The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-06

Monsieur Scarecrow's name; besides, all the
tenor of his life had inclined him to grave
rather than mirthful occupation.
1--WE been hoein'-workin' over there
"a little spot of red touched for an in.
slant the old mans grizzled cheeks. "Yes,"
he added gently, II scare the birds away
too. Mr.. Miggerwell-yes, scare away the
birds.''
Observing the gentle though pensive look
that had settled on his companions face,
Mr.. Miguel fixed his dark helpless eyes
upon him with profound sympathy.
Hard times" he then said, comprehen-
Yes. indeed, Mr.. Mieeerwell-yes you've
"Youv' interrupted the other, quickly
lyon hat the hart times, Monsieur Skeke-
"Yee, Mr.. Migeerwell-yes, Tn been q
.:SWiieY' said the other. after long
pause.
'Long ago-dead."
''Ah, tits SO! Chile?"
''Dead-.long ago. Home-wife-child-
''Ah, 'tis SO! tits SOP
''Since then trade-foreign coast-ship-
wreck
.'Ah-sheepwreckv
Foreign by wrong by mistake
Au-pI00SOus Ill, tl6 DOs
But the smile had come to the Scarecrow's
wistful face, at which his alien neighbor
STRANGELY felt little wonder. Mr.. MiRuel's
experience had not given him any usual
conventional ideas as to the fixed causes for
smiling or weeping in this world. At hint
he in turn related, though more diffusely,
his own woes to the sympathetic ear Of
MOnSeignOr ScarecrOw.
The next day. as the old man was at work
in the fields, whittier he had gone early,
Mrs. Miguel suddenly appeared before him.
Her expressive eyes informed him of new
misery, with grave unquestioning sense of
his capacity as savior.
Rain and exposure, mingled with previ-
GUS privation, had changed little Pet
tees gentle fading into an acute and rapid
fever.
monsieur Skekerow - said the poor
mother, bending over her moaning child
with an absolute religious sense of those
words as talisman. The child, rejecting
maternal faith, lifted her feverish eyes
At night the Oldest boy fell ill. Mr..
Miguel, on his hard cot. slept the sleep of
utter exhaustion. Monsieur Scarecrow,
assisted by the worn mother, cared tenderly
for the little sufferers. So for another day;
and then at night little Pettee did most
wept, but now she looked up at the pale
face of Monsieur the Scarecrow and very
TRANQUILITY smiled.
"Ah, mon Pettee! mon Petteev' cried the
mother, clasping her with sweet anguish.
But little Pettee had done with weeping.
The boy would mend. But II proved at
the end Monsieur Soarecrow was ever
wearied. He was very old man. He lay
down cheerfully on the cot no longer occu-
pied by little Pettee, and he prayed God
meekly it might not lie long now to port.
A day later Harry Cheese was discussing
II l. SrV Nw
tive of irritation to the young man. cts a
ludicrous idea" he exclaimed, ''that such
an Individual should turn up after all these
years. Ludicrous! Impossiblev'
"Mr. Cleese," responded the lawyer, dry
~, when you have lived as long as have,
likeliest. Seriously, do not anticipate
any trouble for you, Harry, but wish
your estate were free from any of these
hypothetical. or, if you will, chimerical
clauses. The farm only is yours in any
case. The mill patent was the invention
exclusively of this Yankee partner of your
fathers, who evidently had attached no
value to it, as on the death Of his family he
went to seek his fortunes elsewhere, leaving
the practical development of the scheme
wholly with your father. Nevertheless, by
these papers. of which he doubtless holds
the originals, the patent and the legal right
are his.'
Eyes; and with the reputation of our bus
mess here now for some years, if he had
been living he would probably have put in
an appearance long before this"
Probably ...
Undoubtedly" said Harry Cheese, rising
with his usual gay laugh. He walked down
to the factory offices. There, some hours
later, he heard timid knock at the door.
It was followed by the appearance of the
mild dark face and pleading eyes of Dan
iel Miguel.
Monsieur Cheese, Monsieur Skekerow!'
''What's the matter, Daniel p
Monsieur Skekerow-he ave the weesh
to a " sGs;"
:, monsieur Monsieur Skekerow! You
Daniel, desperately, seeing the unenlight-
ened look on his employers face.
Harry, suddenly compromising, burst
into laugh, long and loud.
"Dyin'," said Miguel, with his usual gen.
tie, serious ar. though vague as ever as to
lis that SOP" said Harry. gravely. "And
wishes to see me? Come, Daniel, then,
show me the poor soul.''
Mr.. Miguel was still more gently per-
picked on observing the thoughtful and
cheerful manner, almost that of superior,
with which poor Monsieur Scarecrow well
coined his handsome young employer.
=
eyes, sad and grave enough in their long
battle with the seas, were twinkling, now
that the green banks of the shore were
sloping full in sight.
ssYes, Mr.. Carson" said Harry.
"I've got paper here,'' said the old man,
'sas wanted you should know was out o.
the world" He held it toward Harry that
he might he assured of its identity. and
then tore it in many fragments. ssBurn!"
he said to Mrs. Miguel. .There, Mr..
Harry, didn't want to bother We, lad, but
wanted ye to know it was out @ the world.
Don't ye never think about it. was SO
mean to step in and rob ye.''
"And it was you, the rightful owner of
all, that set to scare the crows in my
fields?" Harry spoke through bursting
tears. the first his young manhood had
ever known; they Obscured for once his
cold, brilliant blue eyes, and fell impetu-
ously on the old mans shrivelled hands.
There, there, lad! Was it 60 much to
ye? Thank God, then, for it. want a
feathers weight to me. Only look here,
Harry, my lad-look here. can't think
it's 80 very much. after all, even ter the
young and happy, ter be rich. I know
age now, and I'm a-nearin' where We know
the truth. and can't think it's SO much.
nor the greatest thing. Harry, my lad-I
can't think So"
'Where we know the truthr' He spoke
kindly but YEARLY, for he had made q great
effort.
"But to think that /, who am not worthy
to fasten your shoes. who owe all to you
that l should have insulted you But
Harry Cheese paused. with sudden awe
H.. A..