The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-06-22

| pretty names as well as other pretty
things, so 1 resolved that my niece
should be more fortunate than myself
IN that respect. Well, when she was q
week old, looked over all the books
could find about the house, and at last
came across Alethia, which seemed Just
the right thing. And 1 think it suits
her, only she prefers to have il Alethe.
That's French, you know"
81 take it, you know French, ma lamp
suggested Mr.. Catlin, in compliment
tary manner.
"Oh, no; / had no advantages of ed
ucation, which I've often lamented
over, and that was why insisted upon
Alethia being sent to Mount Prospect
academy, and offered to pay for it my
self if her father wouldn't. 1 think l
should have made good scholar" she
added, with half.sigh, "for ! had q
natural liking for books and pictures.
used to write poetry, too, when was
girl"
Shouldn't wonder, ma'am. And
bein' 30 smart, yea naturally looked
down upon the N en-, and wouldn't be-
mean yourself to have one of 'em for
lord and MASTER" said the grazier,
with good-natured chuckle.
The little old maid laughed, too.
"It wasn't because had an over opin-
ion of myself, buG, somehow, the men
l knew never suited me-"
''Mebbe the right one hasn't come
yet" he suggested, in consolatory
manner.
"No, nor I don't expect him to come
at this time of day. He's staid away
too long if he meant to come at all.
After thirty-five woman's got no bust
ness to be thinking of getting married
and I'm past thirty. five" she added,
with little defiant don't care" air.
"PossibleP Well, now 1 shouldn't
take you for nigh that; and I've always
maintained that no woman can live to
thirty without some time bein' in love.
If she don't meet the right one, why,
she'll fall in love with the wrong one,
and that's the way unfortunate matches
come about"
"Well, sir, I'm past thirty-fve, as
I've said, and very certain am 1 that
I've never been in love, and never shall
be-"
She said this very positively, while
smiling and blushing little. But at
that moment sharp exclamation from
the driver, and sudden stop of the
stage coach, caused us to look from the
windows.
"What is the matter ?'
We had no need to ask, for there
right before our eyes, in the hot and
dusty road, lay the figure of man, ap-
parently dead, with small bundle and
stick beside him.
We were all out in moment, and
the driver, assisted by Mr.. Catlin, lifted
the inanimate form and bore it to the
shade of the pine trees by the roadside.
He was quite unconscious, though not
dead, as we had at first thought; and
while ran for water from neighbor-
ing brock, Miss Allison produced q bot
tie of smelling-salts and the driver a
flask of spirits. mir. Catlin, meanwhile,
stopped down and carefully examined
him.
Hes not hurt anywhere" he said,
fellowl"
"What ails him ?" we inquired, anx-
iously.
The grazier looked up and solemnly
uttered one word:
"Starvation p
An exclamation OF horror and CON-
passion broke from Miss Allison. She
hurried to the coach and returned with
little basket of luncheon. Her hands
trombled and her eyes were blinded
with tears as she stopped down and
placed few crumbs of bread moistened
with currant wine between the white
lips.
The sight was enough to draw tears
from any one, let alone the warm
hearted little old maid. There he lay,
young man OF not more than three or
four-and-twenty, with regular, clear-cut
features, clustering brown hair thrown
back in damp and tangled mass from
his white forehead, and clothes which,
though shabby, worn and travel -soiled,
bespoke him not of the common or
laboring class. And he was starved
worn out and nearly dying for want of
food and from the heat and fatigue of
travelling on foot through the burning
summer noontide.
AS we gazed his eyes slowly opened
beautiful eyes they were-large and
dark and pathetic in their wistful half
consciousness. The sight drew a fresh
burst of tears from Miss Priscillas eyes,
which were assuming an unbecoming
redness.
"What are we TO do. with him ?"
inquired, anxiously.
"I'll carry him on to Atlees," re.
piled the driver. "We can't leave him
alone on the road to die. But 1 don't
know as anybody there'll take him in.
He's only a tramp, though a genteel-
lookin' one."
ST will take him in," spoke up Miss
Priscilla, promptly. "We're only six
miles from my house, and there he
shall stay until he's able to take care of
himself. If his mother could see him
nowl |" she added, in faltering aside
to me; "and if she's dead, I'll take her
place and be mother to him as well as
csn, poor young man"
In the coach she continued to tend
him most carefully, every now and then
insisting upon him taking few crumbs
OF roll and sip of her currant wine.
He was conscious now, but too weak
even to speak, and We all forbore to
force him to that exertion.
In little over half an hour we stopped
at a white gate opening on the road,
and leading by short carriage-way to
a pleasant, comfortablelooking farm.
house, with broad piazza in front cov-
cred with vines. Here We all alighted,
and while Miss Allison hastened for
ward to prepare things the men assisted
our invalid to the house, I taking
Il u