The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1888-06-14

fire"
How kind you are, sir! I'm sure
father will thauk you a thousand
times"
Thank me yourself, child! I'm not
doing it for your father It'slong since
anybody had cause to thank me, aa0
tho sound is sweet
Ho opened the door and went out
through the binding snow. Returning
half-hour later, he repIonished the
fire, raking the Goals together till red
blaze mounted high in the great chin
ney. Then catching up Tony in his
night gown, he made him laugh with a
story before being carried of to bed.
Your folks can possibly get homo
tonight" he said, when Jennie reap
peared, having left her ittlo charge
quietly sleeping. 1t storms harder
every minute. But they'll be along
bright and early in the morning, so
don't you mind, but go and lie down
with the boy and FL camp here in
front of the fire."
''But you won't be comfortable, sir. ="
Once moro the peculiar expression
fitted across the mans face
"ComfortsbIe! I'll get the sweetest
rest I've had for many long nightr'
jennie did as she was hidden. She
threw herself, still dressed, on the
couch beside her little brother. 1t was
long before she slept, for as the storm
beat against the window paucs, she
could not repress a sharp an xiety for the
safety of those she loved.
"What should l have done if this man
had not Gomez" she thought. "IIe may
be odd, but he is very, very kind"
She lost consciousness at last, and
when she awoke the storm was over,
and the sunshine streamed in at the
eastern win1ow. As she sprang up
hardly able to collect the scattered
memories of the previous night, the
sound of distant bells came to her cars.
They are coming" the cried, joy
fully. Hastily she opened the door of
the living-room. 1t was empty, and the
fire smouldered low on thu hearth. Her
strange guest had gone suddenly and
unannounced as he had come
''He didn't wait to see father, and he
had no breakfast" mturned poor Jen-
ME. "What must he have thought of
me to sleep so late as thi52"
She ran to the outer door just as her
fathers sleigh camo in sight-the stout
horses struggling bravcly through the
heavy drifts. A cheerful halo rang
out, answered by her own clear, joyful
tones. The sleigh reached the door,
and in a moment Jennie was in her faith
er's arms.
My poor little girl! You are safe.
| was afraid-hasn't anybody been
hcre2'
"Oh yes; we haven't been lonesome,
either, have we, Tony? A man came
he had been caught in the storm-and
he was so good! He fed the cattle and
made the fire, but-onIy think Il
slept SO long that he went away without
any Breakfast"
"Yos---he only robbed me of my
money l suppose, and spared you,
"Well, I'm thankful for that"
Robbed you, father! Why, he was
a good man. He played with Tony and
did all the chores"
John Harmon picked up a scrap of
paper on tho table, on which was
scrawled, "Good-by, little girl; don t
tell your father that anybody came, and
always be good to those that amt good
Themselves"
THAT proves it." he said. 81 saw
that man watching US, yesterday, when
we went over the brook, and he must
have cut down that tree to prevent our
getting back last night. He did it to
rob me-" John Harmon rushed out of
the room, but quickly returned, in a
state of excitement and astonishment
why" he said, 'he hasn't taken it,
after allp'
OF course, they never could know the
whole story, but they guessed a part of
it. The farmer had in his house con-
siderable sum of money which he was
soon to pay toward clearing the mort
gage from his farm. The strange Wis
itor must have known this fact. He
certainly watched John Harmon and
Steve as they went away from home.
Probably he cut down the tree of which
Jennie's father had spoken, in order to
delay his return until he had timo to
get we'll away. Then he had come to
the house, not because he was caught in
the storm, but because he had somo
plan, which no one dou bted was rob-
berry.
John Harmon always believed that it
was Jennies innocent fcarlessness and
perfect trust in the rough man that
changed his mind, and saved him from
the loss of his money. - Youths Com
panion.
She Had Him.
'The happiest moment of a mans
ife," he said tenderly, "is when he
l-oou-o +bo+ ba has won virps baort -