Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-04-09
NO. 10.

shaking her rough head, from which the
shawl had fallen.
"sal glib 90 cup of tea ?" Agee persisted.
''Ity warmee co."
The woman turned on her in a frenzy.
Leave me alone, you rat hate you"
Agee Sang Long shrunk back, more in dis.
may than terror. She looked at the woman
with deprecating reproach, then stopped and
took the baby in her arms az IL to assure her
self of some human love. Nova the faithful
crept close to her and held out bis paw and
80 the three stood together in the shadow of
the extinguished Christmas tree, and gaz9d
wistfully at their enemy.
Some strong feeling was evidently at work
In the woman. LET me take the child, she
cried, with sudden passion.
"He be 'f'aid," Agee Sang Long mplored,
clasping the little one tighter to her breast.
'Fraid Of his mother" the woman shrek
cd, throwing herself upon the poor creature
and trying to tear the child out of her grasp.
Don, goo CONAN he's so lille babee he
faid, Agee urged, trying to shelter the poor
thing.
"You wretch you heather wretch !" the
woman screamed. Dare you keep him from
me ~ And the next instant she had him in
her arms, and hugged and kissed him with
half-msd passion. II cant live without him
l gave him up because we were starving, she
CRIED wildly. "And so l left him at your
door. But they told me here in the house
that you we're teaching him your dirty Chi
nese ways. But you shan't have him :" she
cried, spurning with her foot Agee Sang Long,
who kneeled before her, casping the ragged
skirts with pteous hands.
Leave him to me, dea' unfotnit lady" she
cried, the tears streaming down her face.
Lib wild me, an / workee for 90 till | dice
But leave him. Him all | ha' in dis wi
worl'."
'Td rather he'd die with me"
Sue turned, and the baby in her arms strug-
gled out of the shawl aud held out his arms
to Agee Sang Long As if that eliminated
the creatures fury, she thrust the child back
and, with a cruel blow, flung Agee Sang Long
to the floor, aud vanished into the night.
couple of hours later came down Paris
court, for had promised Agee to look at her
tree, but was belated As turned into the
court, the snow beating against my face, a dog
bounded up toward ne, whining. 1t was
Nova why, old boy, what is it p l asked,
trying to pat his blunt head. But he escaped,
ran forward looked back to see il | was com
ing, and never stopped until I stood in the
familiar room.
In the middle of the floor saw by the light
OF the din lamp an indistinguishabe heap
that filled me with sudden terror and pain,
tuouBn knew tnat IL was only poor little
Chinese. knelt down and lifted her uncon-
scious head, then laid the fral little figure on
the bed. 1t was so hard to bring her back to
life, and was almost despsiriug, when sud
denly her eyes opened and she looked across
my shoulder at the open door, where a wan
looking woman stood with a baby in her arms
| recognized both, and understood
flicker of JOY crossed Agee's face az she
saw the baby. Without word | rose, took
tue child from its mother, and placed its soft
cheek against Agees.
turned to the woman. Behave yourself
or leave the room, " said. sternly, for you
are in the presence of death"
II am sorry now" she muttered, uneasily
Il did her wrong You see, I've come back
l didn't think hurt you 80 bad when you
fell"
Did she hurt you, Agee ?" asked gently
saw that the poor forsaken creature was dy-
ing of the heart disease that feared, but ev-
identity it had been brought on by some great
shock.
LOB, no, no :" Agee Sang Long murmured,
and laid her face against the baby's and touch
ed its soft cheek with her lips. "She do me
goo, for she his mo'der, poo unfotnit lady"
She became dimly conscious that faithful
paw was stretched up to her she groped to-
ward it with one weak hand then, turning
toward the baby with a coutented smile, she
fell asleep, to waken in land where men are
cqnal before God. .-Harper's Bdzar