The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-17

fened, with his strength nigh spent, he
passed them all, labored up the bluff,
and laid his burden in the fathers
arms.
The Judge, distracted by the anguish
he had undergone, silently received the
child, and hef deliVeIeF, unreeOgnized,
passed ont into the darkness.
It was as he would have asked.
Strange completely of human nature,
he could meet the humiliation and de-
feat OF the morrow with new spirit, sus-
tanned by the secret knowledge of his
splendid triumph over his enemy.
Late that evening Judge Van Alstyne,
watching his sleeping child in silent re-
ioicing, awoke to sudden sense of OBJ
legation undischarged. He went down
to the servants quarters, where he
found the men drinking the health OF
the household IN his wine. They
started up sheepishly at his entrance.
for the Judge was stern man, and
somebody was sure to be blamed for
the mishap that had befallen the little
lady. But this time it was the judge
who was embarrassed, hesitating, al.
most deprecating, in his manner and
speech.
(which Of you was it that brought
back the child2 Twas so troubled be
side myself-that / did not notice.
Which one among you was it !"
There was a moments awkward sill
ence. Then tht coachman replied:
"It wasn't none Of us, sir. Twas a
man that'd been out walking on the
sands. He lives close by. Dick Mans.
field him that has the crippled child"
The Judge passed out without o word.
Richard Mans6eld-the man whose
petty debt, SO long unpaid, had been q
yexation to him.. when his mind was
engrossed with larger matters One
mortgage had been renewed, It had
become due, with the second one, tho
middle OF December, but the man had
asked for more time and he had given
him until past Christmas. he did not
like harsh measures in the holiday sea-
son, but he had told him that business
was business, and that tho money must
be paid at the beginning Of the year or
he would be compelled TO forclose.
The Judge was walking down his gar
den path, hastening toward the dim
light that shone in the window Of the
cottage. The night was raw and the
wind still clustered and shrieked, sure
indication Of a brooding storm on the
Pacific shore. This was the first day OF
tho new year, and it was tomorrow
that he had declared the mortgage
should be foreclosed. And there was
the crippled child.
Richard Mansfield, sitting beside his
sleeping child, his head bowed in his
hands, not now in despair, but in a
stout effort to master the situation be-
fore him, heard something that sound
ed like a muftled knock at the door. He
raised his head, alarmed at the late
call, and the Judge entered without bid
ding in gust OF wind that rocked the
frail tenement and disturbed the gentle
sleeper, who stirred and muttered bro
keniy, then slumbered again.
The Judge looked down upon the
painted crib, the tiny crutch, whitfield
out by hand, that stood beside II, the
patchwork coverlet, and the wan cheek,
and remembered the rounded cheek of
the little sleeper he had left pillowed
on down, beneath canopy of lace.
The man who could without emotion
pronounce sentence upon a criminal,
who was called the most clear-headed
and hard-hearted of usurers In the con:
duct OF his private business, experienced
queer rising in his throat when he es-
sayed to speak.
A tear fell on the faded coverlet. He
reached out his hand to the man who
stood beside him, and Richard Mans
field knew that his days Of hopeless
poverty and strife were past. -.ys !
FLORA HAINEs LouGHEAD.