The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-11-30
THE PLAGUE ~ HER LIE.

nnnpuranpp ITS warmed ana IN l-lttl
boards were blocl ered by the at1rlYf Of
many n winter. and its old fa3et! ign
created dalef,uv in everv messing breeze.
If was in a oniat country i.an.let, shut
in from tba busv yvnrl! iv r.en hills,
many miles fror, any railroad. am! re-
t~aininr an the primitive ways of half y
century ago.
The men bsd eo~ngreeated, as was thei.
usual custom. tc sip some of Landlord
Aiken's cider. tell II few stories, and re-
fail stale Jokes.
suddenly a tail. stalwart man, VITA q
peddler's pack on his shoulders, and lead
ING by the hand n little girl. emerged
from a cross-ro 4 and approached the
rroup. The man and his pack were
too common a sight in those days to at
tract attention. hut the child climging TO
his hand fascinated their cazr.
She was a girl of ten Years, small for
her age. with a bright eldsh face, black
hair and eyes. the latter large and brill
liant. Her skin was h own fror1 expos
nre to the sun, her res, old and faded,
and her feet bare. but small and shapely.
Good evening. friends. " said the ped
dIer denositinr his pack on the piazza,
and taxing off lis straw hat TO wipe his
heated brow.
"Have YOU come farT' asked the land
lord, pushing forward u couple of chairs.
The stranger took one and seated the
little girl in the other. and threw his arm
protectingly around her as he answered:
,sFrom $. three DAYS since. It's
fully twenty miles. but my little compan-
ion is not over-strong for such journey"
rs IL your little cirlgo asked one of the
men.
s'No: have neither chick nor child. |
am taking her to her friends. Can You
tell me where Squire Wagner iivesz''
"He lives over there in the graveyard
replied the landlord. pointing to Il grassy
enclosure on the hillside opposite.
sis there any Of the family living%"
"One-Miss Dorothy, who lives mp in
the old farmhouse yonder. The rest are
all dead, unless it be Fred, the youngest,
a wild harum-searum fellow, who went
off years ago"
''This is his little girl; he IS dead, . said
the peddler.
"When did he dies7
'I've not time to tell you now" said
the newcomer, as he felt the child start
ut the question. "YVhat sort of woman
is Miss Dorothy"
"Oh, a sort OF crab-apple species, you
know. Had q disappointment in early
life that dried up all hsr sweetness" said
one man.
1.-The farmers he~reabouts get her to
look into their cider barrels 10 make vine
gar responded another, and Il laugh
went round.
The peddler looked troubled.
will she be kind to the little eirls'' he
asked.
ooh, yes: she wouldn't hurt aworm,
and she'll get plenty to cat. She isn't
stingy. but she isn't ono of the soft, low
ing kind eagerly put in Il man who had
not before taken a part in the CONVERSE
ton.
well, guess we may as we'll he going,
sir" said the peddler, rising. Can I
leave my pack in year care, landlord, till
leone backY"
An affirmative answer being given, he
took the child's hand and set u for the
low farmhouse a half mile distant, whose
western windows vs3rc all aglow with the
RAYS OF the setting su1.
AS they neared it, the little girl looked
eagerly around to Zee what her new home
was like. Some dacks and geese at play
in a clear brook caused her to clap her
hands.
They entered q neat yard. and passed
ND a narrow stone walk chat led around
the house. the girl looking with evident
satisfaction at the beds OF bright flowers
on either side.
An omen door gave them the view CT q
a ~ -
were arranging q 5ountiful repast. and
two hired men vs-s performing their alb
Jurions at n sDout in the rear. The ned.
dler knocked softly.
.sIs Miss WAGNER ine"
Yes. What do YOU vantg"
And the elder woman stepped to the
door She was tall. and very energetic in
her movements.
s'I,ve brought vot. ; little girl for COM
many ma'am.u
..Meg Brought me little girl for com.
nsny2 What 10 YOU mean. sir2 Eve no
time for iokinrr
..But nerbaps Won have time to greet
your brotbel Fred liJtle orphan ehildu
Miss Dorotbystaggered against the door
most
.sFredyr she resped. ale is
..D4adi and has sent his little girl ia
vou -
For a momeut the lady seemed over.
wbelmad INIT rccoycri,r herself tnrned
to the cbild
s.Wbat i vonr nar.s4, she asked.
"Gins~ ma,am
..Wbatan ontla,diabB ar,e, Hatsev. did
ro, ever bnart h rkesp
.yeverp evclaime1 the maid.of-all.
wort a-Tranrino vri+b prlifted hands
mar, called me So. and oh be,.
6eodi Snd hreati,o fron, IN datainino