Daily Republican., 1885-02-13

too, to marry him, was most atrociou,
wickedness and then and there hi
commanded little May to give up heJ
lover, and he forbade her seeing him, OF
writing him again.
The penalty, If she dared to disobey
his stern command, was TO leave heI
fathers house forever. Then they had
gone 70 bed and the next morning
little May was missing. She had taker
q few articles of clothtfk, and in The
gray, chilly dawn of the November
morning she had followed AL impu lst
that In all ages has caused men and
women TO leave father and mother fol
loves swset sake.
AT first John Denisou had raved like
a maniac, but the mothers heart was
swayed by sorrow, and in secret she
grieved continually for her lost & arl-
ing; but day by day, the time went on,
and little May came net.
| Mr.. Denis0n had counted too much Oh
the fickleness OF woman.
May would SION weary of toll, then
she would come home, penitent and
fearful, willing to be guided by their
wisdom, and they would take her in
that was his theory; but a. weeks and
months passed with no tidiBgs, his feel.
ing of rage toward bis only child chan
ged to regret for harshn-ss. Then re-.
morse took possession of his heart, and
he would have given all he was worth
to feel the golden head resting against
bis boulder, to have her soft white
arms thrown about his neck a. in the
past.
John Denison was growing old.
Rheumatism began to affiict him. One
foot Was badly swollen, and the acute
twinges OF pain, added to those of con
science, made existence torture. Not
100 patient In health, he was most
troublesome invalid, and Mrs. Denison
was nearly tired out with her continual
waiting upon him and with the con.
slant oversight and management OF
business.
She must have help, she declared &C
last, and while they were trying, quite
Intellectually, to find competent wo
man, fortunate favored them by send
ing some one who was in search of EN-.
ployment, and Mrs. Denison engaged
her At once.
1t would have been difficult to deter
mine the age of the new girl, who an.
severed TO the name of Mary Cole.
she wore her tawny hair in great
coil at the back Of her head, while
across her forehead 1t was fashionable
banged. A seeming difficulty With Der
eyes made her wear continually green
glasses, and her clothing was of the
plainest description.
She was very quiet, but she soon
proved herself most efficient aid to the
she seemed TO know just how and when
And hRra aho guo mn I'D
spoke In low, constrained tone, that
sometimes caused farmer Den !son to
look up, as though she awakened memo
ries of the past.
Gradually she took upon herself the
care of Mr.. DenisOn's lame foot, and
never had an invalid q more patient
nurse.
She bathed the member, she manipu-
lated itgeRtly, and the soothing efficacy
OF Mary Coles hands was inst wonder.
ful, Farmer Denison declared warmly 4
AID while she bent her head over her
work and peered through the dis
figuring green glasses, thought, born
of nobler impulse than that which
had caused him TO turn his little NAV
out OF doors, came to the old farmer.
They were growing old, he and
Mollie; hcre was woman who was
homeless, she had said at her coming n
she was capable and willing, she needed
shelter aud friends, they needed help.
She might stay as long as she chose,
and he would pay her a reasonable
price. He talked 1t over with Mollie,
and she liked the plan then he made
Mary Cole the offer, and she accepted it |
with q low murmur of gratitude.
October, with her royal robes oil
crimson and gold, swept by, bringing
in her train lovely, balmy days and
cool, invigoratipg bIeezes. Then the
leaves drifted slowly down to the bosom
of the lamp, chilly earth, frosts came
sharp and singing and scared hillside
and valley; the Novemb Der sun shone
lass bright, clouds scudded ACROSS the
sky, and Thanksgiving day was again |
at hand.
Then it was that the old farmer was
doubly oppressed with grief. Where
was little May? the darling whom he
had turned ont to live or die az Fate
might decree.
Mary Cole bent lower as she bathed
the farmers foot, and the green glasses
grew strangely misty when he worried |
about his child, but she said nothing.
Thanksgiving day drew near, and
Mary Cole hoped meat for pies, she
stoned raisins aud pared apples, she
siffed The sweet s'ewed pumpkin
through great colander, and some
times, when John Dennison bad lain
down to rest, Mrs. Dennison and Mary
had long confidential talks that indica.1
ted perfect understanding betwixtl
mistress and maid.
Thanksgiving day came and in the
rlp n % oil c,,1 - /
feathery flakes of snow that fioated |,
down only to melt when they reached
.he ground but later the sun came out
in splendor then the bell summoned
people to offer praise and Thanksgiving
IN the little church.
Farmer Denison's lameness kent
aim ut home, but Mrs. Denison attend
I'd the service while Mary Cole superiu.
ended the roasting of the turkey.
Left alone, farmer Denison RaveI
way to his p,nt up grief and sobbed
ika a child.
Bnsy with her preparations in the ;
Mary Cole heard the old mans
lamentations, and little smile lurked
bout her sensitive mouth that seemed
trangely unsympatbetic
BY and by Mrs Denisou returned.
md with thankful heart, II her peace t.
nj face indexed the fe lings within.
Dinner was in perfect readiness,
There remained hut one thing to do. In
'onor of the day, Mary Cole must 20 .
md don another dress, aud, with al
moving smile from Mrs. Denison, she
an up TO her room.
1t did not take long, but when abe
anne down she slipper b hind farmer /
)enison's chair and threw her arm. !
ovingly about his neck 9
All act so audacious called forth an
exclamation of surprise; but when the