Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-10-04

u
i say:
'who are youi Why should know
your
"who am Il Amt been a tellin' you all
along I'm your father
Oh, it seemed as il the solid ground was
sinking and rising like the waves Of a great
sea as she listened to these dreadful words.
/ She caught hold of the fence rail to steady
herself
'You look surprised, little one" said the
man "Ain't they told youl Now that's a
shame for it TO come on you so sudden. But
they was wrong thinkin' wanted to drown
/ you. We was SO poor. you see, | couldn't
bear to see you a starvin' before my very
eyes, and so thought I'd put an end to both
Of us at once; but they don't let folks have
their own way in this blessed country that
they calls free, so they fshed you out and
put me in prison all on misunderstanding. ("
'Oh, ii was all true, thenl"
The mans words were an awful corrobora-
ton of what she had heard at school
snow, little one, I'm hungry enough to eat
you most. I've run away from prison, too
You must hide me, and bring me something
TO eat
"Oh, | can't-In-
There's no such word as can't" said the
man, with an awful frown. "Its well seen
hain't had the bringin' Of you up. You
must do just as | say. What's TO bender me
takin you with me to help beg, or do the
work for mefn
This awful prospect quite subdued the poor
child.
"You might hide in the hay in the barn."
she said, her heart beating hard at the pros
pect, "and when can will bring out some
FOOD
And something to drink"
81 can get some milk, may be- said the
trembling little girl
"Poohl millS-nawIH snapped the grimy
man, in voice that made the poor child
jump. Coffee Of the strongest kind. Say.
do they lock this barn at nightf'
Eyes"
"Then you must find the key and bring it
out 20 me, | want to get of in the night.
Mind, if you don't do just as say, FL claim
you in the morning. Noone can keepa child
from its own fathern
Shuddering from head 20 foot, Elsie showed
the man into the barn, where he made him
self a bed in the hay
Then the child went back into the house,
quite crushed with the misery that had come
upon her. She felt so sure Of the truth of it
all, and such dread lest this terrible parent
would carry out his threat, that she did not
say a word 10 Mrs Ford.
81 think Elsie must be i'll +" said Cicely, as
she watched her; ''she has not looked right
since she came from school,"
On being questioned, Elsie admitted that
she had headache, and thu tears came into
her eyes as Mrs Ford bent down to kiss her
good night.
Oh, how she longed 20 sob out all the terri
BILE story on that kind breast, where she had
found a shelter in all her childish troubles
But the horrible phantom Of that grimy man
who waited for her in the barn kept her back.
The thoughts Of what her life might be, filed
her with cold horror. She laid aside her
pretty, dainty clothes with vision of herself
in rags, tramping down the long roads and
begging from door 10 door 1t was all as real
to her as could be; she never paused TO doubt
or question. Oh, how pleasant the soft bed,
white as a snow drift, but warm as wool, felt
20 her tired limbs; for the nervous strain had
tired her, and she longed TO sleep
She had asked God to help her, but she did
not see how he could. But perhaps he
would find out a way However, no miracle
happened for her, and she got up softly at
last, trembling from head to foot, and put on
her clothes. She thought OF mamma and
Aunt Cicely in the pleasant sitting room IN
the front Of the house. Il was bright there,
with the students lamp on the table, ard
mamma with her work Aunt Cicely was
reading to her She could hear her voice.
OH they were safe, and never dreamed Of
the poor child who was stealing down stairs
with shudder, TO get the key and go out in
the dark and open the barn for that dread.
full man.
Perhaps he would take their horse and
ride away, and she would not dare 10 stop
him. She felt like shedding a tear at poor
Charles possible fate. Yes, he would surely
take the horse, TO save himself from the
tramp, and he could escape SO much faster.
At this thought she stopped short, with the
key in her hand, and a great pain at her
heart. All, she dared not stop now. She
must go ON. She stood moment shivering
at the back door, looking out into the night
There was no moon, and the trees seemed
trembling in low wind. Fantastic shadows
appeared to be budding together The way
to the barn seemed long and dark She had
a basket with a loaf and some cold meat, all
she could find.
She must shut the door now and leave her
and grew very cold, and hesitated The next |
moment land grasped her arm and drew
her back.
ais tit is Elsie" cried Mrs Ford in |
amazement "Why, l do believe the child is
out of her head. Why, Elsie, child, what
are you doing with basket and hreadl Yes, |
it is bread and meat And what's in the |
other handl The key OF the barn, do de-
clare
Elsie burst into tears, and could not speak
Nervous chills seemed to shake her from head
to foot
Tell me all, darling" said Mrs ed, ten
derby; don't be afraid. Is any one in the
barnr
"It's-my-my father, come back from
prison" said Elsie, land he's in the barn"
"Your father, child Now know you're
out of your head
A ray of hope came like sunshine into e.
sizes heart
"You are my own mamma, Them she
cried, clasping Mrs. Ford's neck with afTec-
ton.
Dear, am not your own mamma, but
love you all the same,n said the gentle wo-