The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-05-17

mistakable tones that she was hungry.
"The poor child must be half-starved,o
said Miss Bertha compassionately. "Mr.
Kennedy, will you please bring some milk
and sugar and water?"
Had she asked him to produce the sacred
COW of India, RAM could hardly have been
more at a loss what to do. But there was a
goodly supply of pluck under his mild,
the quiet, pleasant, decided tones com-
PEELED obedience to their requests. So,
after a moments indecision, he picked up
the lantern, and left the room quite as if it
had been his nightly task for years to fix
"Well, BERTHA" remarked Mr.. Adams,
after a silent survey of the musty old
library, "your love of the antique seems
in a fair way to be gratifed. Everything
appears to have come down from Methu-
selah-not excepting the queer old cove
himself."
"Hush, George" said Miss Bertha reprov-
! ingly. He has a kind heart, and"
"Judging from the remarkable way he
he has myself" interrupted George grave.
1y. 1.-THE only thing to be regretted is that
it did not succumb to treatment"
"George!" again cried his sister, though
she could not help smiling at the remem-
brarce, "you are incorrigible." Then, after
a long silence, during whichthe young man
took another journey around the room and
baby manifested much Impotence at the
long delay of her supper. Do you sup
pose you could find the Kitchen"
And leave you here to be carried off by
nobody knows what ghosts and goblinS?
No, thank you. Of thetwo, l prefert to lose
the infant if either must be sacrificed. But
starvation is not imminent, my best of
sisters. Such vigorous lung-powers testify
to abundant vitality"
This time Miss Bertha laughed outright,
a hearty, sweet little laugh. And she made
no more suggestions to her brother, but de-
l@.,-lf - L. I@l-
In course of time Rand was heard return
ing, and al extraordinary appearance he
made as Mr.. Adams opened the door for
him. His clothes were covered with cob
webs and dust, a dozen or more straws
stuck at all angles in his hair, and one
cheek was ornamented with a long smut
mark. That he had been prosecuting his
quest under difficulties was evident; but it
was also to be seen that he had come off
victor, for he carried an immense tin pail,
holding about three quarts of milk and one
nearly as large filed with water. These he
gravely deposited on the floor at Miss Adj
ans side and then produced a small box of
sugar from his pocket and laid it on the
table.
1t required all Bertha's self-control to re-
press a smile as she glanced at the bounti-
full supplies and their bearer, particularly
as she saw her brother apparently examin-
ing a cabinet, but really shaking with
laughter;
Id yOus INOW, lSudll udNO W lOuDlO
you for a cup and spoon," she said pleas
antly, after a minute.
Rand turned to the cabinet, and, after
unlocking a few doors and drawers brought
forth a cup. of dainty egg-shell china, of
veritable baby blue, with a large gilt K del
icately traced upon it; also a case of gold.
lined spoons with the Kennedy monogram.
"By Jove, Mr.. Kennedy" cried the IT.
repressible George, drawing near" .you
don't do things by halves, do you? That
set out is fit for a rrincess!"
Rand glanced up in surprise.
SIT is for my guest" he began, with some
haughtiness; and then, with a sly twinkle
in his eyes and a broader smile than his
face had known for years, he added dry,J:
Zone visit to the lower regions is enough"
By this time baby's supper was ready
for her, and as she was quite ready for it,
the meal was soon dispatched. But she
did not to go to sleep again, as Bertha had
expected. She seemed restless and fever
ish, n required constant soothing. So an
hour passed, and it soon became evident
that the little thing was very i'll. Once
more Rand made an expedition out into the
storm to bring a doctor, who pronounced
the trouble scarlet fever, aggravated by
exposure and the milk to which it was un-
accustomed. 1t was not until the next
afternoon that the weather allowed of the
baby's being taken to the hospital. Rand
accompanied Mr.. and Miss Adams end saw
that every possible care shout be given to
bhO AlOb4O vail 1ACh3 avn CAplcSSOu
anew his obligations and gratitude to both
brother and sister, he babe them adieu and
took his way back to his home.
1t was not yet twenty-four hours since
that ringing peal of the bell had startled
him, but it seemed a lifetime almost, SO
been crowded in. He could define nor ex.
plain nothing; he did not even attempt to
philosophize on the matter; he only knew
that he seemed to be living in a dream, a
Ill
again and again upon Zach little incident
of the lately passed hours.
In such a mood he reached the house and
entered the library. His glance rested
upon the deep old rocker which had been
brought down from some long unused
chamber, and in which Bertha had sat with
the child upon her knees; at the screen
which she had made of some shawls which
had been his mothers; but the memories
they awoke in him extended no farther
back than that very morning when Bertha's
hands had pinned them there; at the cups
and bottles which .disordered his writing
table; at the pillows heaped upon the
lounge; at the tiny sock which must have
been dropped from baby's foot at the last
minute. l think the master of Kennedy
Park had never before seen just such 8
looking room, but he made no attempt tC
arrange it. He put on his d~ressing-gowr
and drew his own ~easy-chair nearer tine fire
and sat there trying in vain to convince
h41AAoS4i Shcsc l Y - AOO OAAS oiiu 'fauC
Suddenly his eye fell upon a strange OBJ
ject lying across his sleeve-a long hair Of
a soft golden brown color. Staid old bach
elor that he was, he blushed like a girl as
he took it gently in his fingers. Then he
fell to remembering how sweet and
womanly Bertha had looked, sitting in the
deep old chair with the baby in her arms:
how gentle and tender she had shown her
self to the poor, little forsaken thing; how
bright and charming and capable she had
been in a thousand little ways. He never
knew how long he dreamed there, still
holding the brown hair as tenderly as
though it could feel his touch, and 'Demus
hardly knew whether to be most alarmed
or distressed when his master babe him
next morning, leave everything just as il
was in the room.
"'Pears like Massa Rand done got right
smart 'fobulated wifi all dis yer .'motior
bout dat misabul pore white trash. H
amt nebber ben hisself sence old massa
died, do! Praise de Lord! in His marcy
He done spare ole 'Demus to tend on de
dear boy-and he need tendin' now ful
Shore" And the faithful old creature hob
bled down to -confide to Aunt Cleo his
dread suspicious that their beloved 'youns
MASTER" was slowly but surely taking
leave of his senses. And confirmation
strong" was not wanting within a week.
Going to call Rand to dinner one wen
ing, 'Demus found him forever disap
peared, and in his stead a fine looking gen
Geman some fifteen years younger in APP
pearance than the late master of the place
The long struggling beard and the bushy
hair were trimmed quite short, tine gold
bowed spectacles replaced by eye-glasse.
which it seemed need not be worn con
stantly, and so allowed a good view of
pair of keen, kindly, dark gray eyes; tn,
rusty old clothes had been superseded by
quiet, stylish suit. But the greatest change
of all, and the one which poor aid 'Demu:
felt most surely, was in the air and bearing
of the man himself. He seemed to havi
awakened from a Rip Van Wrinkle sleeI
and to feel once more the youthful BLOOD
coursing in his veins: A new interest il
life, a consciousness of his own needs, anc
bright hopes for the future, showed them
selves in every movement.
'Demus waited upon Rand in silence
though his heart was full to bursting. Blu
at length the younger man felt something
breaking in upon the brightness of his owl
musings, and looked up quickly to Sc,
greattears rolling down the black, wrinklet