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

BILE handful to her anxious guardians. be-
came suddenly almost delirious with nap
piness For moment Joe regarded her
as some mysteriously risen ghost, ana
then the rapture of recognition glowed
upon his worn face and made 1t almost
young again.
"Vflet, My Vfletr'
1t was all that he could say for some
time as he was fain to sink into COM
Portable armchair and let Vilet announce
her bodily presence by vibrant purrs ana
q scarificatiOn of his face with a very
rough and eager little tongue. They were
both too rejoiced to be in any way cone
rent, but the SympathIzing onlookerS 1elt
well rewarded for their labor of love But
presently. when the old man could look
round lie found even more than his one
recovered treasure. There was the rick
ETY. four-poster. with its comfortable
feather bed. which had been wreSted from
Liza Legg by generous compensation;
there was also the oak bureau. which the
vicar had brought down himself the very
moment he had heard of what was IN the
wind. There was a homely tea iald Tor
two; one cupless saucer had cream IN IL,
as the squire and SelhurSt had both de-
cided that Vilet had fretted as well as
her master over the separation. and that
her ribs must be better covered than they
were a cheerful wood fire twinkled up
on the hearth. and there was Just enough
iOmely comfort to keep an OLD man ana
his cat happy and content.
Joe did not quite realize all his good for
tune until the squire explained 1t TO him
very clearly and kindly, with nelShDoriy
hand on his shoulder
Mr. Thorne this is now your home
yours and Nilet'S. l consider II your due,
and not charity. You have been an honest
and faithful servant to my father and
his father. and | am reaping the fruit or
your Iabors. | have arranged that Mrs
Lockett your neighbor-only a few yards
away. you See-will do for you, and every
week there win be a small sum provided,
so that either of you can do your bit of
marketing Perhaps you may thank my
friend here for his share in all these
transactions. for you have not the claim
upon him that you have upon me-
Joe did his best TO sob out few heart
felt words of gratitude. for had they not
restored to him his loved Vi'let-his lost
individuality; and although it was no lon
ger the little brown house, had they not
given him back his home and the sacred
privacy which is its greatest blessing?
Seeing him so broken. albeit only with
the weight of his happiness. they made
his tea for him. and sat down to smoke
a friendly pipe. so that all strangeness
might wear off before they left him. But
Vilet had Tapped up the cream, as be-
seemed n squire's pensioner, Joe could
speak at least a part of his grateful mind
with more composure. He thanked them
the warmth of the firc-her own fire and
Joe's. as she knew Observation-Disclosures
and blinked upon the two intruders, as
though assuring them that the hospitality
of her house and Joe's was extended to
them whenever they felt in need of IT.
Il knowed,' said the Old man humbly
and gratefully, that there was a place
for me above. where my Louie be gone
before me, but I never thought to find an
other home upon earth Then he turned
10 the young squire. Il see the
larrel hedge up the drive do want clippin'
turr' BILE bad; l low, sir. as I'm hard to
beat at clippin' hedges"
So on very fine sunny days you may see
a bent old man clipping hedge and talk
ing away blithcly to himself. or TO VPiet
who always attends-or to the squire
himself as he passes up and down the
drive. Between the two there is a very
real attachment, and Joe never lets him
pass without sending his respectfully duty
and hearty thanks-in which Vilct alwaya
joins-to Mr.. John Selhurst.-Ellen Ada
Smith, in Longman's Magazine.