The times., 1901-04-28

bic 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 gioWed
upon his worn face and made It almost
young again.
"VfIet! My Vfletr'
1t was all that he could say for some
time. as he was fain TO sink into com
Portable armchair and let NfIet announce
her bodily presence by vibrant purrS ana
a 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
nresentIv when the old man could look
round. he found even more than MS one
recovered treasure. There was the rlck-
ETY. four-poster, with ITS coIlI0rt1OLe s.I
feather bed which had been Wrested from
Liza Legg by generous compensation,
there was also the oak bureau Whlch the
vicar had brought down himset the very
moment ne had heard Of what was IN the
wind. There was a homely tea lald I0r
two: one cupless saucer had cream IN H.
as the squire and SelhurSt mad botn ue-
cided that Vilet had fretted as WeH as
her master over the separation. and that
her ribs must be better covered than they
We're A cheerful wood fire twinkIed uQ-
on the hearth and there was just enough
homely comfort to keep an old man anu
his cat happy and content
Joe did not quite realize all his good Tor
tune until the squire explained II 70 MN
very clearly and kindly, with nelShporiy
hand on his shoulder.
Mr.. Thorne. this is now your home
YOURS and EiletS- ! consider IL your que
and not charity. You have been an hOuesl
and faithful servant 10 my father ana
his father and I am reaping the fruit or
your labOrs / have arranged that Mrs.
TOckett YOUR neighbOr-Only feW NdrdS
away. vou see-will do for you. and every
week there viii be small sum provided.
so that either of you can do your DIT or
marketing Perhaps YOU may thank my
friend here for his share in all these
transactions. for you have not the claim
lfDOn him that you have upon me.
Joe did his best 10 sob out q few heart
felt words of gratitude, for had they not
restored To him his loved Nilet-his lost
individuality and although II was no ION
GER the little brown house. had they not
given him back his home and the sacred
privacy which is its greatest blesSingE
Seeing him so broken. albeit only with
the weight of his happiness. they made
his tea for him, and sat down To smoke
ii friendly pipe. 50 that all Str1uSenesS
might wear off before they left him. But
after the tea had refreshed him and
VfIet had Tapped up the cream, as De
seemed a squire's pen5ioner, Joe could
speak at least a part Of his grateful mlnd
with more compoSure. tie thauked them
again and again. and Vilet. b1Sking in
the warmth of the firc--her own hTe and
Joe's. as she knew instiuctiveiy y-purred
and bIinlsed upon the two intrudcrs, as
though assuring them that the hospitality
of her house and JOc's was extended TO
them whenever they felt III need Of II.
'I knowed" said the old man hUmbly
and gratefully. that there was place
for me above. where my Louie be gone
before me- but ( never thought 70 find an
other home upon earth. Then he turned
wistfulIy 10 the young squire Il see the
larrel hedge UP the drive do want clippin'
turr BILE bad; 1 low. sir, as m hard to
beat at clippin hedges
SO on very fine sunny days you may see
2 bent old man clipping n hedge and talk
ing away blithely to himself. or TO VfIct
who always attends-oT 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 Nilet always
joins-to Mr.. John Selhurst.-ElleH Ada
Smith, in Longman's Magazine.