The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-01-04
baunteeing behind, 1 snllen-eyed tramp
slouched up to the former, touching his

baunterink behind, 4 sullen-eyed tramr
slouched up to the former, touching hi
hBe you tho grist-mill mani" asked he. T
II am the miller, friend" said M. Glow
"Well. then" said the dusty footed stran.
ger. lit Is my bouuden duty to :ell you that
You are harboring . prison, bird in YOU
"What?" cried old Mrs. Glover.
II knsws it blamed well" asserted the
man, Zoos was in quod the same time she
was. Theft, for she, and drunk and disor.
derby fog me. And I wouldn't have bluwed
on her, but she refused me drink of cidel
and would not let me in to warm my feet
amt No tale-bearer, but there's some
things as flesh and blood won't bear"
He stalked on, muttering to himself,
while Mr.. and Mrs. Glover and Daniel
Mother, is it true7" asked Daniel.
lit can't be" said the old Lady.
ASK her yourself" said the miller grim
Mary met them at the door with raaian,
face.
The dinner was already; the humble array
of silver and china sparkled on the board;
the fire blazed on the clean-swept hearth
II am % glad you have come back, "
said she. Not that l was afraid to be
ss2e set S,s cS s az Do so
strangely at mel Is anything the matter?''
"There is much the matter" said the old
man sternly. ANSWER me, girl--"
Father, you shall not be harsh to her,
said Daniel, Come here, Mary. Lean on
me. Nay, do not ttemble 60. What is
there to be afraid of We all know that
the brute spoke lies"
us it !ie" fsltssed Mrs. Glover that
white. II served sentence in Exmouth
prison, but l never was guilty. Circum-
stances were against me. T."
'Then, sternly uttered the old man, ''you
must leave this house"
IF she goes, father" said Daniel firmly,
go with her. For trust her. I believe
in her."
''Daniel, are you c1azy?' said his mother
At that moment DR.. Fitch rode up, look
ing flushed and excited, yet pleased withal
He sprung off his horse and walked into
GOOD people" said he, what is all this
about?'
eve have just heard" walled MIS-. Glov-
e., that Mary is a CONVICT
"Pshsw!" said Dr.. Fitch. $50 it has got
around to your ears, has ii? Well, have
just heard that she is not. I have just
come from the hospital ward. A man was
brought in fa'ally wounded in fight. I
examined his wounds. my man" said I,
lit you have any affairs to settle, they had
better be settled at once, for You have rot six
hours to live" Said he: IF I'm dying
there's one or two things would like to
said, among other black and wicked revela-
tons, that he was one Of the burglars in the
famous Chartens case-that he hid the sill
yer in Mary Trefoil's trunk when at last he
found himself unable to carry it all away,
she being seamstress in tie Chartens family,
and entirely ignorant Of the whole thing;
that he was too closely tracked to c0ntrive TO
re:urn, and 30 she was convicted through
circumstantial evidence, being, to use the
VIZ stches own Words as innocent as baby
all The time. He is q dying man now, I'M
done his best to right Mary Trefoil in the
eyes of the world"
MARY" said the miller, II was wrong
just now when l spoke up So sudden. Will
you forgive me1''
"Eary, don't look so PALE" soothed Mrs.
Glover. "Here-drink some Of this cold
ws.er."
"Mary, dearest" whispered Daniel as he
stole his arm around her waist, II knew all
along that you were innocent. knew
you were too pure and good to be aught
else"
/: And the last words revived her most OF
all.
DR.. Fitch stayed to help them eat the
dinner which Mary had prepared so dain-
tiIy-the brown and oleaginous turkey, the
cinnamon-havored apple pies, the baked
potatoes and mince tarts, with the nuts and
apples and sparkling cider atterward. And
when he rose to go be said, laughing: .
"Well, and when is the wedding to be?''
"At Christmas, please heaven" Daniel
uttered bravely, while Mary Trefoil cried
out:
ooh, Daniel, 1 never said So"
But say 80, and mother says so, p"
chimed MI. Glover senior. "And so the
matter is settled BY . vote q the majority"
"And shall Claim the privilege OF giving
away the BRIDE" said DR.. Fitch merrily.
And SO he went out into the SNOW and
darkness, whistiing gaylv as he vanished.
And Mary, looking earaestly up into her
lovers eyes, said softly:
"Oh, Daniel, think never knew before
what happiness meant!'
1T does seem providential, said old Mrs.
Glover, tenderly stroking down the bright
hair of her daughter-in-law.e elect, that all
this should have happened to-day"