The herald., 1896-12-20

allied that something must be done
and that speedily In a voice as calm as
he could command, under the circum-
stances he said 1T was an accident
sir; l meant your child no harm. You
must let me carry her to some place
where she can be given attention; ii
might save her life"
! SERVER grew wild and furious again
but young Merton met his fierce glance
unflinchingly, and repeated what he
had said, this time advancing toward
the helpless creature, who on bended
knees, still clutched his burden to his
| bosom. He was touched with the pa
thetic, half appealing, half doubling
| look the hunchback cast up at him as
| he gathered the limp form from his
| reluctant arms. In silence he turned
| in the direction that SERVER indicated
] Up to the little cabin among the pines
poor Nina was borne in Harry Merton S
strong arms, and though every attention
was given her. it was many weeks be-
! fore she knew even SERVERS face.
Harry. on the day of the accident, nc
sooner than he had deposited Nina on a
| bed in the cabin, had flown to town as
fast as his feet could carry him and
brought back his familys trusted physi-
clan, and from that time on every day
he had visited the cabin with the doc
| tor, bringing with him everything he
|
| sick girl.
When the accident was reported in
the city, and young Mertons friends
saw hiw bitterly he regretted it, many
of the ladies, including his mother, rode
out to the cabin and brought flowers
| and many dainties in the way of edi-
hles to the unfortunate girl The vii
layers had been very kind, and when
| they saw the attention that was be-
ing paid Nina by the town people they
| renewed their efforts daily.
And now that his little girl wa sfast
| recovering, it seemed that poor Sewer
should have been more cheerful, but,
| to the contrary, he grew more sullen
and morose each day, sometimes break
| ing out in a passion upon the least pro-
vocation. Finally his ill-nature reached
a climax when one morning a light car
riage stopped at the cabin. When he
was informed that it was Tom Flowers
relatives in search of his child his rage
and excitement knew no bounds, and
slamming the door in their faces, he
| screamed: GO away! go away! and
leave us alone! We need you not! We
need you not!"
Such strange and childish conduct
upon the part of the hunchback made il
| more evident to those who were interest
ing themselves in Nina that she should
be removed to more pleasant surround
| lHES. Ioul dt lHe SuSStSllOu oeN1eT new
into such a rage as left but small doubt
of his insanity.
When alone with Nina he would say
bitterly: Never believe them little
| one, never believe them, they mean you
no good. That is the way the rich fine
ones came to ME once with honey words
and see what they've made of me-"
Nina, wondering and panied over the
state poor Sewer had fallen in, tried to
sooth him by promising him that she
would never leave him.
Harry Merton perhaps was beginning
to understand the noble but warped and
| embittered nature of the hunchback bet.
ter even than his most intimate neigh.
bors, and, though it was for Harry him.
self that he seemed to hold the bitterest
1 hatred there, however, We're times wher
he was more tractable and docile under
that young mans calm persua sive voice
than any other.
Good SERVER" (every one called him
thaD, he would say, "come now, be
more reasonable. / am sure Nina viii
always be guided by what you say
Surely she owes you more than any Other
creature"
This would invariably restore him tc
calm frame of mind. and no one appre.
ciated more than Harry the pathetic
attempts the strange beirg made to treat
Nina's new friends kindly whenever h.
felt in any degree assured that theil
kindness to her meant no separation Of
I the child and himself. Harry had learned