The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-03-05

re- thrive. Then, two years later, came
by little Toddles to me, sitting like lily
- my door step, as if some angel of pc
L" had dropped her there I have nan
her Theresa, but ToddIes has always b.
gu her own pet name for herself and |
gu it because it is hers. .~--.
nd The child has brought me peace. A
/ | feel no vengence against any one no
Nor do | rejoice that Richards wife
said to have turned out i'll, and spent /
I'd wealth she brought him.
n But had forgotten the shop in all IL
III reyerie and reminiscence.
There was Il sharp twang of the lit
J. bell, and | heard heavy step in the doc
way: sat down my coffee-cup hastil
N and hurried in to confront great muse
lar fellow with a big beard and sloucht
1t hat, whose presence seemed fairly to viii
:, out the little shope.
If This was a rather different type frol
# my usual customers, and was a little sh
L of him. He hesitated, and seemed be
4 wildered when spoke to him-men neve
5 do get used to shopping and it wa
e sometime before quite made out what h
: wanted. It was some sort of woolel
goods-a scarf or a kerchief | think
These were not very ealcable stock jus
now, and | had put the box containing
them out of sight somewhere. While j
rummaged about, the stranger stood in the
doorway, watching me in Il way | did MOI
like; perhaps he wanted to steal some
thing. He looked needy enough and
shabby enough.
''Oh, here they are, at last" said /.
eagerly, handing down the package from
Il high and dusty shelf.
The man did not seem to hear me He
was looking at Toddles, darting about
like butterfly outside. ." ......:#
''Whose child is that?" said he alb
ruptly.
1t was an impudent question, 'and felt
my blood flush up hotly for Ii moment.
| reflected that this man looked wayworn
and weary; perhaps he had come long
journey, and left little child like this at
home.
''1t is my child" said, pleasantly.
"IourE!' he repeated.
cor at least" said 1, ''if not mine, it
was left with me to be cared for.''
Left with you," echoed the stranger.
"Ay, so | have heard. Left with you bv !
the wretched man, the outcast, the de-
graded who knews snonc else on whom to
thrust his burden when his tinseled wife |
fell from the tight-rope, and died there,
yroveling in the sawdust-knew none
other Of whom to seek charity than the
woman who had loved him.
l listened as one stupitied with opium.
W hat. did this man know or guess con-
;erning me and mine? What object had
lie in view in lingering about the shop?
But | said, coolly, ''That is a story that
leeds to be proved.
The stranger stopped and looked keenly
t me-. "Verily," said he, with low, I
ardonic laugh, ''he has reaped the re-
yard, it seems; he is both dead and for {
,otten." e Y
l began to feel afraid of this man, who |
eemed bent upon insulting or alarming ]
le. r
| pointed sternly to the door, 'eSir (
aid /, eff you are satisfied with the |
oods, beg you will take them away. l e
ave other things to attend to.'' : :
For moment after the great bulking
gure disappeared through the doorway
my little shop, covered my face with
~ hands, and all the past of my life
lshed entirely over me. [ had not out II
we'd it yet after all. 81
Suddenly | remembered Toddles, and a.
astened to the door to look after her. h
y customer had disappeared; the huge ft
illoW trunk hid the road from view: but le
felt relieved, fer there was my little one b
yinging back and forth with the long u
endants of the willow. Only one instant. r
saw her in the sunlight-one instant. tt
here came rushing, tearing, and tramp Of
&, a terrible sound in the air, and G
eat BULL tossing his horns furious ce
!, and with eyes glaring nladly before Il
N, came snorting and believing up the et
rect. The willow was in his course. and. b]
God ! my little Toddles in
Then | knew not whether tainted or al
lether [ screamed for help. / saw til
Il figure leap out from somewhere in CT
e very pathway of the mad animal, and it
e next moment Toddles, half lau Ching, of
If crying, was nesting in my arms. te
The man whom l had sent from my nc
Or a few minutes since stood looking on te
yearllingly-the man who had snatched ha
I darling from its terrible peril. ar
sBoth dead and forgotten he said. SC
III, jeanette jeanette! DO you not tn
ow me?'' i'm
The satinbow ribbons in the little shop lii
ndow spun dizzily around, md all things tn
eW dim before my eyes. For I knew de
It Richard Gray was come back to me. tn
OF and degraded and deserted, perhaps, ar
had come back to me. Gl
ETc lifted his hat, and STOPPING, kissed us
] little one, who did not resist him. nj
L brought you my motherless, little ",
E years agone. A beggar and a sinner an
,ugh | was, dared to pray your charity tir
my child, whom its mother flying from Sc
hcme, would have left to perish among ed
gewgaws and CLOWNS in whose com th
~ she died. Yea, verify, my punish th
mt has been bitter. And shall leave pr
4 now jeanette, you and my child, and r.
1art forever, hateful iii your eyes for all m:
srs to come-hateful when not forgot W;
" - eli;
But something filled my heart just then, ct,
9 the rush Of 4 mighty river. | looked ey
* at my quiet life, my bright little ho
p, the years of silence and of sorrow.
1T Toldles' warm heart beating against "
le. He had saved her. And | looked th,
Richard Gray, and put my hand in alb
ince then have tried what it is to y
a lady in the Far West-a lady in a His
cabin, without china, or carpet. or Ba
K ribbons, and Richard says I have the
ceeded -,
How to be. Beautiful. ~. ~
How can be beautiful?" Every boy, =.
girl, man and woman, wants to know ;.
t. Here is MI. Emerson's beauty recipe: e. -
here Is no bcautifier Of complexion, or
n, or behavior, like the wish to scatter -, -
and not pain around u.s." DO you sup
e that recipe viii work? Think OF the =.
st beautiful people you know. All, -