The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-08-24
MssEg CHIFFON.

hle on WHICH was 'h' L.:
hound M box. He was counting ms
monev. and as he spread out me
rl;t,erinr. shining gold. or let 1t iaii
p beans beneath his hand, the gree
dv avaricious. hawk-like look on
b;s face. his hands clutching the
shining metal like talons, he seemed
Ike some fierce bird readyto pounce
nnon @ its prey and rcnd it to pieces.
NJ wonder the people called nim
.M;ser Chiffon and Stunned hlm
IN S;slike or that children shrank
from him as he passed. His money
bad as vet been only a curse ts
him. but there was one who, az
most in spite of hope, hoped better
tb;nrs of him-his granddaughtel
Mabel. his only living relative ms
only friend. a..
As he sat absorbed in the con
temnlation Of II beloved gold, she
came into the xpcm and stood be
side him-a I'll, gentle girl,ant
as she looked At him SO tenderly
Il seemed as il the faith and low
that shone in her starry eyes mus
win him from his unholy passion
Now he looked up uneasily, impa
tiently for though Mabel was yer,
dear to him, and he would not for
hid her his room, for he trustee
her implicitly. vet the sight OF III
cold was still dearer, and he coui'
not endure to have even her shar
the pleasure.
1T is beautiful gold, isn'tit, grand
father? ?" said Mabel. "How i
seems to laugh! 1t ought to MAKE
people very happy, oughtnt 1t
Grandfather-"
ayes, yes, child ?" he said impa
tientlv. "What is il? What do yoi
want?" and his eyes wandered TO
a moment to the sweet troubled
face beside him. "Not money +!
he screamed, as Mabel's eyes fel
meaningly on the glittering trea
sure.
-Grandfather," said Mabel, with
grave. earnest voice, looking stead
lastlv into his warning, suspicious
ewes, "down in the cottage at th'
foot of the lane poor Jessie Welle
lies i'll. suffering for want of some
of this gold, or what it would buy
her. On her arm is a wee bab'
that needs the mothers cure to keel
it alive: and three little children
are looking with such hungry faces
for food, and there is none; and
lust a little of this money would
save them all. Think of that, grand
fatherl They are starving-ever
the sick motherl Can you answeI
for it if they die ?"
II cannot help them. Why dc
you come to me with your misera
bic stories always?" asked the ole
man, angrily. where is Reuben
Welles? Why does he not worl
for his wife and children? W.
shall starve ourselves if we give the
money away now. 1t is al fol
vou-all for you, child, that an
saving it. Let me keep it only {
little while in peace, then yon shall
have it all" and he moved about
uneasily, and looked down abashed
at Mabel's clear, uniaultering gaze
Reuben cannot find work" sht
said. He is almost wild tonight
at the thought ofhis family. Grand
father, YOU have never given me
even so much as dollar TO helI
any one; but this time it makes m,
think-Grandfather, do you remem
Der how you left my mother die
Just so, for want of the care YOU
gold could have given her? AnC
how /, puny child, would hav,
died, too, but for the kind woman
who took me from her cold arms
and kept me till / was well grown
and you wanted me; because to keel
me here cost less than to pay the
few dollars she asked"
Child. child do you know tha
for it is true-and yet do not
curse me?" cried the old man, will
broken voice.
Yes, / know it." said Mabel
slowly. did you think the wo
man would be silent about it ?"
And yet you have stayed with
me. and seemed to love me, anC
worked for me, and saved, and ask
ed nothing for YOURSELF o, what :
wretch I've been. l see it now
What shall / do? ?"
Il do love you, grandfather" saiC
Mabel, softly stroking his withereC
hand. "If you are sorry give m'
my reward now. You know what.
"Yes, yes" he said, taking W
some of his beloved gold and thrust
ing it toward Mabel. "There, tax,
it, and 90 before | repent Go hell
the woman and the little babe
Take old Michael with you; he car
90 for wine and food and all tha
they need" And he rose and al
most pushed Mabel from the room
in his eagerness to send her on he
errand of mercy; then returning h
sat down beside the table, and bury
ing his face in his hands gave him
self up TO bitter memories. How
long he sat there he did not know
and so absorbed was he that he die
not hear the click of the latch, no
know that the door softly opened
ard a stealthy footstep crossed tn
floor; and when suddenly he look
cd up to meet the. gaze of fierce an
CRY eyes fastened upon him, and Sc
hand outst-etched toward his gold
he started up in deadly fear. Bu
ii was too late; a strong hand grasp
ed his throat, and hoarse voic'
said:
Gold, Gold, Give me gold, ol
man, or I'll murder you y
With a strength born of despera
ton, the old man struggled ant
freed himself from the cruel han
that held his throat, and in tur
held the thief in a strong clasp say
ing:
Il know you, Reuben Wellcs
But / do not deserve that at YOU
hands. This night have j sent ali
TO your wife and little ones-mor
gold than they have ever seen.n
you ~ exclaimed Welles. scorr