The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28

which had comforted his loneliness a
thousand times, maze his soul rise up in
anguish and rebellion. Had he lived so
honestly and worked so hard to come on
ly to this2 Why not have tithed at least
a part of his masters belongings. which
had passed so constantly through his
hands, and so known better times? He'd
known many less particular than him
self, and they still had roofs of their own
to cover them without troubling the par
ish. For once dark thoughts possessed
his patient soul-dark thoughts of life, of
death, and even of God in His heaven.
But these could not abide with him long,
for suddenly he seemed to see his wife
last living look, with its calm beatitude OF
perfect trust reproaching him for his bit
terness and want of faith. Such a remem-
brance had power to brush aside the
clouds of his monetary unbelief and he
was only heart-broken as he reached the
sandy margin of the river in which he
had bathed as a happy, careless lad. Put
ting down Ni'let-for he had no fear that
bend his stiff old back painfully to grope
for stones. He had literally TO feel for
them, for the tears were raining down ms
face. If only he could have told her he
was doing II for the best and out of love,
for fear worse things might befall her.
and to prevent her slowly pining to death.
He was pottering slowly about MS
hopeless task when fisherman, VINO had
been an amazed onlooker from the shad-
ow of a tree overhanging the water, ac-
costed him.
You seem In trouble; can I help ycu?"
Joe Strengthened himself slowly with
groan. and his questioner never forgot the
tragedy on the patient uplifted face See
ing he was addressed by "bettermost
person, he took OFF his ctp, holding 1t
ncrvously with both hands while his thin
grey hairs iiuttered in the breeze.
Il be in sort trouble, sir. I've worked,
man and buoy, sixty year for the squire
t old squire and his father avore 'ee-
and now | be come to this. They won't let
| bide outside L house no longer. so I've
got to go in and there amt no place for
Vflet, so I'm drowning OF her-the faith
fullest critter that ever lived"
He made "a deSpairing gesture TO indi-
cate the cat. who WIS rubbing against the
strangers legs rs '"7ugh to introduce
herself and implor' aid for her master
truth the sight of old Thorne's distress
was almost more than he could stand.
She is such a pretty cat; is there no help
for it,
Joe shook his head. 1--WE arst a many,
but none amt willen; they've either got
cats or fierce grit dougs that Fi'let can't
abear. Like me. shes settin,, uplong; but
1t do zim hard all the O." no.
He bent to pick up 6 last stone and
his hands trembled 50 he could hard
Iy find the mouth of The ferret bag.
You say you have worked on the Man
or estate all your WORKING life. Do you
know the present squire--or. what is more
to the purpose. does he know you?"
81 mind him, o. course but since he
come of age hes been home so little
Almost like a foreigner in the place-heill
not know / for zartain."
few more questions were asked and
answered, and then Joe looked anXiously
round, for the sun was westing fast, and
he had to be in the house before it sank.
Taking Vlet In his arms. he held her
gently moment, and then tried to put
her into the weighted bag. but the task
was quite beyond him, and he released
her to hide his face and try TO stihe the
sobs that were shaking his withered body
from head to foot
II can't do iti' he sobbed, wildly. 81
can't do It,"
The fisherman took fine bag from him
and waited a few moments.
"I'l do It," he said kindly Leave
your little friend to me- III do It when
you are gone"
Quite spent with the force of his own
emotion. Joe looked anXlously to see IL he