South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-04-06


gel, who for some reason or other
was condemned to stay on earth till a
great evil should be overcome or a
great good accomplished. OF course
the lassie, i'm plain English. AMI strip.
ped OF the decorative art of the imag-
ination, was baby tramp he told
himself, and did his best to believe it
She might be "a wee luuy,' in add.
ton TO everything else, and the cot
tage was as likely TO be a heap of ash.
es, on his return to it, as it was to be
standing as he left it.
In the meantime the little deaf
mute was spending what seeIr,ed to
be u very quiet afternoon. She wash
ed up the few dishes, and after seeing
that everything was in what seemed
to be its proper place she drew chair
to the window and proceeded to look
out. There was something "a strange
about this proceeding as about every
thing else. She did not raise the cur
tain, but peeped stealthily out of one
side, looking always in the same die
rection. toward the north east; and
save FOR an occasional pilgrimage to
the side window, probably for the pur.
pose OF judging OF the time by the
suns progress, the little ore remained
at her watch. Way off in the distance
lay the turnpike road, looking to or.
d.nary eyes like white line against
the green OF inc hill and meadows.
and on the upper part OF this road the
chlld's gaze was intently fixed. No
vision but that made keen and far
reaching by tho eclipse OF the other
senses could have distinguished one
thing from another at this great dis.
lance, but the wee lassie could have
described every vehicle and every
footpassenger that travelled the turn
pike while che watched At quarter
past six the overseer unlocked the
door OF his cottage. The 'bit black
bird was perchej on chair when he
entered, apparently quite at home
She looked her host full in the face
again, WITH wide-open solemn eyes,
and John McFinlan's wonder was
greater than ever. He glanced a.
round the room aud saw that the ia
ble was laid for his supper. The tea
Kettle was singing on the hearth, and
everything was in perfect order.
Il maun have 4 lousekeeper, il
seems, fits naGght but dummy, he
said to himself with comical gesture.
Then he seated himself l. held ont bis
arms TO his singular guest. She went to
him at once, and stood by bis knee.
I'm thinking it's bit owlie Won are,
instead OF a black-bird,' he said soft.
ly; IAN owl;e that has eyes for the
night and the day; but l Gamma ex-
plain why you should fly to my nest,
you wee birdie!' he went on tenderly.
The baby eyes were as solemn as his,
but again the ghos: OF smile played
over her face. Then she stretched
out tiny hand and laid it on her
companions cheek. McFinau's kind
heart Was stirred to the very depths
by this mark OF affection and conf
dence. He took the tiny hand in one
Of his grea! palms, and with the oths
or formed some OF the letters of the
deaf and dumb alphabet. The child
shook her head sadly. 1t was plain
she had never been taught anything.
Her companion noticed that there
were great red marks on the little
ones neck and arms and bruise on
one temple, which must have been The
result OF terrible blow. lie point
cd to them with an inquiring gesture.
and the wee las+ie pressed her hand
To- her heart and shook her head again
slowly and pathcticaIly. For n long
time this singular couple continued
their silent conversation, aud the sun
sank lower and lower. and when he
had dropped away entirely, the child
pointed 10 the table and the boiling
tea.kettle. McFinlau got up and
made the tea, and after adding few
things to the table drew up two chairs,
and invited his guest to be seated
She came ut once, and after pushing
her chair u little nearer her compau-
ions climbed NJ and calmly took her
BlbNC' iC WCC itAoott JAl tOON SPAR
ingly and hurriedIy Of the food placed
before her, and then waited for her
host to finish. When all was over
she cleared the table and washed the
dishes, and as che busted herself Mr.
McFinlan smoked his pipe on the
doorstep aud thought over the situa-
ton. When it began TO grow dark
he noticed that the child became more
and more uneasy. She looked out of
the window frequently, and some
times went to the door and stood on
the threshold. evidently IN great trou-
bic and perplexity At last, when it
was quite dark, the singular creature
climbed Up in chair and took the
ovorseer's hat from, its peg and hand
cd 1t TO him. Things were growing
more and more complicated, and, as
the astOnished man put tho hat on his
head and prepared to follow this deaf
and dumb infant, he was conscious Of
feeling of awe and rpycrpuce that