Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-02-12
CHATTER XIV.


CHATTER H&IV.
THE pEODIGAL DAUGHTER.
Yes; it was Annie, though for time |
could scarcely believe the evidence Of my
own eyes. She was 50 white and thin. 50
poorly clad, and living in such den. Truly
her sun had set, and, as predicted, she was
vending her way home She cried out at
sight of me and instead of giving me a wei
come she hid her face and mOamed. | felt
no animOsity toward her now; whatever she
had done, she had been bitterly punished. |
took her in my arms and tried 10 comfort
her
annie" / said, my poor Annie, tell me
what has happened to you, that [ find you
Nike this?"
But she could not answer me for crying.
Then she fell back, half fainting i'll a chair.
We soon discovered the cause of her weak
neSs-it was hunger The poor thing had
spent her last shilling, and had not eaten
crust since the morning; apd, had we not
found her, She would have spent that night
starving in the streets. 1T was the work Of
few moments for John Rudd to rum out and
return with some bread and wine. We dip
ped the bread III the wine, and forced her to
eat; and after few mOuthftils she revived
bit The color came into her wan cheeks,
and her eyes grew a bit brighter. | now had
was honitied to see that the clothing She
wore was Of the poorest; indeed, she was al
most i'm rags, every available article having
been paWncd, rs ! soon learned, to keep her
from absolute starvation.
When She came wholly to herself again,
she looked at me notwithstanding lest [
should question her again; and 1 thought it
better to let my questions rest.
Annie, said, Edo you feel strong enough
70 80 noW?'
"TO 90, HughY' she repeated.
YES; | must take you with me to my
ROOMS. | can't leave you herer'
She was too I'LL to offer much resistance;
SO, after | had paid the few shllings that
she was owing, we left that miserable den
togcther-Anmie still faint and very weak,
leaning heavily upon me. After he had
brought in the bread and wine John Rudd
had quietly kept in the background, think
ing that his presence might serve to further
upset Annie. He now as unObtruSively took
his departure, after having whispered III my
ear that he would call for us i'll the morning.
took his hint, and determined to acC upon
It.
The night was very cold and as we left
the houses and passed down the street, fac
ing the chilly wind, | felt Annie trcmble
violently, 50 hurried her along and we soon
reached the house where | had taken my
rooms. Had not Crept into such good OdOr
through my acquaintance with honest John
Rudd, | should have been almost afraid to
take poor Anne into the house; as it was, |
expected Il cold greeting; but to my amaze
ment we Were received with open arms. |
afterward discovered that John Rudd had
been before us and had prepared the way
for our coming. So when the door was open
ed the landIady, who was good kind soul,
came forward and almost took poor Annie
in her arms, and led her, half-fainting, up to
the little Sitting-room
l gave her my bedroom that night, and,
rolling myself in a rug lay down ON the sofa
i'll my little Sitting-rOom and tried to sleep;
but it was impossible, and after a while got
APP and began to walk about the room. An
MES room adjoined mine; SO | could hear
that she, too, was awake and crying bitterly.
Once thought of going in to her; then | re-
Trained. 1t was better to let her ease her
heart So; in the morning she would be more
herself, and | could talk 10 her.
In the morning, however, matters were
considerably worse; poor Annie was deliri-
GUS. Her pale face was flushed, her eyes va
cant, and she cried pitifuily on some one to
come to her.
At ten o'clock, John Rudd's wagon stop
ped at the door; few moments later honest
John himself was before me. | took linn to
the bedside and showed him my poor cousin,
and his eyes filled with tears as he looked at
her. Then we both went back to the other
room.
"Measter Hugh" said John, what doc
ZEE mean to daw SIR
i shall wait here till Annie gets better"
/ said; then | shall persuade her to come
home. You will be back again on Thursday,
won't your
Yes; and mayhap she'll be well enough
by then to come. Wen make her bed i
the avid wagon and take her careful, Meas
ser HughF'
NeTer in my life had thought so much of
the honeSt-hearted carrier as now, when |
saw him shedding tears for my poor cousin.
took his hand and graSped it warmly.
God bless you!" l said.
he turned his head away and drew the
back OF his hand across his eyes; then he
turned again to me
'MeaSter Hugh" he said, II dawnt mind
tellin you, cause You aint like some as 'ud
laugh at me. I'm big rough fallow. and a
bit stupid p'rapS but I've gawt heart like
the rest on us; and that dear lass found her
way TO IL and made me love her, as [ can
never love anybody in my life again. She
don't knaw this amy more than YOU did afore
this minute She never thought anything o
me- and | didn't blame her for 1t: for twarn't
no fault o hem; but Went OF loviu' her all
the same. l thought Measter Hugh. she
might ha' married you; and if she had, and
had ha' been happy-why. should ha' been
contented. But when she went away it
almost brawke my heart"
1T was blow to all of us God grant
better things are in store.
.'Measter Hugh, aint told you this to-day
for the SAKE o talking. / want you TO I'M
derstand that if | can help her nav, when
she wants help, It's all l ask for"
So saying, he opened his purse, took out
few soyereigns, and offered them TO me; but
shook my head.
Il don't want it, | said. Il have still got
some of my O~sn left-when that is done it
will be time enough for me to come to you.
Poor Annie shall be well looked after, be
sure of that; and hope that by Thursday 1
shall have her well enough to take her