Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1881-11-04

lace and feathers? ?" he asked, hur-
riedlv.
"Ies, sir; she is here now said
Tillie. "Wor't you come in and see
her."
"Thank God. he exclaimed fer
vently. Then turning to the lady in
the carriage he called out:
"Dismiss your fears, my dear. Alice
is here"
The lady soon after entered, and
Tillie Immediately conducted her to
her daughters room.
Upon her return to the kitchen,
Tillie told the circumstances Of the
young lady's arrival, and Uncle John
related her midnight visit to the
kitchen. and the muttered threats
they had heard her make while hold
ing the knife.
My unhappy child, said the poor
father in a broken voice. while the
tears rolled down his cheeks. 'She
has been bereft of reason for the past
three years, and been the inmate Of
an asylum until recently. Her keep
ers thought she was so much better,
they allowed her to come out and try
a change. While We were riding
slowly along yesterday she suddenly
leaped from the carriage and plunged
into Il piece Of woods by that road. |
followed as fast as could but she es-
capped me, and her mother and have
been sutlerin. rurtures of suspense in
in regard to her fate. She has spells
OF frantic thirst for blood. shudder
to think what tragedy might have
happened here.
at was narrow escape, said Uncle
John; las it happened there was no
harm done, and am glad to say that
your daughter is safe.
Soon after the young lady appeared
accompanied by her mother, and
dressed for her journey. As her ia
ther passed out of the door he thrast
u bill into Titles hands with the re-
mark:
Il owe YOU a debt of gratitude for
sheiteripg my daughter and YOU shall
hear from me again.
Tillie opened her hand, crisp five
dollar bill lay upon her palm. She
had never owned SO much money in
her life before, and she gazed at it in
pleased wonder. How long the time
seemed till night for then she eX-I
pected her parents home At last
they drove slowly into the yard, and
from the expression Of sadness upon
10Th their faces. she knew that their
errand had been fruitless one.
"Iour fathers friend Was unable to
make up the loan aud he has come
home utterly discouraged, said Mrs.
Clifford as she sank wearily into a
chair.
Thrn as her father entered soon az
ter. T'llie told all about the exciting
evsats of the previous day and night.
K realized the danger that
lened their only child, Mrs.
CrPsSrd exclaimed thanKrnffy:
You were right, Tillie, in saying
that our trouble is not the worst that
could befall us; Well bear it with be-
coming fortitude, now that all our
lives are spared.
\ few evening after, while the fam
ily were sitting together in the twill
light, a neighbor, who had been to the
open door,
lilly lighted the candle, and her
father gazed cauriously q. the direction
ana the postmark.
"Who can it be from" he exclaim-
ed. turning it over aud in hand.
Why, father, open it and see, said
lilly. laughing; that's the quickest
way to find out
"Iere, Tilly, read it," he said, with
i trembling voice. Il can't think
what it means"
1t reads thus:
MIR. CL1FFoRp-De3r Sir: Having
obtained your name and address as |
passed through your village the other
day take great pleasure in sending
you the enclosed check. 1t is only a
slight return for the service your
daughter rendered to my afflicted
child. | beg that you will use this
money for your own or her benefit, as
YOU NAV see best. Yours truly,
''HRRMAND ST. CLAIR
80 father" said Tilly, clapping her
hands with delight, "that will pay oil
the mortgage. and We can keep our
home after all.
I'VE can, thank God, he said; "what
4 merciful Providence sent that young
woman 10 our door.
God has many ways Of bringing
about the same result, said Mrs. Cliff
ford revcrcmtly. have had faith to
believe He would help rs in our trou-
ble, but never dreamed it would
come, in the way il has, Now can We
ever be thankful enough :"
\ few days after the whole family
went upon "A journey, and when they
returned they brought with them Il
clear title to the little homestead. At
ter paying the mortgage they invested
one hundred and fifty dollars in the
bank for Tiliy, and the remaining
fifty they presented to Uncle John,
thus enabling the old gentleman to
purchrse some farm implements he
had long needed.
lilly never forgot this lesson for her
girIhood, or the lesson Of Gods watch
full care over us which it taught her
e.