The Afro-American advance., 1900-03-17

morning. But You never mind: III at
tend 10 everything. You've got cattle
and things to look after, suppose.
I'll feed em for you, and then III bring
In another log or two for the fire.
How good you are. sir know
father will thai. You thousand
times"
"rhank me yourself. child! I'm not
doing il for your father. It's long since
I've had occasion TO be thanked, and
the words have sweet sound.
lie opened the door and went out
through the Winding SNOW.
| Returning half hour later. he CARE
fully replenished the FIRE, rakinR the
Goals together till the red blaze
mounted high in the great chimney
TEen he caught Tony in his arms
once more. making him laugh with a
merry story, before Jenny carried him
C n 10 bed. "
"Thcre's no use expecting your folks
tonight" =" said the stranger. when
Jenny reappeared. having left her lit
tie charge quietly sleeping. The
storm grows harder every minute.
But they'll be here bright and early in
the morning. never fear. You go and
lie down with the boy. and I'll just
camp here in front of the fire." +"
"But you won't be comfortable, sir"
"ComfortabIel I'll get the sweetest
rest I've had for many long night. ~"
Jenny did as she was hidden. Still
dressed. she threw herself upon the bed
beside her little brother.
1t was long before she slept. for as
the snow beat against the window
panes she could not repress a sharp
anxiety for the safety Of those she
loved.
"What should have done II this man
had not Gomez" she asked herself
again and again. "TIe seems SO
strange; but he is very, very kind"
She lost consciousness at last. and
when she awoke. the sun was already
shining in at the eastern window.
She sprang up hastily, scarcely able
20 collect her scattered memories OF
tho night OF storm.
Hark! Could IL be? IL was! the
sound OF slowly tinkling bells ap-
proaching through the still air.
"They are coming!" she cried, joy
fully, and ran into the adjoining room.
II was empty. and the fire smoldered
low upon the hearth. Her visitor had
gone, unannounccd and sudden as he
had come.
"And he had no breakfast" mourned
poor Jenny. "How shameful Of me to
sleep like this!"
She flung open the door Just as her
fathers sleigh appeared in sight, the
stout horses struggling bruvely
through the unbroken drifts.
A cheerful hnlloo rang out, answered
by her own joyful voice
The sleigh reached the door. and in n
moment Jenny was in her fathers
arms.
"My poor little girl Thank God.
you are safeI was wild with fear for
you-all alone in the stormy night"
''But | wasn't alone father. A man
came here, and he was so kindl He fed
the cattle, and made my fire; but-only
Think slept so late that he went
away without any breakfast.
The father and son looked Mt each
other
"what is that?" cried Jenny. gIane-
Ing at the table. ~ do believe hr left
letter. Yes--and directed TO you.
fatherl"s
Mechanically the father unfolded the
bit of paper. and this In what he read:
II knew OF the money you took from the
express Once last week Rt Millvlis 7
have been watching my opportunity. and
when you rode away to-day I followed you.
and cut down the big trees whicn YOU
found across your road az you came back.
81 did this to gain time for I knew you
could never cut your way around before
morning
II came here TO rob you Your children
trusted me. The boy Il like one that re-
member II they had been afraid 1T me.
| should have found your money and gone
away, You will think II foolish. but IL
came TO me that II there was something
left In Ve that an innocent child could
trust, perhaps u was enough for the be-
ginning-iust the beginning-of a better
man.
The fathers face grew ashy pale,
and the paper fell from his hand.
stephen picked IL up, glancing hurried
ly over its contents. and the two gazed
at each other without power To speak.
The signature was that of n desper-
ado long the despair of the officers of
justice, whose name had been for
years terror among the homes OF sol
itAry settlers all the country round