The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-12-14

There she paused, Struck dumb with ter
ror. She ha,i taken Q step forward and her
foot had struck something soft and heavy
that lay on the barn floor. She guessed
what il was her foot had touched. She did
not Uttcr his name now. She knelt down
AID felt about. The first thing She touched
was cold, limp hand. Then ielt upward.
and touched face cold also She gathered
itup 70 her breast Dark as it was she
knew well enough that il was the head that
had rested there so often, her hand went
through his curls and a moan escaped her
Dead" she sobbed, "dead, dead" And
then her voice came back in a wall that
sang out upon the night-air and brought
from the kitchen hoilie, and Bill, The
help"
Bill, a great stalwart fellow. lifted the
master ia his arms and carried him into the
kitchen How susan French goi back into
the house she never knew, but ~ She knclt
by the settee and wondered whether. with
all those babies up stsirS IL MAS right for
her to pray 10 die too, hope came back 20
her in word from Bill.
'Nissus," he said, ''ho,s ant dead-he
ant, such thing; he's stunned Ike.
No doubt he's hurt mighty bad, but not
dead wouldn't say so il 1 warn't sure
I'll fetch him into bed, missJs, and 20 for
the doctor Hen come to-he'il come to-
Then II seemed TO the poor woman * IL
heaven had opened its gates and given her
glimpse OF glory. Shr bent over hiin ss
he lay ca his pillow and heard The chatter
OF the horses hOofS o-cr the hard -l4.f on
the highway leading tswn-wartl. How long
woGld il los before the doctor cane : sIr.ia-
Willie, she bathed the poor bleeding head
while Moliie chafcd the cold hands Aud
AT last she saw, that he lived His ewes
openedi but when she spoke 20 him, he
answered her only with grOans. Ihc door
opened, and-thank Heaven the doctor,
but, worse than that. I'ilI, with horror in
his eyes, aud q hand pointing over ms
shoulder toward the red glare that dashed
up toward the sky The barn was on fire;
and while the poor wife within the shat
tered room had one thought oniv. "WilI he
] love better than the world beside, live or
de- despite the fruitieSG aid that came
too late, though il was freely offered barn
and stable, hay and cattle, were iickrd up
by the deyouriuS iiameS- Aud All the elorls
. OF the neiEhbors only availed 10 save the
little homestead sud or. COW
a poor Thanksgiving for Ms. French
said many kindly matron n she heard the
n"Ws next morning. GrI Susan French vas
al that vcEy hour thanking Ged; Tor, - the
doctor went away, he said; Keep up your
get him through yet Ion'll not be widow
this time
lie would live, and what did she care for
barn or store. Let all 90, 80 thst she had
him. But there was "A weary time before her
-dayE OF feyeraud drliriuIn, dzyS Of weak
misery, Whcn the strong man hsd becone
ike ircuul child. SuSan'z checks grew
thin, aud her hands began 10 show their
bones. Oftcu -hc wondered v ii-thrr she
could keep on her feet much longer. but she
did and alier three month : Illness HEM
got about ag,'in. cauuI and sai!ow. and Was
enough himself 20 make IL r1ec,-S sar. that he
should be told what had happcned.
81 suppose my lantern broke in the hav.''
he said, when hr could speak Il found the
door open, aud went in, and there H.I.sa man
there, GrapPled him, and he struck nc
that all know. Either my lantern did il,
or the man was there 70 IRE the barn How
ever u was, IL j. all over now. twill take
Susan, you took care OF NV POcket-hOok p
She came across the room aud took his
hands Darling, she said, have patie2ce.
our pocket-hook has not been found. /
thought you might remember " whsre--
"a always wore IL in my vest, he said,
You know that Kept my coupon bonds
IN IT. / kept all had about me- Thyre were
six hundred dollars Ia money too, aud re-
ccipts dare noi lose. for thcv are signed by
YascalS. S~--~. eyer- -Nauss e. 2 Of re-
treving nv losses is gone, gone forever. I
suppose ] was robbed as Law senseless, md
l thought fny own person better and Safer
than amy hank Look at me now, misrr-
able, shaking shadow, that a child could
master"
'But you'll get strong again. = said Susan.
amt We ve the house ana the iand-' But
Henry was too weak 10 feel any hope or
courage. lie took % his bed again, and Law
there when "a Eas time for farmer 10 be
busy.
However, he did not die, and there was
another C1nvaiescenc. Susan had not had
time 30 be H. She dared not What She
corsssl do, She had Done But farm needs
tSmasIer. II they raised enaush foT food
that year, that was III they couli do. And
il WIS poor wear. No fruit 10 speak of
vegetables snail aud mean, aud corn a dis
appointment.
Morse Te-. c2e Of Frenoh's creditors