The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-01-23
miscellaneous.



mirer And Susy, when she heard the halt
haunting joke, only smiled softly, and at their
| next meeting only gave Joe kinder word or
sweeier smile.
She was the orphaned daughter of Il coun-
try clergyman, whose sole legacy to her had
been the best education his own profound
learning enabled him to give her. When she
was but Il little girl her mother died, and she
had been her fathers housekeeper scholar and
companion until her nineteenth birthday,
when the Rev Stephen Coyle was likewise
taken from the Child to his last, long rest
The good people of the parish, knowing
Snsy's advantages for study. had put her al
the head OF the district school, and her old
home being the parsonage, she had removed
her personal possessions and had taken up
her abode at Farmer Collngwoods, he hav
ing for years boarded" the school ma am.
1t was Il merry, happy farmers household
where SuSy lived. Julie and Mollie Colling
wood were strong armed, blooming damses,
fall of coquettish grace, and with loud voices
and active habits Charles and james, the
sons, were fine specimens of young farmers,
and the old man and his wife were kind
hearted, homely country folk.
She had been but little time in her posi-
ton as instructress to the tow headed
youngsters of Brent Hill, when coming up
the road from school late on a summers at
lernoon, she heard wailing and groans in one
Of The cottages, where often before she had
Icard the sound.
Poor Joe" she whispered pitifuly.
For she knew deformed idiot was being
leaten by II cruel master. But on that after
noon, as she drew near the cottage, the door
suddenly flew open and the idiot limped howl
ing aud speeding as fast as his iufrmties al
lowed out al the opening, while following
him, was u strong, brutal man, half drunk,
tourshng an immense cowhide.
The man, cursing and swearing, held the
whip over the covering lad, nut when it fell
it struck not Joe but Susy, who bent over
hin, one arm raised, to ward off the blow.
Brute as he was, the half drunken wretch
STOOD aghast when the heavy lash cut across
,usy's slender arms and shoulders.
VI beg your pardon ma'am,' he said. II
lid not see you was III the way"
How can you p she cried, her pale cheeks
crimson with womanly indgnation-"how
au you. strong man, strike poor trembling
my like that; Il boy whose infirmilies should
appeal for protection to any man who was
not IN arrant coward ~
well come now, that's pretty strong" said
he man. Don't feed and lodge him for
what he does, and amt got right to beat
'im if he does everything wrougY He don't
earn his salt, he don't"
Don't keep him then"
~ guess you're right. | won't. Joe, you
may go to the mischief, but don't come here
again"
The good people at the farm looked rather
astonished when Susy appeared, followed by
the stopping, limping figure of the village
IDIOT. But the farmer broke into laughter
when SHE told of her interference and begged
n shelter for the boy.
Stay here? OF course he can stay here"
lie said. "Well find something for the poor
peggar to do. But to think of your spunk.
ing up to Bob Carter after that fashion. Id
have given my best COW to see it. A little
white bantam picking mad bull would be
nothing to it. And he ran off. Well, we'll,
Here, Charlie, show Joe the room over the
barn, He can sleep there, and he'll soon
learn where to come to meals"
So the IDIOT found his hard bed on the floor
replaced by the cosy barn chamber, his scau-
ty food exchanged for generous plenty and
for blows, kicks aud curses, and hard ork,
everlasting his BRAIN he had kind words and
light labor suited TO his comprehension.
And under this treatment he frightened
vis,bly, performing his simple task willingly
and well. When winter came Susy herself
| altered a suit and overc Al of her fathers to
clolhe the boy comfortably for the cold wealth
er, and knit him scarf, cap and milleus
She never passed him without u word of en-
enlargement, and in his darkened lite the
fair, sweet face stood for rel gion--some-
thing to be worshiped- Joe's special
Providence. H. H.n . Hs.
He never forgot'the falling of the cruel lash
upon her tender figure bent to protect him,
and he understood perfectly that Susy' inter
cession had procured for him his happy.
comfortable home
And his gratitude expressed itself In such
offerings as were within his reach-bouquels
of wild flowers, clusters of delicate ferns he
knew she loved, baskets of wild cherries or
nuts, and an eager offer 10 lift any obstacle
from her path. Aud the good nalured, jest
ing country folks called poor Joe Susy's adj
mrer.
But while the winter SHOWS were yet upon
the ground there CANE to Brent Hill new
clergyman, one Cyrus Portman, who had
been pupil of Susy's father when he was
youth of nineteen, she "a child of twelve.
Having fitted himself for college under Rev.
Stephen Coyle's instructions, he had gone to
Harvard, had studied for the pulpit, and hvv-
| ing preached in Boston. had accepted u call
| to Brent Hill. .......-,
I 1t was quite natural that he should seek
Susy, aud the old servant at the parsonage
was warm in her praises He was wealthy
man, having Inherited a fortune from his fa-
ther, and lie was eager to help the poor in
his parish. Susy, having the children under
her control, was able to point out to him
many avenues for his charity, and thus added
another link to the associations that bound
them together.
So in the winter evenings and in the spring
wa ks he let his heart go out to Susy and
gather her image into its deepest recess,
while she unconscious of her own secret, felt