The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-07-06

vainly about IN the hope OF seeing Belle.
In few minutes more he was stand
ing by the row of graves and looking
sharply down at the sodden turf for the
snowdrops. There were the green leaves.
He knelt and pushed aside the brown,
wet grass. His heavy face took ON a
pathetic look of eagerness. No, it was
too early; the sun had not been warm
enough. There were no blossoms-not
even buds.
(. Its too bad-too badi" he muttered.
How she would er liked 'emi''
+, He stood up. He brushed mist from
his eyes that made the headstones look
. as if they were not straight.
Something that felt cold and wet, like
ice, touched the hand that hung down
by his side. But he did not notice the
touch untilit was repeated, this time ac-
companied by a whine. Mr.. Marsh
aroused himself and patted the lean, un-.
happy looking cur that stood beside him.
''Huilo, Jack" he said, 'twhere's your
little mistress"
I Jack wagged his tail and made as if
he would trot back home, but as Mr..
Marsh did not follow him he returned
and licked his hand again. He went
through these movements SO many times
Ii.
the dog continually looking behind, un-
til he had led his friend to the back door
of the Ryder house. This door stood
open.
Mr.. Marsh had not heard that Tom
Ryder was 'Son a spree" and he expected
every moment to be greeted by the own
er of this place. whom he despised and
whom he always wanted to kick every
time he saw him.
Instead of masculine voice. however
piping, feeble treble sounded from one
of the front rooms.
'1Oh, Jack, don't you leave me tool
Don't you go n leave me tooP'
Reuben Marsh stood suddenly still
from sheer weakness. His great, tender
heart seemed to choke him. He heard
the dog winning joyfully and scuttline
about the room he had entered. He
breathed a long breath and pushed the
door further open, apparently taking but
one stride from the door to a ''trundle
bed" which was in a corner. On the bed
was child who stared wildly for an in
stant at this intruder, then flush of
joy overspread her face. She put out
two bony arms to the man bending over
her. She laughed.
''Pve jest BEN pray in for friend" :"
she cried feebly. Il KEEP a-prayin' so
| hard that God had to hear finally
Mr.. Marsh gathered the child to his
breast. His heart glowed. His eyes
sparkled as he felt the frail form leaning
conidingly against him.
He took n frayed blanket from the bed
and wrapped her up until she was like u
mummy. He was smiling all the while
he was doing this.
"Where's your father?''
81 d know. He's been gone ever so
many days, guess.
''Ain't you hungry?'
81 was hungry after ct up all there
was, some bread n sausage. Then got
faint; then l was SO awful kind of sick. %
The child leaned her head On the mans
shoulder and shut her eyes. He held her
yet closer.
''rll take ye right home," he said.
He stepped out into the mild, damp
air. He held his head very high. and
his eyes sparkled more than ever. He
walked down and into the village street
as if he had been a soldier coming from
victory. He nodded at the few ac-
quaintances he saw, and who looked at
him wonderingly, but he would not stop
TO speak to any one.
The storekeeper saw him, and said to
a customer that there was Reub Marsh
with Ryder's little girl, n he guessed
Reub d -ketch it when he got home.
Mr.. Marsh still held his head up when
he entered hiso kitchen, tracking in a
good deal of mud as he did SO, for he did
not pause at the huskmat. nor yet at the
rug by tho kitchen door.
Bring me cup of milk with drop
/ of hot water in it., he said, sitting down
in the large rocker by the stove.
/ Jack had entered also, and he also had
brought in mud. He sat calmly ON his
/ dirty launches ON the shiny oilcloth by
! the chair which held Mr.. Marsh and his
mistress
! Mrs. Marsh stood a moment in bewild-
erment; then she brought the milk
Her face softened somewhat as she
looked at the pinched features on her
husbands shoulder.
..She is starving" said Mr.. Marsh.
/ shortly.
/ We'll give ller good meal, N then
you en- take her right back remarked
/ Mrs. Marsh. with her usual decision
She added that Reuben could go right
over to Mr.. Wallis, who was one of the
selectmen, and have the child taken to
the poorhouse that very night.
In ten minutes the girl was sound
asleep. Mr.. Marsh laid her on the lounge
/ and covered her with shawl. He fed
Jack, who ate very hastily and with tho
! utmost greediness and then curled up on
the floor by the couch.
Reuben Marsh rose from his bending
position over the lounge. He looked his
wife squarely in the face. a thing he
! had not done for years.
She gazed back at him with some