Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-10-16

then.
"And your well-earned hour you
have wasted on an old mani NV child,
remember what say: no kind action
Of that sort ever goes unrewarded. and
accept an old mans thanks and graft
tude-it's all have to give;" this as
he buttoned up his shabby old coat and
shambled out
"Well, he is a funny old gentleman"
she said to her self. as she tripped up
stairs to change her dress. 81 wonder
if he will really come again. Well, if
il makes his life q little less dreary, l
hope he will"
She need not worried about her visit
or, for he came rs regular rs the clock
every day, and Mrs. Glover had given
him the name of '.Annie's ancient ad-
mlrer."
Many were the jokes levied on the
good-natured girl by the servants.
when she gave the usual order-a very
lean chump-chop done well.
But they were all much attached to
the gentle girl, and would have done
anything to serve her. bat the spirit of
fun would possess them at times.
She took no heed. and still waited on
the old gentleman, who had even gone
so far as to give her his name and tax
en- hers in exchange
"You see, my dear" he said one
day, when he had been n constant WIS.,
itor for about three months, and VIM
ter was fast giving way to spring, '.it
is only right that people who meet ev-
cry day should ask each others name.
Now mine is Hardy-Wiliam Hardy,
and yours is Annie; but want to know
your surname rs well"
my name in full is Annie Seafield,
SIR"
"And very good name too, my
dear. Well, perhaps vou won't forget
mine if you should ever hear it-ehe"
"No; l should not. indeed. because
it is name i can never forget. :"
Why" he exclaimed sharply.
because Hardy was the name of Mel
sons dearest friend. who caught him
when he had received his death wound. !"
Capital! Why, you are well up in
the naval history of your country. You
have been we'll educated from what I
can see. You were not brought up for
this position, l fancy. Deserve some
thing better. Who knowSP perhaps,
some day. you may be able to hold
your own yet, my child"
II am very contented, sir, in the po-
sition Heaven has thought fit to place
me in. But. still. you are quite right.
was borne in different circumstances.
My father was q large hotel proprietor
in Southampton, and through over
speculation and bad men, died in pov-
erty."
"I thought as much" he returned
dryly. 1.-The old story, "A fool and
his money A starving family left
to battle with cold. grasping world. !"
~ am contented," She said cheerful
ly. Everybody is good to me-"
STUFF and nonsensen' he murmured.
''Nobody's good in this selfish world
but yourself I've had good spell,
considering the years I have been in
it. Everybody has interested motives.
People are what you call kind to you
because you are necessary to them.
You become ill or crippled. and then
see what kindness you will get from
the world"
II should not like to think that"
she said softly, looking with q wealth
of pity into the hard old face. Il feel
sure there are kind hearts in the world,
if you will only believe in them. Life
would be worthless to me if I thought
as you do"
"Wait till you have lived to three
score and nearly ten," he said, shrug-
ging his shoulders, land seen the hol-
lowness of friendship, and the selfish
greed of all who will fawn upon you as
long as you possess a sovereign in your
pocket"
"Even then 1 would still hope to find
true friend" she said earnestly.
"You are good girl, and have got
one-ah, as true as steel. Remember
my words, child, when | tell you that
you have made me human again, and
caused me to believe in my fellow crea-
lures, whom / had cast out of my heart
and life"
Aunie Seafeld never forgot that
strange conversation, though they met
several times after it; but he became
very reticent, speaking less as his
steps became more feeble.
''Poor old dear!'' she murmured. Il
fear he is not long for this world" as
she watched him pass the window af-
ter his frugal dinner. Il wonder where
he lives? Not far, | hope; he seems so
weak"
The next day came, but no old gen.
tleman, and Annie felt quite dull and
distraI. In vain she placed q dish of
flowers on the table, and shook the
cushion of the chair as welcome.
The kindly old face never came. to
smile his thanks, and she went about
her duties with saddened heart, for
there was that inward presentment
fixed in her mind that the comfortable
armchair would see its occupant NO
more, the bright, fresh flowers be plae-
ed in vain.
80 you have lost yolr old friend at
last" said Mr.. Glover, as he saw the
wistful face looking yearningly out
Of the window. "Weli, you mustn' t
look so sad, my lass; the old must 60,
you know; come, have glass of wine,
and cheer up"
Il was only thinking how lonely he
was. and that he might be i'll and have
no one to attend to him. He was not
very yell off, either. fancy"
"That's where l think you are mis-
taken, Annie" he said reassuringly;
'for one day when you were called
away, and l took the money for his
chop, saw a roll of crisp bank-notes
there's no mistaking them. so you
are bit of miser, l thought, and no
doubt he was. and I must say of all
neonle I dislike them the most. SO j