The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-02
ROB NJ GREGOR.
By MARTHA MOULLoCH WILLIAMS,
Copyright. 1896. by the Author.l
CONTINUED

tall, red outer chimneys. Once the walls
had been white, the blinds vivid
green. Now both had weathered TO deli.
ciously soft tones of gray and drab. Tall
Lombardy poplars stood sentinel either
side the yard gate. Nearer the house
there were thick spreading trees
elms, naples, tulip poplars and oaks.
The shade of them was so thick and cool
there was still hint of dew on the
sparse grass at their roots.
One hand lay the garden, gay with
all manner or flowers. Upon the other
wide tangled orchard space overran
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 perfect negro accent, "Marse
Robert, you don't want nobody ter do
nothin, does your"
The man she spoke to was blind,
WIN SCdlANN, lAlObiAO law anu llliil
hands almost as translucent as old por-
celain. 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 neckerchief 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 sc nted softness
OF the summer morning.
81 want some one very much-that
mischieyous daughter of mine. " 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
been much apart ever since she was
born.
Nor ever will be, daddy" Rob said,
dropping 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 morningl I've been haunt
ed by the fear that | had not got the
part of your hair quite where it should
be nor the bows of your neckcloth math-
ematically under your chin. You know
you hurried me bit at my work rs
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 up "a delicious small vanity over
his appearance lie was not only blind,
but helpless. There were nervous witch
ings in the fine, thin hands. and when
he walked it was a bowed, hating prog
ress, painful 70 look upon.
Over the sight Mrs Winfield shook
her head, saying: Eyes; it is "a real
pity; but. then, mayby, too, it was well
folks should see what comes of fool
hardness. 1 remember Mr. McGregor
strong man, good looking, too, but
nobody could ever make me believe he
had any call ter go an dash in that
burnin cabin jest ter git out poor ole
niger that had nursed him when he
was baby. She didn't live but a year
after all. An look at him-blind An
crippled, that beam fallin on his back,
besides the burns he got He ought ter
of thought of his own family. 1t would
be really his fault whatever happened
ter that girl of his -
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, coun-
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. Every body 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. 81
hate old books. won't learn and be shut
up in school all day" she had said pas
sionately. But when she saw her father
lingering the big Bible and murmuring
snatches OF its contents it made her
throat swell, her lips culver. Yet she
'aid nothing then beyond telling him
of the little chickens and
the teeny new calf. But three Sundays
later she came, saying shyly, eff you
like, pappy, can read you some Bible
now" And with that she began the
Psalm and went through
It without break.
do you like IL, pappy? Does IL sound
good and help your" she asked very low