The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-08


he fancied he was going mad.
The winter came-the severe winter of the
north. The angry sea lashed itself into glitter
ing spray. The great bluff was carpeted with
snow and the sky was gray. Lame Caspar be-
came hermit. When he did go out it was
early, so that no one could see him, and he re-
turned only when night had fallen The gold
piece haunted him as might some frightful
specter. 1t was as though the cupboard con-
cealed grim presence that he dared not face
In the village the people tapped their forehead
significantly.
"He is crazy" they said. "Better not go
near him or he may do harm" So they let him
go.
Gradually the situation became so intolerable
that Lame Caspar concluded he must end It or
put an end TO himself. He began to devise
ways and means. By and by he thought of
plan and resolved to carry It out.
One bleak December night, with a terrible
sinking OF the heart, he unlocked the cupboard,
took the gold piece in his hand, and stealing
quietly from thehouse walked to the edge of the
cliffs. The moon had burst from behind a cloud
and spangled the sea and the snow-covered
bluffs. Caspar had knife in his pocket. but he
had not quite decided to use it. Hewasn't sure
whether 1t would be better to dig hole and
bury the gold piece, or to fling it into the sea
and himself after it. Life had no longer anv
charm or interest for him. He had become
than live. However, he could do nothing while
the moon shown so brightly. He must wait
awhile until it hid itself behind another cloud.
lie paced impatiently to and fro in the frosty
night linen all at once came a loud jingle of
sleigh bells and the sounds of merry laughter
Lame Caspar started and stood still as a large
sleigh drew up almost in front of him, and a
man jumping out ran to the horses to arrange
a displaced plume. Voices foated toward the
solitary figure on the cliff, and among them
was one that caused Caspar's heart almost to
stand still, while great sob rose in his throat.
ut was just here" said a clear childish
treble, that lost my gold piece-just below
there on the shore. Such nice, kind fisher
man ma came and helped me to look for it--and"-
The boy stopped speaking. Then continued in
an an altered tone, "Why, see that man yonder
matter with him.
In another moment the boy had sprung from
the sleigh and advanced toward Lame Caspar
who stood with outstretched arms in the pale
moonlight like one transfgured. Tears were
rolling down his weather-beaten cheeks and
splashed heavily upon the ragged pea jacket he
"Ohr' cried the child joyfully to his com.
panions. "This is the very man-the nice
kind man who helped me to search for nv lost
gold piece Butt he added, "you are In
trouble, tho Lame Gaspar you are crying What
out here on the cliffs p,
The child's companions, attracted by the in
tenslty OF the tones, approached and stood look
ing from one to the other.
linen the tension in Lame Caspar's breast
gave way as though something had snapped.
With his utterance still choked bv sobs he held
the gold piece forth in the argent moonlight and
shout. 'AA'
my gold piece And you found it for me,
you found 1t ?'' he exclaimed joyously.
For the first time Lame Caspar discovered
his voice.. "Yes. I-I-found it, and went to
ma you, but you were gone. l kept it. have
mad. naa II by me ever since: have hoped and
Waited-hoped and waited"-
mans voice called to the child: "Come.
Ralph, The plume is fixed. We must 90 onp'
The child was sober and evidently overcome
by vague emotion. He turned the gold piece
oVerln his hand and cast lingering look on
the semf-crouching form of Lame Caspar.
who almost knelt at his feet. Then he said
softly: saw
,"Good-bye, Lame Caspar, and thank you. pye
always prayed for you because you helped me.
Good night and good-byen
"God bless you!' cried Caspar in a Ioud
voice. sYou have saved me %
Saved you from what?' asked the child per-
picked.
Saved me from myself" said the fisherman
and bowed his head.
The boy turned away reluctantly. Sometbino
IN that dropping, sorrowful figure seemed to
chain his attention. ''Good night,n he whis-
pered once more. ''How odd that 1 should
nave seen you and got back my gold piecen
"Give it to him again for his honesty'' said
a gentleman of the party brusqueIy. siI'Il give
you another, Ralph. Let the man keep it,"
10 be sure" exclaimed the child, and he
offered the newly-found treasure to Caspar,
who drew himself up sternly.
mo !' he said, brushing away his tears with
lrm hand. "No! not for worlds-not for
Come, dearp' said the gentleman to the
child, dryly.
!, AS they reGntered thesleigh and he cracked
the whip the speaker added: 'sHow proud
these people are For myself, 1 have no
pauenee 1 with their ridiculous independence"
:, Ridiculous indeed !'' replied the lady: and
the sleigh glided away, leaving Lame Caspar
standing still in the moonlight, with prayer
OF thankfulness on his lips.