
strangely upon her mercy.
The doctor came, advised quiet. bound
up the iuvalid's head. and left some mod.
icine TO be administered every hour
a Mrs. Barlow, who had bad much ex-
perionce in nursing, was hired and Miss
AbOic shared her labOrs
The invalid lay in n stupOr for nearly
two days, and then fever and delirium
came on, and he needed constant and
uuremitting attention. which he certain.
~ received.
NJ -