Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-07-06

like enough, be cured Of his deformity,
and obtain an education. If they lived
on In the present way, there was d
prospect of starvation ahead never
anything, at the best, beyond decent
living. But the thought Of living he,
years out with that man She felt sure
that II she married him she, would live
to be hundred years old. and the sight
Of him would be more repulsive to hel
every day Of her life. She shuddered
at the thonght.
If Tom would only comel Tom was
Rhoda's cousin. who had sailed three
years ago. and never. been heard from
since. The ship had never been re-
ported as wrecked. and she believed be
was alive and would come back some
day. If he would only come nowI
She went out the next morning to
look for work again. If 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 il nhe
had come sooner. She crept home at
n ght weary, discouraged, and sick at
heart.
The next day it was the same, and
the next. No work no work. In day
or two it would be no breadl no fire
She had spent her last cent. When the
loaf she had bought with it was gone.
where was the next-to come from, unless
she found work That terrible problem
It made her brain whirl with puzzling
over its solution. And she never came
near solving it, only in one way-if she
married Brownlow. But always at the
thought of that alternative she turned
sick at heart. Better deathl
"Tell me story, please. A real nice
story, Rhoda. One of them you make
up as You 60 along, you know; "
pleaded Rob one night.
ST 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 q fairy-tale, while Lucy
sat down at her feet tolisten.
"Once upon time there was a
maiden who lived away off in great,
lonesome forest. and no one lived with
her save pretty white kitten and a
dove"
"Say a dog interposed Robbie ;
dogs is nicer than doves, I think"
Well, q dog then" answered Rhoda.
I" Now this maiden wss 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 go out into the forest to
pick up sticks to burn, and one day a
great wolf saw her. and followed her
home.
"tGo away she told the wolf.
"But the wolf shook his head, and
wouldn't go.
"'Give me the kitten to eat he
said, gnashing his teeth together at the
ioor.
"'You can't have the Kitten
answered the maiden.
"Give me the dog, then, snarled
the wolf.
"s You sha'n't have that, either de-
clared the maiden.
"'Tll have them, and you too, said
the wolf, glazing at the window. Il
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 cut
at the back door. She didn't know
where to go to all she thought was to
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 wolf
and saved the maiden, and-oh dear
oh dear - And Rhoda broke down
crying. She had woven her own pitiful
little story into the faify-tale, but
where was her rescuer to come from :
Who would save her from the wolf at
the door-and Mr.. Brownlowp
A step on the stairs A knock, and
then before Rhoda could open the door,
a tall, brown-faced fellow came tumbl-
ing in, and
Tom ! Toni" shrieked Rhoda.
" Oh Tom
And Tom had her in his arms by that
time. kissing her, and calling her his
sweetheart.
II thought I'd never find you. I've