Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-07-04
-sTAUNToN SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERTISER.

pect of starvation ahead; never any
thing, at the best, beyond decent lv-
ing. But the thought of living her
years out with that man! She felt sure
that if she married him she would live
to be a hundred years old, and the sight
of him would be more repulsive to her
every day of her life. She shuddered
at the thought.
If Tom would only come! Tom was
Rhoda's cousin, who had sailed three
years ago, and never been heard from
since. The ship had never been report
ed as wrecked, and che believed he was
alive and would come back some day.
If he would only come now!
She went out the next morning to
look for work again. II she could keep
the wolf from the door by working her
fingers to the bone, she would never
marry Mr.. Brownlow. She hunted up
and down the street all day among the
shops, and found nothing to do. Some
one had always been ahead of her, and
got the work she might have had If she
had come sooner. She crept home at
night weary, discouraged, and sick at
heart.
1.-THE next day it was the same, and
the next. No work! no work In
day or two 1t would be no bread! no
fire! She had spent her last cent:
When the loaf she had bought with 1t
from unless she found work? That ter
rible problem 1t made her brain whirl
with pulling over its solution. And
she never came near solving 1t, only In
one way-if she married Brownlow.
But always at the thought of that alter
native she turned sick at heart. Better
death!
"Tell me story, please. A real nice
story, Rhoda. One of them you make
up as you go along, you know" pleaded
Rob one night.
II can't" averred Rhoda, feeling
more like crying than storytelling. But
seeing how disappointed Rob looked
she took him in her arms and began to
manufacture fairy tale, while Lucy
sat down at her feet to listen.
"Once upon time there was mai
den who lived away off in great, lene'
some forest, and no one lived with hel
save pretty white kitten and dove"
"Say a dog" interposed Robbie
"dogs is nicer than doves, think"
"Well, a dog them" answered Rhoda
"Now this maiden was afraid Of living
alone, but she had to, because she hadn't
any friends except the kitten and the
dog. They were more to her than all
the world beside, because they loved
her. Well, it got to be winter, and she
had to 60 out into the forest to pick uI
sticks to burn, and one day great vol
saw her and followed her home.
"'Go away! she told the wolf.
but the wolf shook his head and
wouldn't 60.
"'Give me the kitten to eat he said
crashing his teeth together at the door.
"'You can't have the kitten an
swered the maiden.
"'Give me the dog, then,' snarled the
wolf.
"'You sha'n't have that, either de-
| clared the maiden.
"'I'll have them, and you, too said
the wolf, glaring at the window. $!
| won't wait long, and then he showed
his sharp teeth, and growled.
"Then the maiden took her kitten
and her dog and thought she'd run out
at the back door. She didn't know
| where to 20 to; all she thought was tc
get away from the wolf. But when she
opened the back door, there stood the
| brute. snarling and growing.
"'Oh, you can't get away from me,
he gritted. showing his great, sharp
teeth I'm going to eat you up But
just then brave prince came riding by
| out of the forest, and he slew the vol
and saved the maiden, and-Oh dear
oh dear !"-And Rhoda broke down
crying. She had woven her own pitt.
| full little story into the fairy-tale, but
where was her rescurer to come from
Who would save her from the wolf al
the door-and Mr.. Brownlow?
A step on the stairs A knock, and
then before Rhoda could open the door
. tall, brown faced fellow came tum-
bling in, and
"Tom! Tomu' shrieked Rhoda. "Ot
Toni"
And Tom had her in his arms by thai
time, kissing her, and calling her his
sweetheart.
II thought I'd never find you. I've
been hunting from one place to another
for month. And this is Lucy, is it
And this is the boy who was a baby
when went away? And Tom Rugged
and kissed them all around in rough
hearty sailor-fashion, while Rhods
looked on, and cried softly for joy.
"Are you Rhoda's prince ?" asked
| Rob soberly.
IL don't know" said Tom, who
didn't understand.
Then RhOda had to explain.
"Yes, Pm Rhoda's prince" answered
Tom; "I'll drive the wolf away"
Then he went out, but came back
pretty soon with his arms full of bun.
dies. Such a supper as they had Rob
woke up in the night and laughed at
remembrance of it. Apples and oran-
Una and voldnr- brown cakos and tea-
with sugar in it Ia luxury that bor-
dered SO closely on sinful extravaganza
that Rob felt rather doubtful about in
dulging in it-and nuts, and a mince-
pie. Oh but 1t was glorious
The next day Mr. Brownlow came for
his answer.
"You see," exclaimed Robbie, for
Rhoda and Tom had gone out some-
where; ''she can't marry you, for her
prince has come back, and she loves
him, and she is going to marry him."
"Her prince ?" repeated Mr.. Brown :
low. greatly mystifed; II don't under
stand"
MAYBE not" answered Rob, "but
it's 80. guess they've gone off some
where to get married now. Tom Is
splendid, I tell you, I think SO, and SO
does Rhoda."
Rhoda and Tom are happy as the day
is long in their pretty little home, and
there is no wolf at the door. But on
many an evening little Rob begs to have
the Prince story" told over again, and
somehow Tom enjoys it, too.-Ehrichs
Quarterly.
TRoUBLEs.-All trouble is not Dor