The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-09-22
'ome of them had actually washed their

Squire,
/ heard the sound of ehildren,s voices
singing in one of the cabins and the men
told me it was Miss Mary's class Some
good woman has been at work, suspect =
Miss Mary ?s-the Squire's face grew
red, his eyes flushed, but he said nothing
more"
Going home he met Polly coming to
meet him. He looked at her with the
eye of judge. Are you the good Sa-
maritang Have you been in Black Lane,
my dear?"
She blushed, laughed and staninered
'Oh, that WAS the most natural thing
in the world, father You know | was
brought up among colored people; / know
how TO manage them. 1t was only a
ditch out here and there, a few panes of
glass, and bushels of lime They are
good, affectionate creatures, and so anx-
ious 10 learn"
The matter was driven out of the
'Squire's mind before he reached the
house, for he sax Tom skulking around
the stable door. He had returned that
day, and dull weight of misery fell at
the sight on his fathers heart. Tom did
not enter the house until late in the even
ing, when the family were gathered
| about the lawn, He came into the room
with Il swagger, unshaven, his boots
reeking of the stable.
On purpose to mortify us" thought
Grace, bitterly.
T" | came TO see Joe's fine lady wife,
he said in a loud voice Unless he's
ashamed to introduce his scapegrace
brother
Mary is not here said Mother Dem
ming Where is she Grace"
-'In Uncle Ben's room. She reads the
New York papers to him every day now
They play backgammon together and
they have one of those silly books of Ar
temus Wards | heard him laughing
and swearing harder than ever, 50 he
must be pleased. | wonder how she can
stand it
1t is hard to understand her" said
Isabella, dryly Mary is not 50 careful
of her associations as she should be-"
Tom has been listening very eagerly
Enough said" ne broke out with
thump of his fist ON the table. If Joe's
wife can take thought of that lonely old
,.,a,, ~. ,hor. ,larafs batter at,,tF -, ha,
than expected I'll go up and make
her acquaintance"
For several days afterwards Toms
voice was heard joining in the jokes and
laughter that came out of Uncle Ben's
room.
Mary seems to have enchanted them
shaved to-day, and looks .like human
being"
Perhaps she treats him like human
being" said Joe
But even he was startled when Mary
came down that evening dressed for
walk, and nodding brightly to Tom, ask
ed him to go with her . Finish my
book, joe Brother Tom will be my es-
cort"
Tom followed her slouching to the gate.
He stopped there. Shame, defiance, mis-
cry, looked out of his eyes, See here,
Mrs Delnming reckon YOU wouldn't
have asked me to go with you?"
Polly's steady, tender eyes met his.
"Yes, know
Dye know I'm thief? was in Jail
in Pittsburgh for year
Polly drew her breath hard. \ prayer
to God for help went up from her heart
in that second of time She held out
both hands.
Yes, Joe told me- But this is all over
now-all, all over. You have begun new
again, brother Tom GOMEZ"
She put her hand on his arm as they
walked down the street. He did not
speak to her until they came back I'll
never forget this of you, Mary, never!"
A month later the Squire said To his
wife: Did you know Mary was going
over her mathematics with Tom? Regu-
Iarly coaching him. This little girl has
the clearest head for figuring ever knew.
But what can be her object ,"
Mrs Demming cleared her voice before
she could speak She has applied to
some of her friends in Kentucky TO give
Tom situation. Father, think there
may be chance for the boy. He wants
10 begin life over again among strangers"
God help him, muttered the Squire.
He surprised Polly when he met her
the next time by taking her in his arms
and kissing her, with the tears in his
eyes.
In the spring Tom went TO Kentucky
and began his new life. He has not bro
ken down in it yet.
1t was in the spring, too, that Uncle
Ben began to fail The old man was so
fond of Polly that she gave up most of
her time to him, 50 much, indeed, that
Joe complained.
Don't say word, dear" she said.
He has such little while TO stay Let
me do what | can
Il say, Polly was that the Bible you
were reading to him to-day?H
Yes, he asks for il often"
Joe began to whistle and checked il
down into sigh Uncle Ben had been
such goddess reprobate in his youth
that it had never occurred to any of the
Demmings that there was way to reach
his soul. He lived until late in the sum
mer The Sunday before he died he
sent. for Mr. Floyd and talked to him for
a long time.
When the young minister came out of
the dying mans room he was pale and
there were tears in his eyes.
" / viii give him the sacrament to-mor-
row." he said to Squire Demming.
:. You thing he is worthy of pr
" If sincere repentance can make any of
US worthy, he is. He asked that Little
Polly should take it with him. She
has done this for me- he said it's her
work."
The girls overheard the conversation
They sat gravely silent after the minister
was gone.
- l do not understand Polly" said Grace
at last. =" She never seemed to he a relis-
ious person"