The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1884-05-29

made the child sympathetic. and
her strong influence over Joe was
in great measure due to this
fact.
3 When John Cohen was killed by
the falling OF q bowldcr. Lita, little
more than q babe then. had become
an adopted child of tic camp
Later, when an accident shut out
forever the light from her beautiful
eyes, she seemed suddenly to have
grown nearer and dearer t. eacl
one and to become the object oI
especial care; yet, in spite Of Their
kindness, there were times when
she grew sad and lonesome. She
used then to fly for consolation tC
her dear friend, the little organ, and
draw from its bosom q melodioue
response to her mood.
In strong contrast with the gray
and faded old woman who was hel
attendant. or the bronzed, weather
beaten men about her, was this
child of seven years. Like a rare.
sweet blossom she was growing up
in that wild place with q halo OF
beauty ahd purity about her young
life that commanded almost adora.
ton from few rough, yet kindheart
ed people.
Nature was kindly, too. The
sun never kissed her soft little
cheeks too roughly, and its most
scorching ray only added brigh.
ter tint to the long, fair hair which
hung in waves below her waist, the
pride and admiration Of her friends.
Yet it was hard, even for stran-
ger, to look unmoved upon the or, at
blue eyes, SO pathetic III her blind
ness, and know that Lita Cohen
could never s9e again.
think Litl herself minded it
most after Warren. the poet OF the
camp, lad been telling her Of the
rugged grandeur of the country
about them, AID described the SIN
gular beauty Of the flowers which
he brought her day after day, or
when one Of her big, burly friends
laid in her hand the pictures
Of the children-thc children whom
she had learned to love as brothers
and sisters. She had known about
them all a long time, ever since she
could remember. and they often
sent her friendly messages and lit
tie presents which me used to sit
holding in her i#nds, strange
wistfulness in the ':ig blue eyes, q
great ache in the l,,:le tender heart,
at thought that she must always feel
but could never sec.
The little girl cared great deal
about her friends; but lame Joe
was her prime favorite, perhaps
because lie was lame. lie lad
grown lamer tlan ever Of late, and
was failing very fast; yet nobody
had told Lita Of it; nobody could
bear to break the news to her. She
used to sit at his side by the hour,
listening to Kim or repeating the
childish stories which Warren had
read to her. One day while she
was sitting thas, patting his wrink-
led checks with her soft hands. she
stopped suddenly, with a puzzled
look in her face, as though a new
thought had struck her.
The men say that the mines Of
this district don't pay we'll enough
and they will shortly break up and
90 into another country. What
will you and do then, Uncle Joe?'
A tear trickled down the old
mans wan cheek. lie, too, was
thinking of a journey into another
country, and it wrenched his heart
strings to think Of leaving Lita
behind. but be wiped away
the bright drops with the ragged
sleeve Of his coat, and choking
down the sob in lis throat made
answer:
You will 60 with them. Lita. my
child"
And you, too. Uncle Joe. What
would you do here without me?''
she asked, lauguingly, as she clung
tighter to his hand.
Not much, to be sure, little one
not much He stroked her long
silden hair tenderly, wishing that
he might be able to tell her what
no one else wanted to; but he had
not the courage, and presently the
little girl said;
1t is getting chilly, Uncle Joe;
let's 60 in
But the old man went away and
did not see her again until even
ing. He bade her good night
and slowly followed the retreating
forms of the two gentlemen. Ley
ton and Spencer, wondering why
she looked so pale tonight and
clung so tightly around his neck al
parting.