Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-10-11


the first. 70 have the whole property
in their oarn handa. FoFa tins they
refused rs Jet the poor fellow have
money on the plea that he would drink
it all MP. and then, when be fell IN
love with Kitty Moore. they told him
il he married her that they would
cast him OF forever. You see, Kitty.
bless her sweet face aye. and bless
her noble heart tool Kitty was 5
poor girl--an orphan-working in one
Of the mills; and the big feelin men
thought it would be q stain On them
il their brother should marry her.
Howsumever, Peter took his own way.
He married the dear girl. and he's
the father Of Eve ~ pretty children
as Won ever set eyes on, and as happy
an can be, notwithstanding he has to
dig pretty hard 70 keep the wolffrOm
the door.
II was Just in the edge Of the even
ing-a chill autumn evening-that
the door bell was rang ct the aristo-
cratic residence Of the Hon. Nathan
Speed, and shortly afterwards . ser
want announced that a man wished
to speak with the master.
Nathan Speed had grown to be q
man of four-and-ffty; red-faced and
obese; dressed in . satin house-robe !;
pride stamped in every feature. His
wife. sitting near by. the same. Her
face betrayed the nse of the wine cup.
while the sparkle Of many diamonds
told where much Of her hnsband's
money had gone.
What sight for the proud man to
meet in his own front hall A stout.
broad shouldered man, bFown-visaged
and fnll-bearded, habited in . power
ty-strickened garb. and evidently very
poor.
'Nathanl don't yoa know me-
your cousin Robert7 All / have had
hard luck on the road. Beyond Che
yenne / was robbed Of every dollar /
he'd with me, and
Hold on The proud man raised
his hand. He wanted TO hear no
more. He knew ofno claims which his
cousin could have on him. And, fur
Their: 'Yon promised your uncle you
would never again apply for help.
Have / asked for help?
No; but it was coming.
No, Nathan, you mistake. Ionly
ask friend
Then you'd better 60 and hunt up
your cousin Peter. He would make
a boon companion for you, / doubt
not.
Robert got away az quick as posi-
bic, resolved next to call upon his
cousin Thomas.
He fouad Thomas at home, and
clearly under the influence Of wine
not intoxicated, but his blood unduly
heated thereby.
And Thomas was even more harsh
and unkind than Nathan had been
and he, too. tauntingly advised the
poor wanderer to 60 and seek his
cousin Peter, as one who would be a
fitting companion for him.
And to Peter Speeds poor cottage
Robert made his way. Not even a
poor roof to cover his head had the
wealthy brothers given to their half
brother. The cottage; really belong
ed to Nathan, was hired Of an agent,
and more than once the poor man
had come near being turned out for
non-payment of reEt.
What cried Peter, when the way
farer had made himself known; SIS it
Bobby? Don't deceive me. Come in
where it is lightT And he led the
way into the little kitchen, where the |
supper table stood, with the remains
of the evening meal upon it. By the
lamp light Robert saw a woman-the
sweetest faced woman, he thought, he |
had ever seen-standing near the |
table; and near by-two Of them at
the table, two sitting by the stove,
while one chung to its mothers dress |
were FIVE children, the oldest not !
more than twelve.
'Ah ] | know you'll Yes, I can see
the dear old face. Notwithstanding |
the years, and the brown tan. and the |
beard. Robert old fellow bless your
dear, true heart How are you?
They shook hands, . few more
words. and then Peter exclaimed:
oh, Kitty in all the days of my
early childhood. saving only my saint |
ed mother, this was the only true and |
loving friend / had-my cousin Rob-
ert. I was but q wee bit Of an urchin |
when he went away, but I can re-
member how my mother had to tear
my arms from his neck as though it
had been but yesterday" u
Kitty greeted the man cordially,
though at first inclined to be shy. At /
length she said, with smile that cap
tured Cousin Bob forever:
Really, cousin Robert, ought not |
to feel that you are a stranger. Peter |
has talked Of you 80 much and 30 |
often, and with 80 much of warmth
In his heart. that / have regarded yoa |
more in the character of true broth |
er than anything eIse."
A few more words. and then Peter
bethought himself that his cousin |
might be hungry. But no. He had |
eaten q hearty supper just before
dark.
4 ate at the little tavern at the
lower end Of tie village and shall
spend the night there.
'Spead-ske niQht-THEREl You
will, ehf How's that. Kitty
i think we can make him comfor-
table the wife said.