Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-09-26

looked 2s lf they Sooil always up
with unisazlEAy moisture. So1ae q tsss
window Ian 5 were stuffed with E<sss.aE1
. eat walked wssc ossentatloas misery
among the pua9les near tae froat door.
Ar. Marsh wished be bad lfoux1t
rrae haksr's osexies fFoa the ssore. bet
- h bad nstaing he wsat on staring
vaialy aboat IA tbs hope Of seeine Bells.
Il feg minutes msre he was saad-
ips by tha NV Of graves aud looking
SHARPLY dS~. AZ tae 0oideD turf Tor the
snowdEops. There were the green leaves.
lie knelt aai pushed aside the brown,
wet grass. His heavy face took on a
pathetic look Of esgernrss. 20, II was
too early; the sra had nor been warm
enough. There were no b.ossons-not
even buds.
'.It's too bad--too bai!" he ,nutte-ed.
''IIow she would er liked 'em."
He stood un. He crushed . mist from
his eyes that made the headstones look
~ If they were not straight.
Something that felt cold and wet. like
Ice, touched tho hand that hung down
by his side. But he did not notice tho
touch untilit was repeated. this time &C
colapanied by y whine. Mr.. Marsh
aroused himself and patted tho lean, I'M
happy looking cur that stood beside him.
"Hullo. Jack. he said, where's your
little mistress!'
JACK wagged his tail and madc as II
be would trot back home, but ~ Mr.
Marsh did not follow him he returned
and licked his hand again. He went
through these movements 50 many times
that the man at last walked after him,
tho 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 ION 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 a masculine voice, however,
piping, feeble treble sounded from one
of the front rooms.
ION, Jack, don't you leave me too!
Don't you so n leave me too!"
Reuben Marsh stood suddenly still
from sheer weakness. His great, tender
heart seemed to choke him. He heard
the dog winning joyfully and scuttling
about tho room he had entered. He
breathed long breath and pushed the
door further open, apparently taking but
one stride from the door to "trundle
bed" which was in corner. On the bed
was child who stared wildly for en- in
slant at this intruder, then flush Of
Joy overspread her face. She put out
two bony arms to the man bending over
her. She laughed.
''Pvc jest BEN pray in for friend"
she cried feebly. II 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 rs he felt the frail form leaning
conidingly against him.
He took 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"
II d. know. He's been COMO ever so
many days. guess"
"Ain't you hungry"
II was hungry after / ct up all there
was, some bread n sausage. Then got
faint; then was so awful kind of sick"
The child leaned her head on the mans
, shoulder anu shut her eyes. He held her
yet closer.
''Tll take sc right home, he said.
lie stepped out into the mild, damp
air. He held his head very high. and
his eyes sparkled moro than ever. He
walked down and into the village street
as if he had been q soldier coming from
a victory. He nodded at the few &C.
quaintances he saw, and who looked at
him wonderingly, bat he would nonstop
to speak to any one.
The storckeeper saw him, and said to
o customer that there was Reub Marsh
with Ryder's little girl, N he guessed
Reub d ketch it when he got home.
Mr.. Harsh still held his head up when
he entered hisown kitchen, tracking in
good deal Of mud as he did so, for he did
not pause 1T the huslSmat, nor yet at the
rug by the Kitchen door.
Bring me cup of milk with a drop
of hot water in it," he said, sitting down
in the largerocker 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 moment in bewild-
ermeut: then she brought the milk.
Her face sof.ened somewhat as she
looked at the pinched features on her
husbands shoulder.
''She is starving" said Mr.. Marsh,
shortly.
We'll give her 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 gound
asleep. Mr.. Marsh laid her on the lounge
and covered her with a shawl. he fed
Jack. Fyno ate very haAtily 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. Hc looked his
wife sqnarcly in the face. thing he
bad not done FOX years.
She gazed back at him with soma
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