Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1879-04-16

There was sharp twmg Of the
little bell, and | heard heavy step
in the doorway. | set down my cot.
fee cup hastily, and hurried in to
confront great muscular fellow |
with II big beard aud \ slouched |
hat, whose presence seemed fairly |
to wipe out the little shop.
This WAS n rather different type
from my usual customers, and
vas a little shy of him. He hest
tated, and seemed bewildered when
| spoke to ltim-mem never do get
used to shopping-and il was some
time before ] quite made out what
hr wanted. Ii WAS some sort of
woolcn goods-n scarf OF kerchief,
| think. These were not very sale.
able stock just now, and had pnt
the box containing them out Of
sight somewhere. While | rum.
mayed about, the stranger stood in
the doorway, watching me in a way
| did not like: perhaps he wanted
to steal something. He looked
needy enough and shabby enough.
"Oh, here they are ut last said
|, eagerly, handing down the pack
age FROM a high aud dusty shelf.
The man did not seem Ia hear
me-. He was looking at TO,ldles,
darling about like n butterfly out.
side.
Whose child is thati" said he,
abruptly.
1t WAS an impudent question, and
felt my blood flush up holly for a
moment. But ! reflected that this
man looked wayworn and weary;
perhaps he had come long journey.
and left a little child like this at
home.
alt is my child | said pleasant.
ly.
Yours" he repeated.
"Or at least" said |, "if not mine,
il was left with me to he cared for
LEFT with YOU" echoed the stran.
ger. SAY, 80 ! have heard. Left
with Nou by the wIptched man, the
outcast, the degraded, who knew
none else on whom to thrust his
) burden when his tlnsetpd wife fell
from the tight.rope. and died there,
grOvpiing in the sawdust knew
none other of whom to week charity
than the woman who had loved
! him.
| listened as one stHpefitd with
; opium. What did this man know
or guess concerning me and mine
/ What object had he in view in lin
. gering abont the shops Buf said
coolly, THAT is story that needs
, 10 he proved
f The stranger bent and looked
kepnly at me. "Verily,n said he
with low sardOnic laugh, she hat
reaped his reward. il seems; he il
both dead and forgotten
' began to feel afraid of this man
s who seemed bent upon insultin.
or alarming me.
p | pointed siernIy to the door
"Sir," said |. ''if you are satisfied
with the goods. beg YOU will TAX
o them away. have other things T.
|, attend to-
= For n moment after the grea
i hulking figure disappeared ihroug
y the doorway Of my little shop
covered my face with my haHl'
|. and all the past ot my life rnsh-
d entirely over me. had not onilive
T. it yet, after all.
Suddenl, remembered T0tltlle,
l. and has,cueG to the door to loo
Is after her. Ny customer had di
/. appeared: the huge willow trun
q hid the road from view, bni ] f.
y, relieved, for there was my little on
swinging back and forth with III
>, long pendants of the willow. Onl
I, one instant | RAW her in the All
q lipht-nne instant. There came
~ rushing. tearing, and tramping,
-. terrible sound in the air, and
i, great bnll, tossing hls horns f
q riously, aud with eyes glaring MAJ
-. ~ before him. came snOrtiDg al
=, following up the street. The gre'
y, willow Was in his course, and,
T., God, my little TWldfes!
II. Then | know not whether | fam
ia ed or whether | screamed for hel
rs saw tail figure leap out fro
n. somewh here IN the very pathway
=. the mad animal. and the next m
.n ment TWidles, half laughing, h'
crying, WAS nesting in my arms.
lis The man whom had sent fro
INV door a few minutes since sto'
Irt looking on IA yrarningly-the mi
nd who had snatched my darling fro
TO its terrible peril.
IL, Both dead and forgotten
he said. "Oh, Jeanette! Jeannet