The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-13


so unwilling to tell, and turned so red,
that did not press; but found out that
it was the old story-no mother, and
drunken father.
Still, it was strange. What could she
want with the whisky-a child like her?
1t could not be for the drunken father.
WAS completely at fault. I took a
fancy to the little thing, and wished to
fathom her secret, for secret I felt sure
there was. After tho performance I saw
my little lady come out. Poor little
child there was no mother or brother
to see her home. She hurried up the
street, and turning into the poorest
quarter of the town, entered the common
stair of tumble-down old house. I
followed, feeling my way the best 1
could. She went up and up, till in the
very top flat she entered little room.
A handful of fire in the CRATE revealed a
siclSly boy, some two years hor junior,
who crawled toward her from where he
was lying before the fire.
"Cissy, I'm glad your home, - he said.
81 thought you'd never come"
She put her arms around him, laid the
poor little head on hcr shoulder, and
took him over to the fire again, trying
to comfort him as she went.
cts the pain very bad tonight, Will
lie ?"
eyes" A sadder Yes," I never
heard.
"Willie, I wish T could bear the pain
for YOU"
"It's cruel of father to send me out in
the wet; he knows how bad am.'
''Hush Willie, hush he might hear
YOU"
81 don't care! don't care 7 wish
you would kill me ut once.'
The reckless abandon of the child's
despair was dreadful.
"Hush hush ! he our father, and
we mustn't say such things % This
through her fast falling tears. Then
she said, "Let me try and make the pam
better"
AhS wy tooh olI IllS
The girl leaned oyer and put her arms
around him, and kissed the shoulder,
she then put her hand into her pocket
and took out the snuff box.
ooh, Willie, wish we had more, so
that it might cure the pain.
Having lighted dip candle, she
rubbed the cMld's rheumatic shoulder
with few drops of spirit. and then cov-
cred up the little thin body, and, sitting
before the fire, took the boys heat
on her knee, and began to sing him to
sleep.
1 took another look into the room,
through the half-open door; my foot
creaked the frightened eyes met mine.
put my fingers on my lips and crept
away.
But, rs I began to descend the stair,
1 met drunken man ascending slip
ping and stumbling as he came. He
slipped and stumbled by me aud entered
the room. followed to the landing un-
noticed, and stood in the dark shadow
of the half-open door.
A hoarse, brutal voice growled, "What
are you doing there2 get up !'
II can't father, Willie's head is on my
knees"
sect up!'
She laid the boys head on the floor,
pillowed it in her little shawl, and stood
up.
"Father, Willie is very sick! you ought
to try to get him cured"
"Shut up. If hear another word I'll
make you and him too keep yourselves
quiet" And the brute flung himself on
his bed, muttering to himself in his
prlnken semi-obliyion, "Cure him, i'll
deed Not if know it. That's not the
way to get tho money; his cough is
worth q lot alone. Cure him, indeed
Not likely"
The blnck-hearted scoundrcl!
The girl bowed her head lower and
lower.
I could not bear it. T entered the
room. The brute was on the bed al
ready in his besotted sleep. The child
stole up to me, and in half frightened
whisper said, ooh, sir, oughtn't people
to keep secrets if they know them? I
think they ought if they arc other
peoples" This with the dignity of
queen.
I could not gainsay her ; 80 I said, as
gravely rs I could, to the little woman,
'"The secret shall be kept, but you must
ask me if you want anything" She bent
over, suddenly kissed my hand, and I
went down the stair.
The next night shc was shy in coming
for the whisky, and I took care That she
had good measure.
The last night Of our long run of six
nights she looked more happy than I
had ever seen her When she came for
the whisky she held out the thimblo,
and whispered to me, with her poor,
pale lips trembling: "You need only