The Mineral argus., 1885-01-22

white hand! Oh, Joe il 20 sorry you
got before him. Joe don't mind bsat-
ing!"
All the chivalry in the poor dull
brain asserted itself in that speech. for
Joe did mind . beating very much.
lyon can't stay here in the road al
night" said Susy. "Come with me
and will ask Mr.. Collingwood TO give
you place to sleep"
The good folks ct the farm looked
rather astonished when Susy appeared
followed by the STOPPING. limping figure
Of the village idiot. But the farmer
broke into hearty laughter when she
told Of her interference and begged .
shelter for the boy.
"Stay herr? OF course he can stay
here, he said. "We1l find something
for the poor beggar to do. But to think
Of you spunking up TO Bob Carter in
that fashion. Id he given my best COW
70 see il. A little white bantam peck
he run Cd. Well! Well! Here, Charlie.
show Joe the room over the barn. He
can sleep there, and he'll soon learn
where 10 come 10 meals"
So the idiot found his bed on the
hard floor replaced by the cosy barn
chamber; his scanty food exchanged for
generous plenty and for blows kicks
and curses, hard work everlasting his
brain, he had kindly words and light
labor suited to his comprehension.
And under this treatment he bright
ened visibly. performing his simple task
willingly and we'll.
When winter came, Susy herself al
tered suit and overcoat Of her fathers
to clothe the hoy comfortably for the
cool weather, and knit him scarf, cap
and mittens. She never passed him
without o wOr,l Of encouragement and
kindness, and in his darkened mind the
fair, sweet face stood for q religion,
something to he worshipped, poor JOe's
special Providence.
He never forgot the falling of the
cruel lash upon her slender figure bent
to protect him, and he understood per-
fectly that Susy's intercessiOn had pro-
cured for him his happy. comfortable
home.
And his gratitude expressed itself in
such offerings ~ were within his reach
bouquets Of wild flowers, clusters of
delicate ferns he knew she loved, bask-
cts Of wild cherries or nuts, and IN ca
ger offer to lift any obstacle from her
path. And the good-natured, jesting
country folks called poor Joe Susy's ad-
mirer.
But while winter SHOWS were yet up
on the ground there came to Brent Hill
. new clergyman, one Cyrus POrtman,
who had been pupil Of Susy's father
when he was youth of nineteen, she .
n. L.
for college under the Rev. stephen
Coyle's instructions he had gone to Har-
ward. had studied for the pulpit, and,
having preached in Boston, had accept
ed call to Brent Hill.
1t was quite natural that he should
seek Susy, and the old servant at the
parsonage was warm in her praises.
He was wealthy man, having inner
tied n fortune from his father. and he
was eager to help the poor OF the par
ish. Susy, having the children under
her control. was able t. point out to
him many avenues for his charity, and
thus added another link to the assOcia-
ton that bound them together.
He waa . grave. studiOus man. re-
fined in TASTE and Of quiet manner,
and he shrank little from the noisy
demonstrations Of the country people
around him. IL rested him. after o
round of calls or the services OF the
Sabbath, to talk with Susy. to hear
her low, sweet voice, and see her quiet.
refined movements. He heard of the
gentle charities she performed when
ever he was in the cottages Of the
very poor, and memory told him what
q little household fairy she had been,
even when child.
So in the winter evenings, IN the
spring walks. he let his heart go out to
Susy, and gather her image into its
deepest recesses, while she, unconscious
Of her own secret, felt that there was
no happiness 40 profound as Cyrus
brought by his mere presence. II was
O quiet. uneventful counting for six
long months, but it bound two hearts
firmly together for life. And Joe, look
ing OH, understood vaguely that Susy
was happy when Cyrus was near, that
service performed for Cyrus pleased
Susy ~ we'll. And as events pro-
crossed he understood that Cyrus
would one day take Susy to the par
sonage as his wife. and that Susy
would he happy there. All this firmly
rooted in poor JOeis clOuded brain, and
he knew that trouble to Cyrus would be
sore grief also to Susy.
So, with an allegiance that WAS
touching, Joe transferred some of his
attention 20 the young clergyman. and
when he was ut the farm would mutter
often:
"Susy likes him. Joe must be good to
him, because Susy likes him."