The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-04-14
for wishing me admitted. heard you

y
speaking for me.
She smiled-she was not used to
smiles-and would have answered.
when the surly voice interrupted her.
NO use of fine speeches here. The
stranger says he'll pay, and the Lord
knows we need his money bad enough.
Let him eat what there is left, and dry
himself by the fire. He can haze my
bed if he'll pay for it. This is all
business, stranger-no sentiment at all
in it. Fix the table over, Jess, while
he gets dry"
The girl turned silently to her task.
Mr.. Belmont drew near the fire, but,
warned by the GOODNESS of his recep-
ton, he made no further effort at con-
versation. By the heat of the glowing
fireplace he soon got himself thoroughly
dried, and gladly responded to the
summons to refresh himself at the
humble board The victuals were poor
and scanty, but the guest managed to
appease his hunger.
A glance or two from Mr.. belmont
had satisfied him what manner Of man
the other was, and while he stood by
the fire and sat by the table he gave
him no more attention.
Not so with the surly host. He had
also been drying himself; his ragged
coat was thrown over a chair, and his
coarse shoes were before the fire. His
shoulders were stopped, though he was
not an old man. Gray hair was scat
tered thinly over his head; his fore
head and cheeks were scanned with
wrinkles; his eyes were weary and
lusterless, save when anger kindled
them; his thin lips were morose and
sour in expression. The hands that
were clasped about his knees were
hard and horny from toll. Hardship,
sorrow, the bitterness and the darkness
of life were plainly expressed by the
whole picture.
He did not obtain a full view of his
visitors face until the freight shone
strong upon it as he sat at the table.
Then he gave sudden start.
The surly look gave place to one of
doubt; then of close inquiry finally.
as if satisfied, he drew his chair back
into the shadows. Had Mason Bel
mont then seen that face, he would
have been startled by its ferocity. The
dull eyes glowed like forge-fres famed
by the bellows.
The guest finished his meal; the
daughter busted herself few moments
in clearing away the dishes Then she
went up to her father and timidly laid
her hand on his shoulder.
you take my room, father" she
said. 81 can make kind of bed here
with some old wraps. You have worked
hard all day, and got wet, and you
must not lose your Sleep"
A little tenderness, the first that the
man had shown. appeared III his reply:
mo, Jess; you go to bed, and I'll do
the sitting up. I'm going to have my
tormentor to-night-the devil of faces
and things long past. It'll make no
difference whether | have bed or not.
Poor father how I wish"
90, go long with your foolishnessl
Here it's half-past eight 10y the clock.
Go up to your luxurious room-the
only one on the whole upper floor of
this old den fit for human being to
sleep in. Dream, if you can, that
there's something in this wretched
world worth living for. I'll show the
stranger where to sleep"
She lighted another candle, and put
ting an arm around his neck kissed his
cheek. He neither noticed nor resent
ed the caress. The door closed behind
her; they heard the rickety stairs creak
even under her light tread.
The two men were face to face.
TO BE CONTINUED