The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-07-15
SUSY'S BEAU.

1t was a fsvorite jest upon Old
Farmer ColIingwood's farm to call Joe
Ellison Susy's admirer. And Susy,
when she heard the half-taunting joke,
only smiled softly, and at their next
meeting only gave kinder word or q
sweeter smile.
She was the orphaned daughter of a
country clergyman, whose sole legacy
to her had been the best education his
own profound learning enabled him to
give her. When she was but little
girl her mother died, and she had been
her fathers housekeeper, scholar and
companion until her nineteenth birth
day, when Rev. Stephen Coyle was like
wise taken from the child to his last
long rest. The good people of the par
ish, knowing Susy's advantages Of
study, had put her at the head of the
district school, and her old home b ing
the parsonage, she had removed her
personal possessions and taken up her
abode at Farmer Collingwood's he
having for years boarded the school
ma'am.
1t was merry happy farmers house
hold where Susy lived. Julia and Molly
Collingwood were strong armed
blooming damsels, full of coquettish
grace and with loud voices and active
habits. Charlie and James, the sons,
were fine specimens of young farmers
and the Old man and his wife were
kind hearted, homely country folks.
But the young girl, brought up in her
fathers study, his companion for years,
had developed more mental than phisi-
cal strength, was shy in manner, re-
served in speech, and craved intellect
ual food entirely out of her power to
OBTAIN. She was slight in figure, with
large black eyes, delicate features, a
pure, colorless complexion, and masses
of nut-brown hair. The parsonage
having always had a servant, Susys
little hands were unspoiled by rough
work, and beside the rosy-cheeked, blue
eyed ColIingwood girls, she looked like
pale nun, her deep mourning con-
trastlng strongly with their gay attire,
with all the colors of the rainbow
struggling for supremacy.
She had been but little time in her
position as instructress to the tow =
headed youngsters of Brent Hill, when
coming up the road from school late on
summer afternoon, she heard groans
and wailings in one of the cottages,
where often before she heard the same
sounds.
Poor Joel" she whispered pitifully.
being beaten by cruel task-master
But on that afternoon, as she drew near
the cottage, the door suddenly flew
open, ana the idiot limped, bowling
and sneeding as fast as his infirmities
allowed, out at the opening. while fol-
lowing him strong brutal man, half
drank, hOurished an immense COW
hide.
The man, cursing and swearing, held
the whip over the covering, shrinking
lad, but when it fell it struck not Joe
out Susy, who bent over him, one arm
raised TO ward off the blow. Brute as
he was, the half-drunken wretch stood
aghast when the heavy lash cut across
Susy's slender shoulders and arms.
Il eg pardon, ma'am," he said. 81
did not see you was in the way"
How can your" she cried, her pale
cheeks crimson with womanly indigna-
ton, "how can you, strong man,
strike a poor, trembling boy like that
"a boy whose infrmities should ap-
peal for protection to any man who
was not an arrant coward
"Well, come now, that's pretty
strong" said the man. Don't I feed
and lodge him for what be does, and
amt got right to beat him If he does
anything wrong? He don't earn his
salt, he don't"
Don't keep him, them"
II guess you're right, 1 wont. Joe,
you may go to the mischief, but don't
come here again."
So saying, the idiots tormentor
turned On his heel and re.entered his
house, shutting and noisily boiling his
| door. Susy stood, half-terrifed at the
| result of her Tell-meant interference.
Joe was a wait from the almbouse,
lame, deformed, idiotic, and she lad
deprived him of his Gully refuge.
"Oh, joe" she said, crying. Il am
so sorry! What will you do?''
But Joe was only able to realize that
his brutal task-master had ceased to
Deat him, and that a long, red welt
across Susy's hand had fallen there on
its way to his covering shoulder. He
only pointed to the mark, half CRYING:
1T was better for me to take it as
you "he said. whimpering; 1.-The pretty
white hand! Oh, Joe is sorry you cot
bsfore him! Joe don't mind beatingl
All the cbiYalry in the poor, dull
brain asserted itself in that speech, for
Joe did mind beating very much.
You can't stay here in the road all
night, said Susy. Come with me and
l will ask Mr.. Collingwood to give Won
place 10 sleep"
The good people of the farm looked
rather astonished when Susy appeared.
followed by the STOPPING, iimping
figure of the village idiot. But the
farmer broke into hearty laughter when
she told of her interference, and begged
shelterfor the boy.
Stay here2 OF course he can stav
here!" he said. Wen find something
for the poor beggar to do. But to think
OF your spunking up to Bob Carter in
that fashion. I'd ba' given my best !
cow to see it. A little white bantam
pecking mad bull would be nothing to
il. And he ran of? Well! Well!
Here, CharI e, show Joe the room over
the barn. He can sleep there, and he
"ill soon learn where to come to
meals