The Mineral argus., 1885-01-22
yUSY'S BEAU.

II was . favorite jest upon old Farmer
Colliugwood's farm 10 call Joe Ellison
Susyis admirsr. And Susy. when she
heard the half taunting joke. only
smiled softly. and 1t their next meeting
only gave Joe . kinder word and .
sweetef smile.
She was the orphaned daughter Of
country clergyman. whose sole legacy
10 her had been this best education his
own profound learning enabled him TO
give her. When she was but . little
girl her mother died, and she had bsen
her fathers housekeeper, scholar and
companion until her nineteenth birth
day, when the Rev. Stephen Coyle was
Likewise taken from his child to his last
long rest. The good people Of the par
ish knowing Susy's advantages for study,
had put her at the head Of the district
school. and her old home being the par
sonage, she had removed her personal
possessions and taken up her abode ct
Farmer Collingwoods, he having for
years "boarled" the school ma'am.
II was . merry. happy farmers house.
hold where Susy lived. Julia and Mol
lie Collingwood were strong-armed.
blooming damsels. full Of coquettish
grace. and with loud voices and active
habits. Charlie end James, the sons,
we're fine specimens Of young farmers,
and the old man and his wife were kind
hearted, homely country-folk.
But the young. girl brought mp in her
fathers study his companion for years.
had developed more mental than phys
ical strength, was shy in manner, re-
served in speech, and crsved intellect
ual food entirely out Of her power to
obtain. She was slight in figure. with
large black eyes. delicate feat ures. o
puro, colorless complexion. and masses
Of nut. brown hair. The parsonage
having always had servant. Susy's lit
tie hands were unspOiled by rough
work, and beside the rosy checked,
blue eyed Colling wood girls. she looked
like Q little pale nun, her deep mourn
ing contr ssting strongly with their gay
attire, with all the cOlOrs Of the rain
bow struggling for supremacy.
She had been but u little time in her
position rs instructress to the tow head
ed youngsters of Brent Hill when COM
ing up the road from school late on .
summers afternoon, she heard waiting
gronns in one Of the cottages. where Of
ten before she had heard tho same
sounds.
"Poor joel" she whispered pitifully.
For she knew a deformed idiot was
being beaten by o cruel task master.
But on that afternoon, as she drew near
the cottage the door suddenly flew open,
snd the idiot limped, no wiling and speed
ing az fast o. his infirmities allowed out
At the opening, while following him o
ished an immense cowhide.
The. man, cursing and swearing, held
the whip over the covering, shrinking
lad, but when it fell it struck not Joe.
but Susy. who bent over him, ono arm
raised to ward of the blow. Brute a.
~ he was, the half-drunken wretch
stood aghast when the heavy lash cut
across Susy's slender arm and shoulders.
II beg your pardon. ma'am," he said.
II did not sec you was in the way"
"How can you?" she cried. her pale
checks crimson with womanly indigna-
tion-"hOw can yOu, o strong man,
strike Q poor boy like that-a boy
whose infirmities should appeal for pro-
lection TO any man who was not an Or
rant coward?"
swell, come now. that's pretty strong"
said the man. Don't feed and lodge
him for what he does, and amt got a
right 70 heat him il he does everything
wrong? He don't earn his salt, he don't"
Don't keep him, then"
II guess you're right. won't Joe.
you may go to the mischief, but don't
come here again."
So saying, the idiots tormentor turn
ed on his heel and re-entered his house,
shutting and noisily boiling his door.
Susy stood half terrified at the result of
her well-meant interference. Joe was
waif from the alms-hOuse, lame. de-
formed, idiotic, and she had deprived
him of his only refuge.
''Oh, Joe" she said, crying, II am so
sorry! What will you do?"
But Joe was only able to realize that
his brutal taskmaker had ceased to
beat him, and that long. red welt
across Susy s hand had fallen there upon
its way to his covering shoulder. He
only pointed to the mark. half CRYING:
1T was better for me to take it rs