The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-09-15

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We soon discovered the cause of her weak
ness-it was hunger. The poor thing had
spent her last shilling, and had not eaten a
crust since the morning; and had we not
| found her, she would have spent that Right
| starving in the streets. Ii was the work of a
few moments for John Radd to run out and
return with some bread and wine. We dip
ped the bread in the wine, and forced her to
eat; and after few m0uthfuIS she revived
a bit. The color came into her wan cheeks
and her eyes grew bit brighter. now had
leisure TO observe her more closely, and
| was Mortified to see that the clothing She
| wore was of the poorest; indeed, she was al
most in rags. every available article having
| been pawned, as l soon learned, TO keep her
! from absolute starvation.
When she came wholly to herself again.
she looked at me notwithstanding lest L
should question her again; and thought it
better TO let my questions rest.
Annie" said, do you feel strong enough
| 10 90 now?''
ITO go, Hughg' she repeated.
y es; l must take you with me to my
rooms. 1 can't leave you heref'
| She was too i'll TO offer much resistance;
So after l had paid tile few shillings that
she was owing, we left that miserable den
together-Anuie still faint and very weak,
leaning heavily upon me. After he had
brought in the bread and wine, John Rudd
had quietly kept in the background, think
| ing that his presence might serve to further
upset Annie. He now as unobtrusiyely took
his departure after having whispered in my
ear that he would call for us in the morning.
| took his hint and determined to act upon
| it.
The night was very cold, and as we left
the houses and passed down the street. fac
ing the chilly wind, | felt Annie tremble
| violently, so ! hurried her along and we soon
reached the house where | had taken my
rooms. Had not crept into such good odor
| through my acquaintance with honest John
| Rudd, l should have been almost afraid to
| take poor Annie into the house; as it was, l
expected a cold greeting; but TO my amaze
ment we We're received with open arms. l
| afterward discovered that John Rudd had
| been before us, and had prepared the way
| for our coming. So when the door was open
| ed the landlady, who was good kind soul,
came forward and almost took poor Annie
| IN her arms, and led her, half-fainting, up to
the little sitting-room.
| | gave her my bedroom that night and,
rolling myself in a rug lay down on the sofa
in my little sitting-room and tried to sleep;
| but it was impossible, and after while got
up and began to walk about the room. An
| MES room adjoined mine; so | could hea-
| that she, too, was awake and crying bitterly.
Once l thought of going in to her; then | re-
| Trained. 1t was better TO let her ease her
heart so; i'll the morning she would be more
herself. and l could talk to her.
| In the morning. however, matters were
considerably worse; poor Annie was deliri-
Gus. Her pale face was flushed, her eyes va
cant, and she cried pitifully on some one to
| come to her.
At ten o'clock, John Rudd's wagon stop
| ped at the door; few moments later honest
John himself was before me. / took him to
the bedside and showed him my poor cousin,
and his eyes filled with tears as he looked at
her. Then we both went back to the other
| room.
"Neaster Hugh" said John, ''what doc
zee mean to daw, sir"
Il shall wait here till Annie gets better"
L said; then 1 shall persuade her to come
heme. You will be back again on Thursday,
won't you?"
Yes; and mayhap she'll be well enough
by then to come. Wen make her bed l.
the avid wagon and take her careful, Meas
| ter HughI'
Never in my life had l thought so much of
the honest-hearted carrier as now, when /
saw him shedding tears for my poor cousin.
l took his hand and grasped it warmly.
God bless your | said.
He turned his head away, and drew the
back of his hand across his eyes; then he
turned again to me.
'.Measter Hugh" he said, II dawnt mind
tellin' you, cause you aint like some as 'ud
laugh at me. I'm big rough fallow, and a
bit stupid p'raps but I've gawt heart like
the rest on us; and that dear lass found her
way to it, and made Inc love her, as | can
never love anybody in my life again. She
don't knaw this any more than you did afore
this minute. She never thought anything o.
me, and didn't blame her for il; for twarn't
no fault o hern; but went on lovin' her all
the same. l thought, Measter Hugh, she
might ha' married you; and if she had, and
had ha' been happy-why, | should ha' been
contented But when she went away il
almost brawke my heart"
at was a blow to all of us God grant
better things are in store"
"Measter Hugh, aint told youthis to-day
for the sake o talking. l want you to un-
derstand that if | can help her nav, when
she wants help, It's all | ask for."
So saying, he opened his purse, took out a
few soyereigns and offered them to me; but
l shook my head.
Il don't want it, | said. Il have still got
some of my own left-when that is done, il
will be time enough for me to come to you.
Poor Annie shall be we'll looked after, be
sure of that; and hope that by Thursday
shall have her well enough to take heI
home
Looking rather crestfallen, he put The
money back into his pocket, and turned tC
go.
Very well, Measter Hugh" said he; "FI
|; | come again on Thursday"
He had given me a warm hand-shake, and
had got halfway down the stairs, when
called him back.
''If you are calling at the cottage" l said
don't tell them anything of this. Don't lie
them know that Annie is here, or that yol
| have seen her. Ii VIII be better to keep tn
secret YETI
IL he could not induce me to take money
John Rudd determined to render assistanc
: in some other way. About half an hour aft
er he had left, doctor arrived TO see Annie
then came several bottles of wine, and som
fruit; and had strong reason 10 suspect tina
the landlady had not been quite so ayerse
accepting his money as had been. At an
rate, she was untiring in her attention
? Annie, who rapidly recovered.
t When John Rudd came on the Thursday
5 he found her sitting up in bed, able to recoe
nize him and talk to him. but still too wea
to walk into the adjoining room. Nothin
was said about going away that day; but
! judged that she would be able to make tn
r attempt on the following Monday, the da
of the carriers return.
: On the Sunday morning, therefore, whe
s she had left her bedroom, and sat in the am
] chair by the sitting-room fire. took her poo
e thin hand in mine. and said:
s Annie, my dear, do you feel strong enong
!, to take iourney?'
= For a moment she turned her frightene
+; eyes on mine.
: "a Journey. Hugh?H she asked, family.
b saw her cheeks grow very white, but
n knew that what l had to say must be said
!. 30 l went bravely on
+ John Rudd will be here tomorrow"
y said, "and l want to take you home"
: 1t was pitiful TO see her face. "Oh, Hugh
l, can't gor' she cried Il can't face fathe
n it would kill me. You go, and leave me
% try to forget you have seen me; and the
e viii never know"
n saw it was a hard task had before M
but tackled it as bravely as l could.
e. Annie L said, .'the time has come whe
e, you must tell me the whole truth. When v
J. met in London, you said you were marie
e woman Was that true or falsey
le She shivered, and turned away her face.
1t Don't ask me. HughI don't!'
ID But persisted, and at last she replied:
); when told you, thought it was tru
d He said l was his wife, We went before
s sort of lawyer together in Plymouth, an
i though prayed sore to be wed in churc
r ne said it was the same thing. Afterwan
when we quareled, he told me that the ma
was in his pay. and that it was no marrial
ID at all. That was why left him, and wei
b. into the streets to starye."
ID Now, answer me-" cried, who Is Il
ne man who deceived you? If he is living,
d shall make amendsr'