Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1889-04-20

Naughty pussyl come here" cried
Elsie, and ran after her. In tho orchard
Dot disappeared, but hearing slight
noise below, Elsie went softly forward
intent on taking her pet by surprise. Ar
rived ut the gate to the yard she paused
and looked about. What was her sur
prise to sec n man cutting with large
pocket knife at the sash of tho kitchen
Window For moment she looked
on in wondcrment, but when the man
had cut away the fastening and was
carefully raising the window, she ex.
claimed.
That's my papa's houser'
Like a flash the man turned around
and peercd across the yard, his hand still
on the half raised window.
"IIuhl it's a kid" he muttcrcd, and
he let the window down and walked
over to Elsie.
"What are you doing here, young
oncS" he asked in a whisper
'Im going to see the sun and tho
moon dance in the morning." replied
Elsie, ''and you mustn't speak out loud or
you'll wake papa and mamma and they'll
make me come in"
The stranger smiled.
81 won't disturb en-" he said. II
wasn't going to anyway. Tho fact is,
little one, I'm hungry, and all | was CO.
ing To do in your house was to find some
thing To eat"
"How do you know where the pantry
is?' asked Elsie.
IL don't, but p'r'aps | could find it.
You know, SUPPOSE Can't you yet me
a bit OF bread or snmpthingy'
Elsie thought moment. She remcm-
bcred how no beggar ever went hungry
from her fathers door. and without re-
ilccting further she cropt into the house,
and as she went in the stranger muttureI,
And to think that the door was un-
locked all the timer
When Elsie returned she brought q
half loaf of bread and doughnut, a
luxury OF which she was especially fond.
The stranger fell upon the bread raven
ously and Elsie watched him in silence
for moment. Then she asked:
"Where do you live:"
nowhere"
This seemed so strange to Elsie that
she said nothing moro. The hungry
man ate every mor3cl Of the food and
then put his face in his hands,
"Im much obliged to you." he whs-
pered. I'm no thief. little one. and /
never tried before to break into a house,
though I've seen hard times enough"
Wouldn't YOU like 10 see the sun and
the moon dancer" asked Elsie. Il think
they'll do it this morning, aud tllat1l be
pretty soon, won't it? They do in Ire
land every Easter morning" .
"Who told yol sog" Maggie"
"Who's shc:" "Papa's hired girl"
whats your papa's manner" Mister
William Durant."
The stranger started, and leaning for
ward pcerod earnestly into Elsie'S face.
Say that again. Where did you used
to liveY" he exclaimed.
WAY oil somewhere. / live here
now"
whats your manner"
elsie"
The stranger was silent moment.
Then he rose, and taking the child by
the hand, walked with her up the slope
through tho orchard.
the sun dance, wasn't III" he asked, and
when they were seated together on the
church steps he made many inquiries
about her, learned that there was in her
mind vague memory of brother, and
that mamma had said he would surely
return some time. Presently the bell in
the steeple above them struck one, and
the stranger tried TO persuade the child
to return TO her house and bed. She per-
sisted IN her desire To see the morning
dance of sun and moon, but her eyes
were heavy, and before sho knew il she
was fast asleep in the strangers arms.
He had taken oif his coat TO shelter her,
and in corner of the church portico
they passed hour after hour of the slow
Easter morning. -"
IL was yet some minutes before sim
rise when Mrs. Durant was startled from
her sleep by violent knocking at her
chamber door
mis- DmHnt! Mis- Durant! Haste We
up' El5ie's gonc!"
Maggie on the way to the earliest of
early masses had glanced into Elsie's
room. During the few minutes that fol-
lowed, confusion and anxiety contended
Tor possession of the household. Then
Mr.. Durant set out To warn the con
stable, and Mrs. Durant, painfully agi-
iatcd at the thought of losing another
child, began 10 search the ncighborhood.
She went 10y the road that wound about
the hill to the church. As she neared
the building she saw man crouching in
tho portico, and she determined TO ask
him II he had seen Elsie. lie did not see
or hear her, She had come quite near
when the sound of his voice made her
stop stock still with fearsome faintness
about her heart
wake up, Elsie" he said; 1.-THE sun is
just getting up"
us he dancingT inquired small,
sleepy voice from bundle in his arms.
"Where is the moon?"
Elsie! Willie, BY childrenr cried
Mrs. Durant, running forward
The man, young and not bad looking
teiiow' albeit haggard and roughened by
exposure, rose quickly and said:
We're here, mother"
And did tie sun and the moopueally