Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1881-09-15

81 wonder why ~ said Helen, will
her large dreamy eyes fixed pityingl,
upon the old man, who sat in his usua
place under the naples, wistfully watch
ing the sea.
They're dead, p'r'aps," said Mrs
Daggett. "Or, p'raps they've got tirec
Of him. Anyhow, it's three months since
we've heard word, and me and Dag
gett have made up our minds we cam
stand it any longer. So we're going tc
put him on the town. Lawyer Boxall
says it's legal and right, and they cant
expect nothing else of us. Squire
Sodus is to send his covered carryall
next Saturday, and old Daddy Miflin II
suppose he's going for ride. And SC
things II go off all smooth and pleas.
ant"
Smooth and pleasant p Helen
Hyde looked across the grassy lawn to
the little old man with his mild, alb
stracted face, his ruf1ed shirt front, the
silver hair that glistened in the sun
shine, and the white, claw-like fingers
that slowly turned themselves backward
and forward as he sat there.
He owned the place once" said
Mrs. Daggett, "but his sons turned out
bad, and he indorsed for Squire Sodus'
cousin, and lost everything And here
he is, in his old age, without penny
What is it, Becky? The oven ready for
the piesa Yes, I'm coming
And she hustled away, leaving Helen
alone. A sort of inspiration had en-
tered into the girls heart as she sat
there with the briny smell of the ocean
filling her senses, the rustic of the
maple leaves murmuring softly over
head. She took Mrs. Dardanel's ten
dollar bill from her pocket and looked
long and earnestly at it. She thought
of the little one-horse carryall, which
she and the girls from the Ixwood in
stitute were to have hired together to
drive over the hills and glens, all those
sweet, misty summer afternoons; of the
excursion to Twin Rock by steamer,
upon which she had counted; of the
new black bunting dress, which she had
decided to buy. She must abandon all
these little darling extravagances, if she
.indulged this other fancy
As if there could be any choice, .
she said to herself. And then she got
up and went softly across the grass and
clover blossoms to where "Daddy Milf
fin" sat.
"Do you like this place ?" she asked,
softly.
sits home, my DEAR" he answered,
seeming to rouse himself out of rev.
erie; it's homsl I've lived here for
eighty odd years. I couldn't live any
where else"
"But there are other places pleas
anterl"
IT may be, my dear, it may be-" ne
said, looking at her with troubled eyes
through the convex lenses of his glasses.
'' But they wouldn't seem the same to
mel"
Helen went back to Mrs. Daggett,
who was baking pies and rolls and
strawberry shortcakes all at oncel
Mrs. "Daggett," said she, "here are
$40 which Mrs. Dardanel gave to me
to do as I pleased with. And I please
to give it to you to keep old Mr.. Miflin
las five weeks longer"
=" Mercy sakes alive 2, said Mrs. Dag
gett, " he amt no kin to you. is he ?"
No" said Helen, but he is so old
and feeble and friendless, and-and-
please Mrs. Dasgett take the money.
And perhaps by the time that is gone I
shall be able to send little more. Ny
employers are going to pay me gener-
ously in the city, and / feel myself grow
ing better able to work every day"
So Helen Hyde adopted the cause of
one even poorer and more friendless
than herself, and for year she paid the
two dollars week steadily. and Mr..
Mifiin never knew what danger had
menaced him
At the end of that time the old gentle
mans grandson came from some wide.
wild region across the sea, tall, dark
eyed young man, with the mien of q
prince in disguise.
My father has been dead for year" !"
he said. "And his papers have only
just been thoroughly investigated, so
that I have recently learned, for the
first time, that there is an arrearage due
on my grandfather's allowance. Ihope
he has not been allowed to suffer -"
"Oh, he's all right" said Mrs. Dag
gett. We've took excellent good care
of him."
"You are a noble-hearted woman, |"
said the young man, fervently clasping
heF hand, and I will see that you are
no loser by your generosity"
"It amt me-" said Mrs. Daggett,
turning red and white, for Helen Hyde,
now spending her second summer at
the farmhouse, sat BY quietly sewing
in the window recess. "I'm free to
allow that me and Daggett got out OF
patience and was goin' to put him on
the town, but Miss Hyde here, one Of
our boarders, she's paid for him ever
since"
"I beg your pardon if I have inter
fered, said Helen, blushing scarlet as
the large dark eyes fell scrutinizingly
on her face, 81 but he seemed so old and
SO helpless, that
" God bless you for your noble deed p
said Ambrose Miflin, earnestly.
But there was something in Helenss
manner which prevented him from Of
fering any pecuniary recompense to her,
g My grandfather will need your cares
no further" said he. We have been
fortunate in our Australian investments,
and / am prepared to buy the old farm
back again and settle. here permanent
ly."
And when Mrs. Dardanel began to
think about getting her winter ball
dresses made up, she received q note
from Miss Hyde, which ran as follows:
DEAR Mrs. DARDAEEL am sorry
to disappoint you, but Z cannot under
take any more orders. For / am to be
married next month to Mr.. Ambrose
Mifiin, and we are to live at the Dag
gett farm. And, oh how proud
should be if you would como here and
visit me next summer, when the roses
are in bloom and the strawberries ripen.
Ambrose is all that is nice, and shall