, 1885-11-15

Lambert wa'n't-sniftloss and kind o.
tightly nobody reokoned Nreeland hal
lost much when she died died when
Sammy WIS born. Well, Nreeland
haIln't nothing left but that baby, ana
thc store he set by it was wonderful
Took care OF it himself -wouldn / lot
ar,l4sdY else come near il and that =
tlt WY its been ever since Hc'sgot old
hohbins wifow keeping house for him.
hut she don't have u word to say sammy.
lie s come up wild, that young one has
and he shows IL; but IRELAND won't
have il no other way. The minister's
wife offered 10 take him and bring him
up. at IRELAND wouldn't hear of il.
a. never let him 20 10 school for fear
he'll get weanc1 way from him
qhrashed ono teacher for proposing it
ns politr rs he knew how. Well, ! don I
know. the station muster concluded,
fr0Nsily. ~but kind o reckon that
young woman from fowanus i'll drop
sunny like a hot coal after IRELAND
lt,s tackled her
The same conviction was forming it
self IN the muddled mind Of little Me-.
can At tho same moment He stood
under n year.old maple, half = mile NJ
the road the sole ornament Of tn,
bare little school yard-happy in the be
lief that \ reoland's tall form loominl
up against the Imprinted door of tht
school house lie had m indistinct idei
that he himself should have undertakes
tho duty; he was persuaded that ; rec
land was not in n proper condition for
interviewing 4 lady. And so thinking,
he fell into a light and comfortable
do1e, with the puddle at his feet slowly
deepening
Nreelands heavy bang Mt the door
brought no response. He pushed it
open with his powerful hands and
planted n muddy foot upon the sill.
\ hot fire in the square stove filled
the room with n soft warmth; a bunch
Of autumn Towers in n tumbler IN the
desk made a bright spot in the dimness.
But the round clock, hung high on its
nail, pointed to half-past 4 the benches
were empty.
All save one. A small figure huddled
together in a corner, with its chin on
its knees and its hands clasping them
turned at the sound of the opening
door and said, sharply
stay ont if you're muddy We've
lust been sweeping.
Nreeland stamped his feet on the
outer step, and closed the door behind
him. He knew tho tiny figure, and the
odd, crouching posture; he knew the
q%uerulous voice, and the sharp-featurel,
unattractIve little face turned towards
him.
Its me, sammy" he said, half i'm
ploringly.
well, | know that" was the i'm
patient response; what you here for3'
Amt you glad to see me, sammy
He had come across the room with long
strides and gathered the small form into
his arms.
The d%ispleased frown on the child's
face relaxed. Two weeks had been a
long time to him-long enough to know
new affection and to half forget the
old. But now the sight of the flushed
face bending over him, the familiar
fumes of the hot breath, brought it back
TO his childish heart. lie reached mp
to rub his hand over the stubbly chin
his old form of caress. The clock
seemed to tick more softly for a mo-
ment.
Amt you coming home with me,
Sammy said his father, breaking the
silence gently.
I'm waiting foi her" said Sammy.
pointing to n door i'll the corner. That's
where we hang our hats and things, in
there, and she's putting hers on I've
been helping her sweep, - he added,
proudly. Il always help her sweep,
and help her bring in wood. And ! al
ways wait for her. I'm waiting for her
now" he repeated, looking up in sur
prise at his father silence.
sammy said Nreeland, hoarsely,
don't wait no longer; don't Sammy.
Come home with me; I'll carry you
home on my back. And don't come
here no more, Sammy.
The child stared into the beseeching
face above his own. Then he stiifened
his slight body, and slid from his
fathers arms.
sammy" said Nreeland, half wildly,
I'm rich now, Sammy; I've got n pile
O money, and I'll get you everything
you want. I'll buy you anything yol
say, Sammy, if you'll come,
Sammy's GOODNESS returned. There
was annoyance and determination u
his face.
Il amt coming" he said, firmly
Pm waiting for her
Vreeland turned away, standing help.
less for a moment. Then he took 8
step towards the little cloak-room Al
his despairing love for the small Great
ure changed into a blind fury against
her who had taken him from him. Hii
large hand clinchcd itself.
There said sammy, eagerly, Now
she's ready; now we're goingr'
Nreeland looked up. The door had
opened. and a young girl-slenderly
built and poorly clad-stood there. She
gazed at him with startled eyes; one
hand huttered up to her parted lips, and
she shrank back.
Vreeland stood stolidly %motionless
But his hand unclinched itself slowly
the fierce light faded from his face, am
left him duly staring.
1t was not that her eyes, meeting hi,
own with a shade of horror, were clear,
and yet childishly soft; it was not that
her head, turned half away, made a del
icAte outline against the dusky wall
Ten years of strangeness and inditter
ence to womanly graces had rendered
him wellnigh insensible to such indu
ences.
IL was her dismayed recoil from hiu
her instructive terror. lie realized
with an inward wincing, that the odoI
which %pervaded him had filed thu
room; that his thick tones might hayI
reached her. He read in her fright
ened face what he must seem to her
a drunken %rufian; and something lik'
shame stirred in his heart.
Sammy had slipped from his seat anC
gone TO the girls side. He pulled he
hands down, gripping them in his owl
small, brown mes in a protecting way
You're scairt," he said. "yol
needn't be. That's my dad, hat is
Hn.s nnl hncL Pint I'm whiting 10