Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-05-26


Charles ears, and reused him from
his reverie. He comprehended the
scene at a glance, and dashing for
ward, made an effort to capture both
4 of the rascals. Not successful, how
ever, for one of them, observing the
look Of glad surprise that the girl cast
upon Charlie, saw his danger and
sprang away in time to escape. The
other Charlie held fast ; but knowing
that whipping would not restore the
fruit, let him go after shaking him
soundly, and advising him to letlittle
girls alone in future.
'sThank yees," said the girl, s'Pll
niver forgit how yees drove the thaves
zway, but me berries are gone and
Mistress Martha'll have none for dim
ner at ALL and she burst into tears
as she thought of the disappointed
lady, and | must tell the truth and
say she grieved for the money
she hoped to receive for her
berries for she was the child of a
widowed mother. and her earnings,
small though they were, helped to
| feed the half-dozen destitute children
of which she was the eldest.
"You are Biddy Finn, aren't your"
asked Charlie, the facts of the case
beginning to dawn upon his mind.
"Yis, sir, and yer Masther Charlie
Walther. Many's the time I've seen
yees whin I've been to Misthress
Martha's on mornin's.''
"Well, Biddy," said Charlie, "Pve
pailful of berries for Aunt Martha,
and this will pay for those you've
lost" and he dropped bright half
dollar into the hand of the delighted
child.
''Sure yer a gintleman and I thank
yees,'' was the answer, "and now |
must hurry wild me Vegetables to Mr..
Sweet or I'll be late and he'll be af-
ther scolding me- And with feet
and feelings lightened by the knowl-
edge of the money in her pocket, she
began to climb the fence, and Char
lie followed with his pail of black
berries.
care you going to carry that big
basket to the village through this
broiling sun?' he asked, as he saw
her lifting the load to her shoulder.
81 must, sir; me mither can't 60,
and I'm the biggest
"Biddy, change with me" And
giving his pail of berries to the girl,
Charlie swung her heavy basket light
ly to his shoulder and set off down
the road, followed by the surprised
and delighted child.
''Sure and ye'n not go any fur
ther," she said when they reached the
outskirts of the village, giving the
hand of her helper and protector a
loving pat and backward pull. "Ye
wouldn't be afther goin' till the tav-
ern wild all the payples right forninst
ye on the sthoop."
''I've started to help you, and ]
should be q coward to desert you
, now," said Charlie with smile that
went straight to the heart of his lit.
tie companion.
And so, past the stores and dwell
ings of the village and past the hote
piazza with its crowd of fashionable
loungers, the young man carried his
odd-looking burden, and led the little
-, ragged Irish girl by the hand, leaving
her only when he had placed the bas
ket safely in the hotel kitchen, anC
paid for a glass of cool lemonade 70
Biddy.
''Sure yer an angel" she exclaim
ed, as Charlie turned to leave her
. "and I'll niver forgit yees the long
est day [ live" And the words cam
: straight from the depths of her war;
Irish heart.
The dinner hour was long past, th
Q men gone back to the fields, and Aun
Martha to her afternoon nap, whe
:, Charlie reached home, but the black
w. berries and cream were just as swee
" " for supper, and, sitting around th
" table on the yine-wreathed porch, b
= told them what had detained them
the morning. There was woman
- tenderness in Mr.. Walters tones {
he said
Il saw you, Charlie, from a stol
;h opposite the hotel, and | was gla
as and proud of my boy
ld
III Fifteen years had passed light
III with the inmates of Farmer Walton
Ie. home. Aunt Martha's step was
o. light and her smile as sweet, thous
uf now and then a silver thread braidt
eo itself in and out of her brown hal
d. For ten years Charlie had been q me
* chant in a neighboring city, and t
az day we find him the same Charlie
of old; trife graver and more ma
'ri ly, perhaps, but the same open, su