Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1884-12-11
THE MAIDEN'S TEAR.
BY II. $ KELLER IN TEXAS sIrTINas.

Drip, drip, drip Tbs golden leaves
lie in brown. Scar patches upon the
past ure land along the edge of the grim
shadowo woods. All day long the sky
has hung heavy and sombre aud now
that nightrall is here the scurrying
clouds weep tears. And the trees, they
bow and bend befJre the storm, and
breaking, fall like stricken giants shiv-
erIng from root to brauchlet in the
last expiring thrnes. Aud the dead
leaves, heavy and wet, pile up in patch
es along the rude fence of gnarled,
twisted and distorted stumps.
"Ah ! What nasty night. l must
hurry home. Poor Satan will be scar
ed to death. Satan knows his masters
step he understands me il all the rest
Of the world does not. Good Satan !
Patience, my dear Satan. What's
that -
The mumblng of the hump-bAck
man skiIting the edge Of the woods
was brought to a sudden stop. His
foot hit against something lying in his
path. 1t was not n stone. but some
thing soft and yielding.
"Oh oh please don't hurt me. /
hain't dnin' any HARM" came from the
dark, bundled-ur obj ct at the hump
backs feet.
Good heavens It's child. Saw,
yon brat, get up and out of here qnick
If the SQnira catches you here he'll sue
it's girlI" u lculatel the man start
ing back AS IL vivid fash of lightning
revealed slim SLIP of girl.
The long, black hair, wet and limp
hung about the sharp shoulder like
smoky ropes. Thr m luth WAS drawn
down at the corners in sorry droop,
and the eyes, great black eyes were sad,
so sad, that even the old hump.tacked
miser felt throb of pity pulsate
through his hnty heart
"Whr are you, girl ~
"A brat, oily brat. They call me
that up in the house where all the poor
people live"
"Ah ! A pauper brat"
"Yrs. slr. Some calls me that. But
oh Pm 'fraid. SO 'fraid," walled
the poor little morsel of storm tossed
humanity hugging up close to the old
.niSer. This was new, or forgotten
feature in human nature to the man
He had been in habit of being feared
and held alOOf from by all But this
poor waIf, this sli slip of girl with
sad eyes and limp locks almost hugs
him for protection.
Child, w"at are yon afraid of ?
The darkness won't hurt von-thnugh
this damp ground isn't just the bed for
girl"
'Oh, no; don't mind the dark.
I'm SO afraid sometimes of-of the
growing, quarreling men and women
they keep in the cellar up at the poor
house. They're jnst like beasts. They
glare at me with their red eyes, and
shake their first, and baat against the
bars till they're all blood. Pm 'frdid
If 'em. l want to hide away from zen.
| could almost dig into The ground like
"A wondchuck does, ouly to hide away
from 'em."
Poor thing She's afraid of the
crazy ones. but will my darling
Satan like it if l take her home with
me-"
ooh, sir please take me way Off-off
somewhere where | can't See the peo-
ple with red eyes who live In the cellar
and eat like beasts" The thin aims
almost encircled the short angular neck
or the old miserly hump hack.
''Eh ! yes eome--cl lme with me-"
returned the miser. GraspinQ the lit
tie hand in his. he logged on along the
quaint slump fence until he reached an
opening. Following path leading in
to the heart of the w0blS, the pair Fl.
nally halted bafnrs II dillpi lAt1l hut.
The door was pushed open. Of at the
other side of the room shone pair of
green, wicked eyes. A loud purring,
then a spitrful spit, spit, and Satan
bounded through the darkness ana rub
bed his inky coat against the old hump
backs ankles.
"Ah, sweet Satan. good Satan !
Glad To see me back .eh p"
The ashrs upon the mud hearth were
raked away, disclosing a small pile Of
glowing emhers. The old nan khelt
down and piled, some pine cones upon
the embers !; then blowing with all :his
might, he soon had a blaze. Tossing a
couple of pine knots upon the ignited
mass, he chuckle1 as ii huge fame went
roaring up the chimney.
Child, come here" he said, turning
toward the girl, who was trying to
stroke Satan's fur. But Satan was
coy of all advances, and leaped beyond
her reach each time.
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