The Red Cloud chief., 1879-10-09

81 affrunicd the gentry "a
NV knowledge sighed the poor moth,
or, but Joe helped Mr.. Todd garden.
cr { o cut down the old hawthorn tree on
the lawn FRIDAY Wa eight day.; al
there's them that says it, a very had
thing Ia do. ! fccchcd him not a.
touch il, hut the master offered him siN
shilling if he'd help vi ia" job. for
the other men refused She sighed
again and shut her eyes.
That the WAY If it, whispered
the crpnc- over their pipes and poteen
that just il. The guide mar has had
the III luck To- d~I-plcasure the gentry,
an ihcrcN be- trouble ia this house
yet.
Grace did not hear thc~- cheerful
prophecies, for she had dropped
asleep.
Weeks passed and the augIry had not
becn fulfilled. Little Eliza throye apace,
but her mother never host sight of her
for IA moment.
She lay fast asleep in her cradle near
the fire one day, while Grace. standing
at the dresser. was occupied ia cutting
mp vegetable with the large knife. All
NJ once a iumult of the elrm"nt~ arose.
4 rush Of cold wind hurried up the
mountain, - whirled round the h@use.
Grace Wa startled at the sudden
sound, and dropped the knife in
terror. The door burst open, and
the hurricane dashed into the kitchen,
ovcrturning the cradle, and driving IL
bottom upward across the floor Grace
ran Ia lift ii up and see what had be
become If the baby. The little Crea-
turc was CRYING, and both her pretty,
straight ankles were twisted and her
feet turned inward. 1t was hong before
she ceased 10 scream.
The storm subsidized a. suddenly H. il
had arisen, bat the mysterious evil IL
had brought the child did not end. She
became >ickly and very %frctful, and the
other children grew weary IF nursing
her. They had been very fond of Eliza.
hat they now began Ia dislike her. and
the poor oVcrwpTkcd mother could hard
IL ever lay her gu Of her arms.
Weeks, months, years went by. Eliza
Wa five Years old, but hooked like a
child of II months, - small and >hrun-
ken was she. She still fitted into the
cradle, and therein spent most Of the
dty. She had been a very s"Tr"wful
burden la her mother all these wears.
and her cross, frciful temper had driven
joy and conicntmcnt far from the cabin.
The healthy, rosy elder children were
sometimes 80 provoked with their wall
ing >i,tcrthat they would have hurt hcrif
their mother had not watched them very
carefully. But though - >ickly, Eliza
was much cicyercr than amy of her
strong brothers and sisters. She said
extraordinary things, that were repeated
from house to house in th" neighbor-
hood.
Mrs. Rooney, happening 10 pay Grace
Mclbona"h a visit II day, SAW Matt,thc
eldest brother, give Eliza a wicked pinch
~ hc passed the cradle; and when the
unfortunate child's howl had "A little
subsidized, the wise ncighbor took upon
herself Ia speak a word in season.
"Do You no mind what happened the
night thon wcan WA born, Grace dar-
limp
"Do mind ii? RIGHTLY | mind it.
Mrs. Rooney"
An the time her feet was turned
IMP"
"Av, its wccl | mind it,"
"Wecl, Grace, if YOU tax my bid
ding, youll no let the childcr offer Ia
touch thon wcan Ia hurt her; for if You
do, KNOWN what she l., some black
trouble II Toe coming Ia this house
as il a wee elf, then, Mrs. Rooney
dear. that was put in the place % my
ain child. DO YOU think"
lis it?'' cried the ncighbor, scurn-
fully an do YOU aN me- >ich an inno-
cent question, n you working wi the
crathur these five year? Sure enough
its an elf, Grace McDonagh, an if
YOU hurt il, Your ain child will
lee hurried just a> much; an if
its kilt in this house, your ain child
II come Ia lis end where il l., and that's
wi the gentry in their grand parlorS
underground, a. sure a. I'm a living
sinner this day. concluded she, drop
ping her Voice to 4 mysterious whisper.
Poor Grace WAS deeply impressed.
She called her healthy children around
her. and threatened them with all man
mcr of penalties if they ycnturcd again
10 i~il-trcat Eliza, promising Ia complain
10 their father. IF whose more energetic
correction they all stood in much terror.
But she had a tenderness for the wailing
child. 80 hated 10y the resi- Of it, little
world: and although she believed Mrs.
Rooney, she believed her most unwill-
ingly. MAYBE the poor crathur ii no
be very long troublesome. She looks
but >ickly; she'll die quietly, an you'll
get rid - the trouble that way" said the
wise Mrs. Rooney. in comforting az
cents, as she got up to take leave.
Grace sighed. She took Eliza out of
the cradle, and pressed her 10 her
bosom. Even though she were a change
ling, she was dearcr Ia the wom-
ans heart than her own child,
growing up somewhere or other
in fairy-land, and she did not wish 10
n a few weeks old. was almost forgot
ten; while this unfortunate eliin Eliza
WAS a daily trial IF love and patience,
and had been ~ for five years.
Joseph McDonagh, as Mr.. Todd's
bailiff. had often dangerous work To do,
and Grace WAS uneasy about him If he
did NOT return home nj the usual hour.
He went out one morning Ia serve ev-
eral ejectment processes upon tenants n
some distance from B~uncrana, saving he
hoped to be At home by four O'Clock;
but the day waned, and there WAS no
sign If him.
Whats keeping him, anyway?'' was
the question that Grace asked over and
again, a. she paced the little yard on the
lookout for her husband, forgetting
that her offspring. herding cattle in the
field. or PLAYING carelessly in the gutter.
could not answer.
Mother" said Eliza. from her ERA
die, "my fathers in Sair trouble this
minute. but I'm ava 10 help him"
She lay unusually quiet for a quarter
Of an hour, seeming to be in 4 drowSy
State.
But he's all right now: he'll be hame
Soon." said she, at the end of that time,
opening her eyes,, and looking gravely n
her mother.
Supper WAS ready. The door opened,
and Joe came in, covered with mud. and
with his clothes torn.
"Save us, Joe, What ais you?" cried
Grace.
-. served the notices. Grace dear. an