The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1885-09-05

speech, leaned up against inc leHce,
pressing his hand on his forehead,
Ebut-"
"Then clear out and be done with
it /" said Eliakim, resuming his
seat with dogged composure.
Miss Comfort looked appealingly
at her brother.
"If I could just get 'em a bowl of
milk, Eliakim, and"
"Stuf and nonsence," sonorouNly
calculated the farmer II amt n
goin' to give in to this sort of thing.
Once begin and you'll never leave
off, you softheaded womanfolk P'
Slowly and wearily the two poor
travellers turned and plodded their
way adown the broad, dusty road,
the languid footsteps of the invalid
scarce keeping up with the tripping
pace of the child.
"Oh, papa, papa" sobbed the
little girl, turning her blue, wistful
eye to the white, worn face, show
cruel people are!"
| He placed his hand upon her
curly uncovered head.
"Never mind, Essie," he said with
a mournful, tender pathos ii. his
voice "it will soon end. 1t cannot
be for long, as far as I am concern
ed, poor child. But for you-."
He stopped, his voice husky with
emotion.
They had walked what seemed to
little Essie Bell a weary way, when
there was a rustic among the wild
rose bushes that overhung the stone
wall at theirside, and a voice called
hurriedly to them to stop.
cts me-" said Miss Comfort
Fairhaven, reckless of her grammar.
"Eliakim-that's my brother-he's
gone over to the class meetin' at
Squire Dundas,' and l cut down
through lots to overtake you. L
tell you can't somehow get your
fathers face out of my mind.
You're sick, amt you, mister ?"
81 shall soon be quite WELL" he
answered calmly, and Comfort Fair
haven's more experienced eye de-
tected the hidden meaning which
the little girl never suspected. Yes
; he would soon be well, but it would
be in that country where the inhab-
itants never say II am sick"
Where are you going?" asked
kind Miss Comfort, her voice grow
r ing husky in spite of her self.
"We are going to my grandpapa,"
said little Essie. "Grandpapa was
b vexed with my mamma for marry
: ing papa and going to England, but
papa thinks he'll take care of me
now. But l won't stay with him
r unless papa stays too"
e And she resolutely tightened hel
!; grasp upon the thin fever-burnins
S hand.
a 81 s'pose you want to go to Ions
l dale ?" said Miss Comfort.
{ The man nodded.
1 SIS it far?"
"Eleven good miles yet" said
" Miss Comfort, but I'll tell ye what
S I'll make Joad get out the wagon
d and with a good buffalo robe ovel
y the seats you'll ride easy enough
$ They'll be back afore Eliakim get
: through shoutin' and prayin'; n
$ while you're awaitin' ~
: down a smack o. bread
and bottle of my curr,
: 'Taint good to travel on an elD :.
e stomach.
a And five minutes later Miss Com
5 fort was carrying her hospitablc in
g tentions into effect, greatly to tn
delight and appreciation of the hun
G. CRY child.
le "Now, see here" said Miss Com
g fort drawing the child aside, whel
Joab drove up with the comforta
l. BILE farm wagon and stout old horse
p 81 don't guess you've got NOR
re money than you can use?"
le "We have only enough for ou
rs railroad tickets" said Essie, he
a countenance falling, "but-"
II thought So" said Miss Com
id fort "and here's five dollar bi
lg I've laid aside out of my butte
er money that Eliakim don't knoN
as nothin' about"
n, The child's eyes were brimmin
lg as she said "Will you let me kis
you, just once ?" she whispered
SIS standing on tiptoe to bring hi
'l- blooming cheek close to the spinstC
no wrinkled lips.
at Kissing, as Miss Comfort migf
mt have remarked, had she leisure fc
remark, was not much in her wa
Id but could not resist the sweet, IL
wistful entreaty.
so "There, run along; Joab's wal
in" she said with strange mois