The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-01-10
Select Story.
MY ADOPTED CHILD.


girls of of sixteen. This was child She
wore the scantiest of cotton dresses, belt
ed at the waist, a pair of leather boots
and white apron. In her hand she carried
a sun.bounet and her hair, cropped close
like bows, curled in black rings about her
head. The face was baby's face in sweet
ness and innocence the little brown hands
the bands Of toll No young lady this, yet
there was nothing course or vulgar about
her, unless it was her hands.
That is Oldtown Church, my dear l said
are you going thereT
Yes, sir, to see the wedding. Are
Won?
was, more fool I, though did not say
an to this child The bride for whom the
bells were ringing was to have been mine
ouce-would have been but for the accident
which had crippled me and changed her
heart. She had done nothing treacherously,
but | Jaw the truth and set her free. She
took her freedom gladly, and we were two
She had quite forgotten me, no doubt /
believed Il at never could forget her.
knew exactly how she would look in snowy
sill' and lace and coronet of pearls. had
dreamed of her in bridal robes so often.
nodded to the little thing beside me,
rudgiug over the meadow path, with the
tall grass almost to her waist, and looking
at me so wistiully.
i never saw wedding she said
moi?
No, sir. Grandfather said might come
He didn't care himself It's a long walk
too, from the tavern, and he's very old
Does your grandfather keep the tavern ?
| asked.
No sir wish he did ? said the child
'He has only his fiddle, and people half the
time don't care for tunes What can he do,
though? Tonight there's dance, and he's
to play for them. That's why we stop
ped
A poor fiddler's untaught grandchild-as
poor as decent poverty could be-yet her
presence somehow cheered me. Half child,
half woman, and all a child at heart. In
nocent, beautiful and kindly, encouraged
her to linger at my side. said to her:
Il will show you place where you can
see the bride well. 1t is the gallery. Will
you like that p
Il don't know she said. L haven't often
been to church We pray together in lone
ly places, grandfather and /. Will you be
there, sir?'
Yes
Il know should like it,
Come with me, then,' said, and she fol-
lowed
/ had meant to hide myself in the gallery,
and see my lost love married quite unseen.
This companion had not been in my roll at
all. But liked it. No friend, no relation,
not my own sister would l have had beside
me but this elfish thing was too innocent
to fear. I led the way up the dark old stair,
and toward spot quite sheltered from gen.
eral view. Then / sat down and she stood
leaning over the balustrade.
The church was full of bonnets. Here
and there only amasculine head The min.
lister was in his seat reading, in a position
taken for effect He was handsome man
and he knew it perfectly we'll,
Girls whispered and giggled, matrons fan.
ned themselves and men yaw ned. Soon the
soft roll of carriages on the gravel path was
heard, and the bridal party entered saw
at last, Alets.
is that the bride I? half ,,obbed the girl,
voice at my side. is it a real lady? Oh
how pretty, how beautiful Look
look !!
She touched me with her little brown
hand and looked at me, her eyes spark
ling.
Did you ever see her before p she asked
Is she like that in everyday clothes? Oh
how pretty, how pretty p
Men have no right to weep. l put my
head DOWN upon the cushion Of the pew ant
hind my eyes. felt the child creep dowr
beside me.
Poor man, he's tiredv heard her whis
per, and she put her little hand out snt
pa'ted me softly by stealth.
is it all over !? asked the girl.
Yes, child said, all over.
Then l must CO. she SAID. Thank yo,
for being 80 kind to me, sir. Good bye.'
Good bye | said, and her little leathe
shoes pattered over the aisle and down tn,
stairs, and | had seen, as thought, the las
of her. When she was gone | missed he
strangely.
went home when the church was quit
empty. 1t had not been as hard to bear a
l had feared, and oddly enough l found my
self thinking of that child's gypsy head am
those beautiful long-fringed eyes. Iwond
cred at myself, but it was so.
Il should like to see the child again.
said and as spoke | spied crowd abou
tavern door upon the road
What has happened, friend p | asked {
tinker near by.
Only blind fiddler dropped dead h
said, But there's gal there wild abol
| it,
And then passed him and went in. A
old man lay upon the floor, and across h
body girl had flung herself. knew tt
gypsy hair and the brown neck, the scar
cotton dress, and the sun bonnet, hung wit
. handful of wild flowers, upon the foc
and bent over her, touching her littl
despairing head.
My child ! said, che is happier thu
we are
And she looked up.
He was all / hsd,' she said all, all
| So ! had thought when Aletta gave D
back my betrothai ring, My heart ach
for her, l said no other word, but led h
to another room, while two men bore L
body upstairs. She wept wildly, but n
presence seemed to comfort her.
| After awhile she drew closer to me, a
sitting on stool, leaned her forehead
my knee. Soon my hand rested on it, a
in an hnur she had Sohhad b,..oIf 10 L..