The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1879-04-16

1t was an impudent question, and |
felt my blood flush up hotly for mo-
ment. But l reflected that this man
looked wayworn and weary; perhaps he
had come "a long journey, and left a little
child like this at home.
1T is my child,' l said pleasantly.
yours" he repeated.
COR at least" said I, eff not mine, it
was left with me to be cared for"
LEFT with you," echoed the stranger.
AYE, sol | 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 tinseled
wife fell from the tight-rope, and died
there, groveling in the sawdust-knew
none other of whom to seek the charity
than the woman who had loved him.
| listened as one stupefied with opium.
What did this man know or guess con-
cerning me and mine? What object had
he in view in lingering about the shop?
But / said coolly, THAT is a story that
needs to be proved"
The stranger stopped and looked keenly
at me. Verify" said he, with low,
sardonic laugh, che has reaped his re-
ward, it seems: he is both dead and for
gotten.n
l began to feel afraid of this man, who
seemed bent upon insulting or alarming
me.
/ pointed sternly to the door. "Sir,"
said |, " if you are satisfied with the
goods, beg you will take them away.
l 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 entirely over me. | had not
outlived it yet, after all.
Suddenly / remembered Toodles, and
hastened to the door to look after her.
My customer had disappeared; the huge
willow trunk hid the road from view,
but l. felt relieved, for there was my little
one swinging back and forth with the
long pendants of the willow. Only one
instant | saw her in the sunlight-one
instant. Then came a rushing, tearing,
and tramping, terrible sound in the air,
and a great bull, tossing his horns furi-
ously, and with eyes glaring madly be-
fore him, came snorting and believing
up the street. The great willow was in
his course, and, oh God! my little Tod
dies!
Then know not whether tainted or
whether screamed for help. | saw
tall figure leap out from somewhere in
the very pathway of the mad animal,
laughing, half crying, was nesting in
my arms.
The man whom | had sent from my
door few minutes since stood looking
on us yearningly-tlfe man who had
snatched my darling from its terrible
fate,
Both dead and forgotten he said.
ooh Jeanette! Jeanette! do you not
know mep"
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 de-
serted, perhaps, he had come back to
me.
He lifted his hat, and, STOPPING, kissed
the little one, who did not resist him.
| brought you my motherless little
one years agone. A beggar and n 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 l leave you now,
Jeannette, you and my child, and depart
forever, hateful in your eyes for all
years to come-hateful when not for
gotten?"
But something filled my heart lust
then, like the rush of mighty river | !
looked back at my quiet life, my bright
little shop, the years of silence and of |
sorrow. l felt Toodle's warm heart
beating against mine He had saved |
her. And l looked at Richard Gray, |
and put my hand in his.
Since then | have tried what it is to |
be lady in the far West-a lady in a
log-cabin, without china, or carpet, or
neck ribbons, and Richard SAYS have !