Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-05-01
5RMONr PHd5NIX BRATTLEBORO, FRIDAY, MAY l. 1891

"liullo. Jack. ne Said, where your
little mistress?
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. lie went through all these
movements 81 many times that the man at
last walked after him. the dot continually
looking behind until 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 ION a spree" and he expected every
moment to be greeted 10y the owner of this
place. whom he despised and whom he al
ways wanted to kick every time he saw him.
Instead of a masculine voice. however. a
piping feeble treble sounded from one of
the front rooms.
"Oh. Jack. don't you leave me, too!
Don't you go'n' leave me too
Reuben Marsh stood suddenly still from
sheer weakness His great, tender heart
seemed to choke him He heard the dog
whining joyfully and scuttling about the
room he had entered. lie breathed a long
breath and pushed the door further open,
apparently taking but one stride from the
door to "trundle bed which was in a
corner. On the bed was a child who stared
wildly for an instant at this intruder, then
a flush of JOY overspread her face. She
put out two bony arms to the man benling
over her She laughed.
1--WE Jest ben prayin' for friend, she
/ cried fecbly Il KEEP a prIyin' 50 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 frai form leaning conf lingly
against him.
He took frayed blanket from the bed
and wrapped her up until she was like
mummy. lie was smiling all the while he
was doing this.
"Wheres your father?''
~ IL know. He's been gone ever so
many days. | guess.
"Ain't You hungry?'
II was hungry after ct up all there
was. some bread II sausage. Then | got
faint; then was so awful kind of sick
The child leaned her head on the mans
shoulder and shut her eyes He held her
vet closer.
I'm take We right home. he said
lie stepped out into the mild damp air.
He held his head very high. and his eyes
sparkled more than ever. lie walked down
and into the village street. as if lac had
been a soldier coming from victory He
nodded at the few acquaintance he saw.
and who looked at him wonderingy, but he
would not stop to speak to any one.
The storekeeper saw him and said to
customer that there was Reub Marsh with
Rydcr's little girl. N he guessed Reub d
ketch it when he got home.
Mr.. Marsh still held his head up when he
entered his own kitchen. tracking in good
deal OF mud As he did 50. for hc did not
pause at the husk mat, nor vet at the rug
nv I'm if4I.
Bring me a 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 bewilder-
ment: 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. short
ly.
"We'll give her a good meal. n then YOU
en- take her right back remarked Mrs
Marsh, with her usual decision She added
that Reuben could 90 right over to Mr..
Wallis, who was one of the selectmen. and
have the child taken to the poor house that
very night.
In ten minutes the girl was sound asleep.
Mr.. Marsh laid her on the lounge and Gov
cred her with a shawl. lie fed Jack who
ate very hastily and with the utmost greed
mess and then curled up on the floor by the
couch.
Reuben Marsh rose from his bending po-
sitiOn over the lounge He looked his wife
squarely in the face. a thing he had not
done for years.
She gazei back at him with something
like CONSERVATION slowly growing in her
mind.
I'm gon' to do one of two thing.
D'rindy,' he said, very slowly. 'and i'll for
you to say which it'll be. I'm goin' to
keep Tom Rydcr's child, if he don't take
her away from me, N guess he wont.
I'm goin' to keep her here if you re- willin'
if YOU amt willin' | shin 90 where can
keep her y she's gOin' to be treated
we'll, too Now, which shall it be. ID rindy?''
Mr.. Marsh with that delicious love for
the child in his heart, looked very big and
manly
Mrs. Marsh mechanically brushed the
stove hearth with a turkey wing before she
replied.
Il ruther think, Reuben" she said. you
might well keen her here ~ Y Jrib-