News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-10-15

Mr.. Carpenters house, and reaching
it, thumped on the door. with all the
strength of her balg- fsL Jonathan
Stubbs was out, and ntbody came.
Nan pounded till she VAS tired, and
then her restless eyes spied a little
round window, wide open.
1t was such q small window that
burglary could find noentrance there;
but it was over a water-butt, and un-
der the butt was bench How Nan
scaled the water-but and wriggled in
at the window, without losing the
precious paper of candy, must ever
remain mystery. But she dropped
through, on the floor of wide hall
way, and looked about her.
Door after door yielded to her sticky
grasp; and at last Mr.. Carpenter was
startled to see, right before him,
Mans little figure and tiny hands
holding a greatparcel of sticky sweet
ness.
"See!" cried the baby voice in glad
triumph; Nan got all that. Mans
brought somel"
Would anybody in Snowville have
believed it if he had seen Nan perched
on the bachelors knee, forcing bits of
candy between his lips, prattling hap
PLY, and receiving such gentle caress-
es as won her Oaby heart forever.
Nobody saw them, the strong man
and little child, as they exchanged
kisses. Nobody heard them as they
talked freely of nursery experience,
and gave each other views of the
merits of stupid dollies that can't
talk, and nice, dear little chickies and
kitties that play"
Day after day Nan wriggIed thro'
the little window, missed only by
Jane, and coming home before the
weary little mother completed her
| daily round of teaching. Snowville
began to wonder ''what had come to
Mr. Carpenter. The rough, shaggy
beard gave way to a pair of silky
whiskers, that didn't scratch Mans
face when he kissed her. The shabby
clothes were replaced by a suit of
cheviot, because Nan turned up her
drinty nose at the fringe on the trou-
sers and the grease on the coat
White linen took the place of gray
flannel, at Mans request to ''look
like the picture" after discovering a
photograph taken years before.
Nobody guessed how the baby fing-
ers were tearing away the crust a
woman's trCachery had spread over
a tender, generous heart, and letting
in the sunshine of protecting love.
Jonathan guessed, but Jonathan was
mute.
1t was winter weather, when one
morning Mrs. Carroll, who was Civ
ing a music-lesson, was startled by a
boy who rushed into her pupils room
crying:
"Oh, Mrs. Carroll. comel come
Old Snap 'em-up is a-killin' o. your
Nan! You can hear her a-screamin'
way down the roadl"
The mother flew to therescue. Al
ready there was a crowd around the
house, and everybody talking at
once. Doors and windows were bar
red and bOlted; but from its fastness
came wailing cries:
"Oh, come to Nan Oh, mamma
Come!" And then wordless screams
of childish fear and agony. No moth
er could long endure them, and in an
swer to her frenzied appeals, two men
forced the door. The first object that
greeted them was old Jonathan. gag
, ged and bound fast to one of the hal
chairs. Hurrying on guided by Mans
cries, they opened the door of the
, room where Mr.. Carpenter spent most
, of his life. The master of the house
lay on the floor, senseless, bleeding
and, kneeling beside him Nan was
screaming with terror.
Gentle hands lifted him; a doctor
was hastily summoned, and life came
back, very faint and fluttering. But
there was smile for Nan as the in
jured mans eyes rested upon her
, She had clung to him so desperately
: that no one had the heart to fore,
2 her away, and it was Mrs. Carol
} who deftly assisted the doctor, as h,
bandaged and patched up the sorely
} wounded man.