News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-02-11

but the gnarled and crooked joint
would let the hoop go no farther.
That comes of hard work and hard
; livingw cried the old woman.
"Even if am the same person that
was a lady once" and again she
studied the jewel.
"The setting is new, and | never
heard of these initials, j. B. NJ from
A. j. c. but the stone | would
know at the bottom of the sea, and,
hanging the ring upon Il chain of
charms which she wore about her
Withered neck, she made sure it was
quite secure, then turned her atten-
ton to the water Waif.
"Well, small one" she said, gar
rulously, you are almost too young
and tender to waist upon fishes, and
then, too. you have broughtmy pink
diamond to me. SuppOsing | let
you live," and, snatching the canvas
from her shoulders, she wrapped tine
child in it, and, springing as sure
footed as a deer from rock to rock,
she reached her cottage by a short
cut, entered and placed her light
burden on the bed
IOlII ii CuDDOGilh StIC blOuSllO
stimulants and lotions. and rubbed
and fed the little one with these I'M
til its blue eyes Enclosed, to slowly
close again in natural sleep.
CHAPTER II.
The night was long to Satanna;
she could not rest. The wind whistled
solo to the sullen accompaniment
of the beating waves, and within, all
sounds were stilled save the swapping
and sputtering of the fire, in objection
to the half-dried driftwoOd Satanna
fed it now and then.
"Y'chut!" exclaimed the old wom-
an. "A few hours ago | was as mer-
ry as any young girl and now | sit
here thinking, thinking, as if that is
all have to do" and throwing her
self on the bed beside the little slum-
berer, she vaiuly closed her eyes.
q believe it is the child that keeps
me awake!" she said atlast, and get
ting up she held lighted candle near
its face and studied it long and close
ly, and the child stirred and turned
then quieted again into deep sleep.
"Well. | have placed the diamond |
safely" said the old woman, as if the !
sleeping child could understand, Jus |
tice has been very tardy, but it isjus-
tice at last, and perhaps there may !
come n day when you may have it, |
but not nOw," and leaving the bed |
side she sat in broad wakefuIness, |
rocking back and forth, until the sun |
rose from his bath in the sea, and the |
| goat "ma-ed " at the door to tell her /
milking time had come.
Satanna was glad to be astir, and |
spent an hour outside in gathering |
after bits of wreckage that the night |
waves had strewn upon the sand, be- |
| fore she returned to find the child |
awake and sitting up, gazing about |
with wondering eyes.
"Truly," thought the old woman,
as the little one turned toward her,
and with arms outstretched seemed |
hGr@Gne he ain IT tG 1 be M N e trRiX ThS hnd
she is as beautiful child as | have
ever seen, with her golden hair and
blue eyes. Come dearie, come and
try some bread and goats milk, ,"
and she took her gently up and Offer
ed her the food.
"What wouldn't the sisters of Per-
nambo give for small one like you?''
said Satanna, as the child took the
food, with some show of relish; but
they shall never have yOu-nor shall
any one The sea has not cast you
to my keeping for naught-yOu are
mine, my pink diamOnd-mine, and |
warn YOU that rather than have you
escape me now | will fling you to my
fishes in a twinkling."
The child attracted by the vehe
mence of the old woman's speech, pat
ted her with her spoon upon the
cheek, as if in approval; then sliding
from her lap, looked gravely about.
1t was a narrow room OF mud and
plaster walls, loose planks thrown
upon the ground for flooring, and
one four-paned window which looked
toward the sea.
The furniture was chiefly tall
clock that had long since folded its
hands in perfect rest, table, chair,
cupboard and bed, and from the
beams above some fish-nets and lines
with tattered hammock, swunglike
careless draperies.
The child's eye seemed to take IN
these details; then, travelling to the
trunk, she made a little sound OF
Measure and tried to walk to it.
CHATS so dearie. Where are my
thoughts that | forgot to examine
the first wOman's trunk which was
ever washed ashore to me?' And
seizing. a hammer and nail, she pried
open the lock and threw the cover
back.
Soon the child had reached the
trunk, and plunging her small arms
deep into the packing, pulled out RIB
bOns, handkerchieis and laces into
one prOmiscuous heap, and coming
to bonnet, bright with pink roses,
set it upon her golden curls and smil-
ed archly at Satanna.
Here, | will try this one On!" eX-
claimed the old woman, and drag
ging from far below the tray light
blue evening dress, covered with lace,
she drew it over her skimpy brown
skirt. took the rose trimmed bonnet
from the little child's head and put it
upon her Own, unfurled feather fan
and paced up and down the loose
nlank floor with such an assumption
of incongruous elegance that the tiny
one, delighted with the drOllery,
laughed and clapped her hands.
After spreading some dresses and n
cashmere shawl 20 dry that had soak
ed the sea water in the bottom OF the
trunk. Satanna opened the chest,
and, choosing from it mans jacket
and soma stout shoes, she closed the
lid and pushed it back against the
wall; then, noticing that the child was
tired, she took her up, and cutting
from thin piece of sea-cast wood
something that bore the semblarce
to a doll, wound it with lace and rib
bon and gave it to the little one.
Again her face frightened and she
smiled archly into the old womans
face.
"Heaven grant that shall Zeal
kindly by the small one and do her
no harml" mumbled the old woman,
with a momentary feeling of contri-
) ton.
CHAPTER III.
: Saturday had come, the day OF all
Others to Satanna, for it was market
dav in Fernando, the nearest town,
r ard in all seasons and weather she
tramped the rocky ten miles, bas-
ket balanced upon her shoulder, filled