The Afro-American advance., 1900-09-29

"Well," said William, II reckon ahs
must stop here till hss strength comes
back. anyhow
= knew you'd say that, Will," re-
sponded the old woman, "for you were
ne'er one TO shirk doin' kind deed.
Ay. well look after her. You see, tn
little birds as good as said fine news
were comm. an it Id be ungrateful
none Ia reward her.
Later In the day Gniseppa's talk be-
came so wild and unintelligible that
William was dispatched to the village
for DIR. Hattersley. When he came and
found that the girl Was in high fever
he suggested that the wofkhoHse am
bnIanee should be fetched. Mary heard
him with some ifnpatfence and fatty
refused to take his advice.
Z''Th' poor things goin' TO bide here
till she's better, she said. I've al
ways been reckoned a decent nurse,
an can look after her as well as any
young madam wi white cap.
.''Ehi" said the doctor, with GRIM
aee.3"I suppose you'll have your own
way. But you must know that it viii
be great responsibility. You're far
from strong yourself-"
%, I'm right enow at last. doctor. !"
replied Mary ou see, it's come to
me as our lads alive after all and so
I've gotten summat 20 look forward
to. 1t Id be unlucky, besides bein'
wrong. to turn away Guiseppa, when
she made her way here, Lord knows
how, because she thought we'd help
her"
The kindly doctor had nothing more
to urge, and so Giuseppe became an
inmate of Scraperlowe. She was se.
riolsly Ill for several weeks, but her
constitution was good (she came of fine
Tuscan peasant stock), and before the
time of the first snowstorm she was
able to be moved downstairs and 10 sit
in a big armchair by the fire. As she
grew stronger she began TO speak of
her departure, but Mary always ST.
fenced her tcndcrly.
ats for you to choose, wench, +" she
said at last. my master an I'd be
main sorry IL you left US, for we've
come to care for you more than lit
tie. Why none stay wi us for good p
there's many an many a thing as you
can help wi, You see, Guiseppa, / be
gettin' ovid"
The girl thanked her with luminous
eyes and from that day began to work
in the place as II IL were her own home.
taking such an active interest hat the
old folk could scarce express their ad
miration. The healthy life developed
her southern beauty until she was re-
garded as the loveliest woman of the
The respect and deyo.
tion which she showed toward her pro-
tectors was really touching, and as the
months passed they began TO look upon
her as their own flesh and blood She
had the dnintiest imaginable hand for
butter making, and the poultry under
her care was reared with admirable
success.
Mary's idea OF her having brought
luck was confirmed in the following
spring, when William received let
ter from London lawyer. declaring
him heir to the property of an almost
forgotten kinsman. The fortune was
large enough To keep them for the rest
of their lives without working; but
neither cared to give up the life on the
old farm. and they resolved 10 leave it
till VIII came back, Their
faith in his existence was rewarded at
time by "a letter addressed in
the lads own bold handwriting. In IL
they found that he had been east ashore
on the South American coast, and that
he had lain some months in hospital
lie had written as soon as he was able,
but he feared that his letters had mis-.
carried His left arm. shattered in the
had been amputatcd, and
even IL he had desired IL he was no
longer III for n seafarinF life. In short.
he was longing to see his Old father and
mother again and To work on the lit
tie farm with all bis might
After that, not "a day passed without
their expecting his arrival. II was not.
however, until the harvest that he
at Scraperlowe. On the third
night OF the Wakes. just year since
Mary had dreamed of his return. as
they sat together at supper she heard
his hand upon the latch. She rose and
ran tremblingly to throw her arms
around his neck, and elung to him SO
fcrvcntly that William was Obliged nj
last 10 beg for sight of his son. Ano
Guiseppa. when her eyes fell ON the
comely young man. felt her heart he
gan to beat very wildly; whilst VIII
after embracing his father. thrilled
with the curious pang that comes to- u
Travelled man when he sees the most
wonderful woman he has ever met.
The long aud the short Of IL wa,
that they fell in love at first sight. and
that to-day, with their robust ban
things, they are the happiest couple il
Pcakland. They do not live at Scraper
lowe, but William bought the next farm
for a wedding present and gave him
his own land TO work. so that the old
folk have naught to do save TO delight
themselves with looking on,--Blaek
and White.