The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-02-26

nomDardy popiars STOOD sentinel elihef
side the yard gate. Nearer tho house
there were thick spreading t'oes-
elms, naples, tulip poplars and oaks.
The shade of them was SO thick and cool
there was still hint Of dew on tho
sparse grass at their roots
One hand lay the garden, gay with
all manner Of flowers. Upon the other
wide tangled orchard space cverran
with fruit trees in full bearing They
spread, indeed, all down the side of the
sunny lawn and ON to the road.
1--WE shall begin to have heaps of
company. Early peaches are getting
ripe" Rob said to herself, with little
whimsical smile, as she unsaddled
Bonnybel and set her at Craze. Then she
ran on to the shady front porch, saying.
with a perfect negro accent, "Marse
Robert, you don't want nobody ter do
nothin, does your
The man she spoke to was blind,
with q Scared, mobile face and thin
hands almost as translucent as old por-
eelain. His hair was like silver floss
and lay carefully brushed upon the col
lar of his fine black coat. His linen,
too, was spotless, his neckerohief care
fully neat and his soft, low shoes OF
flawless new gloss. He sat among soft
cushions in wicker chair, his head
thrown back, his eyes closed, his whole
frame drinking in the scented softness
Of the summer morning.
IL want some one very much-that
mischievous daughter Of mine, 4" he said,
affecting not to recognize her voice.
"There are just the two of us, and 1
miss her dreadfully, though she is so
full of pranks. You see, we have not
Deem much apart ever since sne waA
born.
'Nor ever will be, daddy" Rob said,
dropping a kiss upon either eyelid.
Then she stood back pace, clasped her
hands behind her, closed one eye and
looked him critically over, saying:
upon my word, daddy, you are simply
stunning this morningi I've been haunt
ed by the fear that I had not got the
part of your hair quite whore it should
be nor the bows Of your neckcloth math-
ematically under your chin. You know
you hurried me bit at my work as
valet. But find you without spot or
blemish, and, as you always are, so very
much the best looking man l know
wonder the rest don't hate you out
right"
Mr.. McGregor laughed cheerily. In
the isolation of his darkness there had
grown mp delicious small vanity over
his appearance. He was not only blind,
but helpless. There were nervous witch
ings in the fine, thin hands. and when
he walked it was bowed, hating prog
ress, painful to look upon.
Over the sight Mrs. Winfield shook
her head, saying: Eyes; it is a real
pity; but, then, mayby, too, it was we'll
folks should see what comes of fool
hardness. I remember Mr. McGregor
q strong man, good looking, too, but
nobody could ever make me believe he
had any call ter 60 an dash in that
lburnin cabin jest ter git out poor ole
Niger that had nursed him when he
was baby. She didn't live but year
after all. An look at him-blind an
oripnled. that beam fallin on his back,
of thought of his own family. 1t would
be really his fault whatever happened
ter that girl Of bis"
Rob's mother had died at her birth,
and there were five little mounds beside
the long one in the graveyard back Of
the orchard. All the other children had
gone before. With her latest breath the
dying woman had whispered, "Call her
by your name, Robert, darling, and
bring herewith you--safe-across the
river. -
So from the beginning Rob had been
her fathers comfort, companion, ooun-
selor. She had come to years old when
he was stricken and took her place as
head of the house with the quaintest
childish dignity. Everybody said how
pitiful it was to see her pattering about,
keys in hand, to note her watchful care
for her father in every detail or to hear
her piping child's voice stumbling mu-
sically through chapters of the Bible.
Mighty few of them knew what hero
ism the reading had entailed. To the
day OF her fathers blindness Rob had
refused to learn even her letters IT
hate old books. Iwon't learn and be shut
mp in school all day." she had said pas.
sionately. But when she saw her father
lingering the big Bible and murmuring
snatohes Of its contents it made her |
throat swell, her lips culver. Yet she
said nothing then beyond telling him
of the little chickens and
the teeny new calf. But three Sundays |
later she came, saying shyly, IF you |
like, pappy, I can read you some Bible
now" And with that she began the |
Twenty third Psalm and went through |
Il without break. !
"Do you like it, pappy? Does it sound
good and help your" she asked very low
when she had done. Mr.. McGregor
oould not speak. He put his arms about
his child and answered her with rain
Of kisses
"Can you read, reallyY' he asked aft
er awhile. "It seems too good to be true.
How did You learn?''
II don't know-only that much. Jack
Talbot ia teaohipp mo He comes Sun-