Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1896-12-26
Continued From Fourth Page,

you had staid little longer, 1 meant
to take Lightfoot back home again.
Have you taken the money for her, Bet
TYP If you haven't A sob finished
what he could not says
Eyes, took it and spent it. Betty
said huskily. "Mr. Lane had the money
all ready. told him you would bring
her, -nOdding toward the mare-''and
he said next week would do. :"
Lets take her back. I'll bring her
then. Honest 1 will. Oh, Betty, how
can we part with her?'' Trab walled,
burying his face in his hands. Betty
had taken the halter rein. She let it
drop and flung both arms about Light
foot's neck.
on't-quite-know, Trab, " she
said, swallowing hard. but we must
not take her back. That would be like
dying twice over. We will comfort our
selves thinking how much she has
Rained-such a nice warm stable and
no more hard work !"
"But nobody will love her like we
do, an she don't mind work for MS.
Why, last summer, when she plowed so
hard, she would frisk about when turn
ed her loose an look at me, as if she
said, See, I amt tired, " Trab said,
wiping his eyes. 'She knew how we
needed her work, the darlin. L am goin
to ask Mr.. Lane to keep her until can
work an buy her back. "
HE will keep her. BE brave now.
Run along with her, then meet me at
his store. know a boy about your size
who deserves some new boots" Betty
20 l. os-
again wiped his eyes.
$50 you've got the money Buck an
Brandy brought to spend. he said. 81
thought heap of them, but nothin'
would be hard if-if we could only take
Lightf0ot back home for good. "
Seven o'clock that night found Betty
safe at home in the big double log
house that her grandfather had built.
IT belonged to her mothers children,
else would long ago have been swallow
ed by those security debts her father
was always making. Betty was infinite
ly glad Of this assured shelter, though
her best friends had begged her to leave
it, scatter the children about and give
herself the distraction of a new neigh
borhood, but she had steadfastly refused.
All through her fathers trial she lad
hoped against hope that his innocence
would be miraculously proved. He had
said to her, Betty, have done nearly
all that YVES wrong TO my poor children,
but I am no thief, and she had be-
-heved him. AL through the long day
she had sat. leaning forward, her eyes
fast on the judge. the strange, stern
Judge of whom even the sheriff was
afraid. He had not seemed TO see her.
but at the last there was a break in
even his cold voice as he said. ''In con.
sideration of all the circumstances OF
the case, / sentence you TO imprisonment
for three years, the shortest time allow.
ed by the statute under which you are
convicted."
Then, when those about looked TO sec
her faint, Betty bad pressed mp to where
she could touch her father and whisper
in his ear:
81 believe in you just the same.
Three years is not so long. and you shall
find us all here when you come back >
So you may guess what answer she
made to her advisers. If they shool
their heads. they let her take her OWL
way. Tonight the way did not seem 81
hopelessly hard for all the stress anC
strain of the day.
1--WE must believe, after this. in spe
cial proyidences,' - she said to Patty
Ito think how we got home. Mr.. Pei
lewis wagon brought all our bundles
1t Just happened to be coming our way
and nothing would do Uncle Billy Trot
ter but to fetch us both TO our gate in
stead OF dropping US at the big road
two miles away. And then my moi.e,
held out so. l have bought all we real
~ need--shoes, frocks, sugar, salt, nails
spelling books, new hood for Marian
a red tin cup for Tess-and have tw
whole dollars left for Christmas money
and $2wiu buy such heap of things
"Will pappy come home Christmasg'
Tess asked, nesting her head agains
Betty.
"You little idiot You know b
Nvon't." Marian broke out. 81 wish
was where he is, - she sobbed. ''Tom
my Adkin said today at school h
wouldn't even dare to show his face her
again; he was 8 jailbird. -
"I'n kill Tommy Adkin,' Ira
shoRted, his eyes flashing. Maria
laughed, though she was sobbing hard
HE won't say it again." she said
putting up her hand TO hide a Ion
scratch On her cheek.
''Hushl Somebody's comm. Hea
how Ring barks." Pete said, walkin
TO = trent window. The curtains the
eSre drawn. but at the back they bun
so faS apart 1t was easy to see from &
outside the group in front of the fire.
1" Twas Just some wagon passin. o
Ring is big story teller, Patty sal
looking mp from her new linsey frock.
"He don't tell stories. He smel
somebody sure, an he knows Eel
cause he barks in place o. growlin
Pete returned. Tess sat up and push
the yellow curls out of her sleepy eye
then broke into passion of weeping.
"Pappyl Pappyi want to see I
pappy, Oh, so bad"
Patty and Marian both caught her
their arms, sobbing in unison. T
boys, too, were crying, but Betty b
dry eyes. She had been through so mu
that day she was like one frozen,
Flush, dears, . she said clearly.
wouId kill father to see you now,
brave for him. 1t is all we can do"
Trab held up a hand for silen'
''There must be somebody about, b"
said after a minute. II heard wall
like somebody was tryin to step easy.
''Ho It's jest that old blue dawg
Toad B1rley's. Yonder he goes. strea
in it down the front lot, Pete call
from the window. Outside there v
brilliant moonshine. The tree shade
lay in fairy lace upon the frozen ear
"Ah, hal He came after eggs a
didn't get one. Patty said triu
phantly. ct do hate suck egg daV
Wonder what does make Toad keep Il
ngly thing?"
+'He is not quite as ugly as his m
ter Betty said, laughing II dare 1
both OF them admire each other. I'll
she shook her purse till the silver il