Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1885-08-13

IL VIII soon emo. IL cannot De Tor
long. as far as | am concerned. poor
child. But for you He stopped,
his voice husky with emotion.
They had walked what seemed to
little Esther Bell a weary way, when
there was q rustic among the wild
rose bushes that overhuug the stone
wall at their side, and a.v6ice called
hurriedly to them TO stop.
ITS me, said Miss Gppforl Fair
haven, reckless Of her grammar, Ella.
kim--that's my brother6els gone
to the class meetin at Squire Dun
das,' and I out down through lots to
overtake you. ! tell you | ONT some
how get your fathers face out Of my
mind. You're sick, amt you. mister.
| 4 shall sooi be quite wal, he an
sweied calmly, and Comfort Fairha-
ven's more experienced eye detected
the hidden meaning which the little
girl never once suspected. Yes, he
would soon be we'll, but X would be
in that country where the Inhabitants
never say I am sick
Where are you going |? asked kind
Mas Comfort, her voice growing hus-
Ky in spite Of herself.
We are going to my grandpapa,
said little Essie. 'Grandpapa was
vexed with mamma for marrying papa
and going to England, butpapa thinks
he'll take care Of me now. But ! won I
stay with him unless papa stays too.
And she resolutely tightensd her
grasp upon the thin, fever-burning
hand.
4 spose you want to get to Ions
dale 2 said Miss Comfort.
| The man nodded.
'Is it far2'
| Eleven good miles yet, said Miss
Comfort, but I'll tell ye what; I'll
make Joab getout the wagon, and with
good buffalo robe over The seat you'll
ride easy enough. They'll be back afore
Eliakim gets through shoutin' and
prayin'; and while you're awaitin'
| I'll bring down a snack,o' bread and
meat and a bottle Of my earrentswine.
'Taint good to travel on an empty
stomach.
And five minutes later Miss Comfort
was carrying her hospitable intentions
into effect, greatly to the delight and
appreciation Of the hungry child.
| Now, see here, said Miss Comfort,
drawing the child aside, when Joab
drove up with the comfortable farm
wagon and stout old horse, I don't
guess you've got more money than
you can use 2
We have only enough for our rail-
road tickets, said Essie, her counte-
nance falling, BUD
i thought so, said Miss Comfort;
and here's five dollar bill I've laid
aside out Of my butter money that
Eliakim don't know nothin' about,
| The child's eyes were trimming as
she looked up in Miss Comforts hon
est, hard featured face.
will you let me kiss you, just onceT
she whispered, standing on tip-toe to
bring her blooming cheek close to the
spinster's wrinkled lips.
| Kissing, as Miss Comfort might her.
self have remarked, had she leisure for
remark, was not much in her way,
but she could not resist the sweet,
wistful sntreaty.
There, she said, with q strange
moisture in her eyes, run along, Joab's
awaitin'.'
oh cried little Esther, as she sat
on that buffalo draped seat, I wish !
was rich and grown upg
Why, what nd you dor demand
ed honest Joab.
I'D buy diamond necklace add a
pink dress for that good lady
Joab chuckled. 4 don't know as
they'd become her, he said, with grim
jocularity. so gee up, Old Dolly.
| ~ " - -
I know I'm pretty old TO be look
in after situation, said Miss Com
fort Fairhaven, but / cant starve, nor
I won't beg, so what's theIb left2 We
had good farm once, buiImy BROTH
er couldn't rest till he speckI lated it all
away and now he's gone snd I'm all
alone. So, II you know pf good
place as housekeeper, or mstroD in an
asylum, or general oversler, / don't
much care where
The intelligence Office keeper, with
a slight shrug Of his shout lers, broke
in on the torrent Of Miss sirhaysn's
explanatory eloquence.
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