Arizona weekly enterprise., 1881-10-29

defiance b the Shlll frost of late autumn, when my wife, lifting her head from the sewing in h5r isp, said, in low tone: "Surely, heard rap."
 "Or rat" suggested Charlie, fresh from college, and skeptical on any sub- ject that might be broached Really, mother, if your hearing is so acute, please count the steps of that half-rozen fly on the ceiling"
 Nonsense, Charlie, 3 replied his moth- CT, with a smile. "But l am sure I heard some one rap. There it is again You must have heard that. Nettie, dear, run to the door"
 The knock this time, though modest and apologetic in tone, was not to be disputed. Nettie reached out her hand to take the candle, but was anticipated by her incorrigible brother, who rudely blew out the taper, exclaiming:
 "Now, then, mother, for test of your ingenuity who is this caller, and what is his or her errandp Listen Can you analyze that knock?"
 "Nonsense !" exclaimed his mother again. "Some tramp, I suppose, who has seen the light from our win2ow, and"
 But she was interrupted by Charlie's burst of merriment.
 "A tramp And at this season of the year No, no, mother; try again. 4 uamp's knock would reverberate through the house like thunder"
 "Come, Charles, interposed l, "this is idle. You may be keeping aneighbor waiting, or a child"
 "A little child l" cried Nettie, "and on @ night like this No, brother, you shall not detain me another moment. l" And, after @ slight scuffie, Nettie emerged in triumph, bearing the dis puted candle.
 As she paused on the threshold to re- l light the candle, may as well make 1 public my secret conviction that being nearer akin to sne angels than our Net ie did not exi t. She opens the outer door, her friendly face beaming 8 vel come to whoever might be standing in the darkness, while her gentle voice in- eluires 'Who is there 2" ] We all listened intently for the reply, that, quite in keeping with the rap, was delivered in low, strained voice.
 "I am hungry. ..cold and sick. saw the light from your window, and"
 ''You are welcome. sir," interrupted Nettie, gravely. "And," she added glancing an arch leok at her mother s' andexpected. ,
 an Inc ;non;r;ng oIa,'ass as he entered, directed not comprehending the impofs be- last words, nor the smile that passed from lip to lip of the family circle.
 Hungry, cold and sick There gre many such in the world, but few whc bear such genuine marks of distress. His clothing, worn and torn by long ser. vice, hung in limp folds about his shrinking, shivering form while hii face, pale and contracted by physica tor was it mental ? suffering, might have been taken for that of corpse, were ii not for the dark, brilliant eyes that burned deep in their sockets.
 Nettie had conducted him into tht kitchen adjoining, and by clever strat agem beguiled her brother out of hi easy-cha1r, which, before he could in tercept her, she had dragged into tn, next room and placed at the disposal O her visitor.
 4OO o4O tOO BOON, AuAn1u10Q hI' young man thankfully, as he sank wear fly into the inviting chair.
 "A model tramp!" sneered Charlie the loss of whose easy-ehair might hay, tempted him into whispering in loui Icy.
 The stranger probably overheard him .s he shielded his face with his white bloodless hands, and spoke no more.
 Nettie fitted busily from room t room, from pantry to cellar, on hospit able thought intent, apparently uncon scious of her mothers slight coughs an other efforts to attract her sttentio when the stock of preserves was invad ed, although a close observer would hay noticed by the tell-tale dimples in he cheek and the sparkle in her eye tha she was quite cognizant of her mother uneasiness.
 4 o these children how they do wheedl and cajole their parents
 It was characteristic of Nettie ths when she gave she gave with both hand full. She gave the cake and withhel the crust. And so 1t WAS that when th young man, letting his hands fall frol before his face, beheld the glitterin tea-table, with its goodly array of sul stantials and delicacies, he stared at h. fair benefactress in such mute, hell less way that it was half-amusing, hal saddening.
 "And you have prepared this for me For me 7! And you dc not know who what I am."
 "Our guest, responded Nettie, ge tly.
 '"Not but that the light "-glancir disdainfully at his shabby coat" T veaIs my wretchedness too plainly"
 Pardon me-" said Nettie, bravely
 'but it is the poor we are command
 to assist nor do I know of any du
 that yields half the pleasure. 1.-The warmth of the room betrayt 7 me into nap," continued the strange
 "and I dreamed-alas 1t was but
 dream-that I should go forth from u
 house free from the burden of remor
 that has weighed me down these maj
 years. But, no; such 8 miracle cou
 not happen. I have walked once nc : to misery and to the fact that l g
 an outcast."
 "Hush I" exclaimed Nettie. "S
 will speak of that later. You must |
 talk so bitterly for. whatever your
 tire, your address Is that of Q gent
 sAsn D
 Nettie now resumed her place with I s x s5sfi the stranger was left to his repa