The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-01-13

If you are too rude to inquire how
am, | am surely polite enough to tell
you"
Still no answer, and the heavy beard
concealed the quivering lips, and then
the little hand gave q strong pull, and
the baby voice said, imperiously
Candy :"
Candy ?" said the bewildered bache-
lor, stopping, Obedisnt to the pull.
Candy Nan wants some y
And the wee finger Sas extended 70 q
tempting row Of moiasses-candy pans in
the window of the only cake and candy
store in Snowville
A silver piece was put in the rosy palm
by Mr.. Carpenter, amazed al himself and
hoping that nobody was looking. But
Nan was still holding fast to his hand.
You come, too"
No, no" be said hastily get your
candy and run home p AND gently dis
engaging himself, he hurried OF.
But silver piece bought more candy
than Nan had ever before possessed. q
great, sticky parcel her baby hands could
scarcely grasp. Eager 10 show her prize.
ana 10 share II, she ran quickly down the
Lane leading TO Mr.. Carpenters house and
Reaching II, thumped on the door with
all the strength OF her baby fists. Jona-
than Stubbs Was out, and nobody came.
Nan pounded till she Was tired, and then
neT restless eyes spIed little round win
dow, vide open.
II vas such small window that bur-
glars could find no entrance there but
II MAS over water Dutt, and under the
butt was = bench. How she scaled the
SAier-oatt and wuggled in the window,
without losing The precious paper of can
dy, must ever remain = mystery. But
she dropped through, on the Hoor of
vide hallway, and looked about her.
Door after door yielded to her sticky
grasp ans al last Mr.. Carpenter Was
startled to se', right before hun, Mans
little figure and tiny hand holding /. bis
parcel OF ssivky sweetness.
See :" cried the baby voice, in glad
triumph /; e got ali that / brought
you some"
Would any body in Snowyille have be-
heved 1t If he had seen her pervh-d on
the bachelors knee, forcing DIts of candy
between MS lips, prsttllng happily, and
receiving such gentle caresses as won her
baby heart forever. Nobody saw them,
the strong man and the little child, as
they exchanged kisses. Nobody heard
them as they talked freely of nursery ex-
perlence, and gave each other views of
the merits Of = stupid dollles that can't
talk, ami nice, dear little ehIckIes and kit
ties that play"
Day after day Nan wriggled through
the little window, missed only by Jane,
and coming home before the weary little
mother completed her daily round of
teaching.
snOwvIlle began 10 wonder - what bad
come TO Mr.. Carpenter" The rough,
shaggy beard gave way TO pair of silky
whiskeTs that didn't scratch Mans face
when he kissed her. The shabby clothes
were replaced by a suit Of cheyiot, be-
cause she turned up her dainty nose st
the fringe on the trousers and the grease
on the coat. White linen took the place |
of gray flannel, at her request, to look |
like the picture" after DISCOVERING pho !
tograph taken years before.
Nobody guessed how the baby fingers |
were tearing away the crust a Womsn's |
treschery had spread over tender, gem
srons heart, and letting in the sunshine
OF protecting love. Jonathan guessed, |
but Jonathan was mute.
Ii was winter weather, when one NOR
ming Mrs- Carroll, who was giving mu-
sic lesson, was startled by boy, who
rushed into her pupils room, crying:
~Oh, Mrs. Carroll, come come Old
Snap-'em-up is KILN o. your Nan you
can hear a-screamin' way down the
road p
The mother flew to the rescue. Already
there was q crowd around the house, and
everybody talked at once. Doors and
windows were barred and bolted but
from its fastness came wailing cries:
oh come to Nan On, mamma.
comel"
And then wordless screams of childish
fear and agony. No mother could long
endure them, and in answer to her frep-
zied appeals two men forced the door.
The first object that greeted them was
old Jonathan, gagged, and bound fast to
one Of the hall chairs. Hurrying on, gui-
ded by the child's cries, they opened the
door of the room where Mr. Carpenter
spent most of his life. The master ofthe
house lay on the floor, senseless, and
bleeding; and kneeIing beside him was
the child, screaming with terror.
Gentle hands lifted him; q doctor was
hastily summoned, and life came back.
very faint and fiuttering. But there was
q smile for the child as the injured mans
eyes rested upon her. She had cIung to
him so desperately that no enc had the
heart to force her away, and it was Mrs.
Carroll who deity assisted the doctor, a.
he bandaged and patched up the sorely
wounded man.
Investigation proved that Mr. Csrpen-
ter had been robbed Of large sum Of
money, drawn from the bank the day be-
fore, and it was in vain endeavor to
fight three men at once that he vas
stabbed, and felled BY blow upon the
head.
For many long weeks be lay upon his
bed, and the child Vas invariably perch
ed beside him Mrs. Carroll had to take
her away to her meals and bed, and
when she came for her how could she
come empty-handed Jonathan never
made such jellies and broths as the wid-
ow brought. and with which the child
fed the invalid. And if another little