The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-10-14
WHEELING DAILY INTELLGENcER SATURDAY OCTOBER Il 1888

MINUS WIN lplAGd ANlu9u W p"'N s'~
barely lhrobbed. About IN ashen face
rudy locks were encircled like the
sunlight touching u cloud.
One glauce Jahez Knowles cast on
this picture, so pltheticaily helpless
and sacred. God bless nay soul!' lao
exclaimed. And his slipper heels beat
rapid rat-tat on the stairs. lie dash
cd into his room and in an instant
mixed the awaiting punch. He kicked
the eat, which for the first time no
found in his way. and then hurried
down again, leaving that injured animal
an eternal doubt as to its own identity.
Jabez raised the girl aud pressed the
glass to her pallid lips. She shrunk
away, yet its very heat seemed to arouse
her. Her cyelids wayered and slowly
rolled back. Great round orbs OF an
infantile blue first looked frightened
and then treasured as they rested on
the old mans countenance. She smiled,
and her voice, though faint, was dulcet
and affecting.
what dear, kind faceM she muir;
INJURED. II trust you" and she nestled
back on her hand like tired child.
"Pll carry her up stairs, cried the
delighted Librarian. She'll be more
comfortable there" And, attended by
the surprised, yet sympathetic, COUPLE
he bore the maiden to his room ana
placed her in his easy chair. He turned
up lights, and piled on Goals, and flung
open the door OF the cupboard, dlscios-
ing lis treasures. :,
"a strong cup OF tea, Mrs. Gaines"
he directed, "and piece OF toast, ana
a bit OF something dainty; there's
canned corned beef and strasburg pie
up there, aud then n hot bath and TO
bed, and tomorrow the poor child will
be as right as q trivet. Dear, dear, such
little thing! I'm of to u hotel. Get
out, you wretchim This to the cat.
which had ventured n forgiying rub.
"If the bird disturbs her, throw it out
of the window. There's my purse for
any emergency. Good bye, good bye!
The poor little thingw Aud away Jabez
plodded through the snow, nor did he
discover until within the room as
signed him that he had gone out in his
slippers.
The next morning there was discus
sion at the institute. For the first time
during his connection with it, the libra
rian was absent at the opening hour.
As time sped by, all other conjectures
fed, and mis- assistants agreed that he
must be dead. They even name sun
drg small bets as to his successor, and
quarreied over the division OF his OIL
cial ruiment. Could they have seen
Jnbe2, they would have persisted in
their mourning, refusing to recognize
him in the elderly but gallant gentle
man who was lingering over a break
last table, listening to the history OF
pretty young girl with such inteHtness
that now he wrung his withered hands,
and now tear trinkled from his nose.
Her story did not seem unnatural to
q recluse who, as matter OF business,
had been examining Fomances for the
past forty years. Her name was EuniCe
Meadows, she said, and her parents had
been English emigrants OF high blood
and narrow means who had come
thither as to another Canaan. Alas the
bread and honey had proved stone;
the eager hopes had led but to the grave:
She had striyen in her loneliness and
bereavement to support herself by her
needle, and so had managed to exc out a
meagre existence. Her needs, indeed.
we're few. But that night her employer
had insulted her, and she had fled be-
wildered through the darkness and the
driving snow, until spirit,hauds seemed
to greet her, until the cold changed into
a delicious dreamy warmth, and she had
sunk ON the soft, featherv substance
more alluring than down, lulled by
weird yet soothing harmonies. Then
had followed peace, the opening Of her
eyes on his kind face, and the convic-
ton OF her heart that she had found a
true friend.
Jabez never questioned, never doubt.
ed. His simple soul thrilled with
thanksgiving over the inettable happi-
ness that had come TO him. All the
peut-up tenderness OF years all their
chivairic longings now encompassed
him.
Never mind, my child, never mind"
he cried, Your troubles are at an end.
The good Lord has sent you to me us
consolation TO my old age. You shall
be my daughter: | adopt you. | have
already arranged with Mrs. Gaines to
have the rooms next to hers made COM
Portable for you. Both there and here
you are mistress, and my one purpose
shall be your happiness"
1t was an hour later that Howard
Case called out OF anxiety for his chief,
and with much ostentatiously con-
cealed surprise was introduced>to Miss
NTaalnNvu m NgnFI "
81 feared lest you were i'll, " he said
heartily. "ButI might have saved my
fears. Men like you are u harder race
than we young puny fellows. Why,
you will continue stanch aud noble in
bearing when / am bowed and decrepit.
The oak gains strength and majesty
from years.
"Oh, l think SO, too" exclaimed
Eunice, impulsively Then she blushed,
and old Jabez felt the hot blood re-
spending beneath his parchment skin.
Was it so, indeed? Did he still have u
future full OF life? Might his melan-
choiy stroll to the grave branch into
green fields and ilowery meads? All,
then, il with the wisdom OF years he re-
tanned the vigor of youth, might not
such combination prove attractive in
it's reliant strength to nm innocent,
timorous young girl? Was not love,
faith; and was he not worthy Of it?
What if he chance remark had be-
trayed-oh, he dare not think OF it!
Jabez sat with downcast eyes, absently
balancing forl; on his finger, smile,
pathetic in his weakness, loosening his
lips. Nor was this the only smile among
the three, though 1t was the only weak
one.
Come" said Jabez at length to his
guest, "let us go the library"
As they passed down the street the
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