Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1901-12-19
CHAPTER XIV.

rose and made my way towards the hall
you have not told me your address"
paused for n moment. Dared ! tell
her my addreasi Yet my money was
paid, and II did not, should lose both
Il aud the refuge ! had bought with IL.
Besides ! should awaken suspicion and
Inquiry by silence. II was a fearful risk
90 run; yet Il seemed safer than pre-
cipitous retreat gave her my address,
aud saw her write II down on slip OF
paper.
In the afternoon the little girl arrived
quite alone, except that man had been
hired TO carry n small box for her, aud 10
deliver her Into my charge. This was II
great relief 10 me, aud gladly paid the
shilling he demanded. The child was
ihinly aud shabbily dressed for our long
journey. and there was forlorn loneli'
ness about her position. left thus with a
stranger. which touched me to the heart.
We were alike poor. helpless. friendless.
'l'm 40 Rladr' she said with a deep
drawn sigh OF relief: II was afraid |
should never go. aud school IL such a
heavenly placer
The words amused yet troubled me:
they were 80 different from chiId's or
dinary opinion
It's such hateful place at Mrs. VIII
klnson's," she went on, everybody call.
Ing me at once. and scolding me; and
there are such many people to run
errands for"
What is your name, my dearT ask
cd. sitting down ON my box a0d taking
her on my lap. Such a thin, stunted lit
tie woman, precociouay learned In trou-
BILE! Yet she nestled In my arms like
u true child. aud tear or two rolled
down her cheeks, as II from very con-
tcntment.
Nobody has nursed me like this since
mother died." she said. I'm Mary; but
father always called me Minima, because
! was the least in the house. He kept
boys school out OF London, In Epping
Forest, you know; and II was 50 heaven
ly! All the boys were good to me, and
We used to call father Dominic. Then
he died. and mother died just before him.
aud he said. Courage, Minima! God
will take care OF my little girl SO the
boys fathers aud mothers made sub
scripton for me, and they got great
deal OF money, hundred pounds; aud
somebody told them about this school,
where | can stay four years for a hun
dred pounds, and they all said that was
the best thing they could do with me-
But I've had 20 stay with Mrs, Wilkin.
son nearly two months, because she
could not find a governcss TO go with me-
! hate her; detest her: should like TO
spit at herV
Hush! hush"' said, drawing her head
down upon my shoulder again.
Then there Is Mr.. Foster" she con
tinued, "he torments me 80. He likes
TO make fun OF me. and tease me, till
cant bear to go into his room. You'd
hate Mr.. Foster, aud Mrs. Foster, II you
only knew them"
"WhyT | asked In whisper. My
voice sounded husky to me, and my throat
felt parched. The child's lmpotent rage
and hatred struck a slumberng chord
within me.
"Ohl they are horrid In every way"
she said; they frighten me. lie is fond
of tormentlng anything, because he's
cruel But they are very poor-poor as
Job. Mrs. Wilkinson says, and I'm glad.
Aren't you gladY
The question Jared In my memory
against passionate craving after re-
venge, which had died away in the quiet
and tranquility OF Sark. Ought TO do
anything for himy Was there anything |
could do to help him2
"He Is i'll, too" pursued the child; Il
heard him say once to Mrs. Foster, he
knew he should die like dog"
III dead! My heart beat faster and
faster as | pondered over these words.
Then | should be free indeed; his death
would release me from bondage, from ter
ror, from poyerty-those three evils which
dogged my steps. had never ventured
to let my thoughts run that way, but
this child's prattling had now forced
them into 1t. Richard Foster ill--dying!
what ought l to do?
There was one thing only that l could
do, only one little sacrifice could make
for him whom | had vowed, in childish
ignorance, to love, honor and cherish in
sickness and In health, until death parted
us. A home was secured to me for twelve
months. | had enough money still to
last me until then. My diamond ring,
which had been his own gift to me on
our wedding day, would be valuable to
him. Sixty pounds would be a help to
him. set the child gently away from
me, and wrote my last letter to my hus-
band. Both the letter and the ring en-
closed In little box.
A great thump against the door brought
host of fears upon me. But before |
could stir, the insecure handle gave way
and no one more formidable appeared
than the landlady of the house, carrying
before her a tray on which was set out
sumptuous tea, consisting Of buttered
crumpets and shrimps. She put 1t down
on my dressing table aud stood survey
ing It and us with an expression of be-
nign exultation.
"Those as are going into foring parts"
she said, fought to get good English
meal afore they start. And this, my mas.
ter says, Is testimonial to you."
could hardly control my laughter.
and l could not keep back the tears. 1t
was a long time now since anyone had
shown me SO much kindness and sympa-
thy as this. The dull face of the good
woman was frightened by her kind-heart-
ed feeling, and instead of thanking her
] put my lips to her cheek.
The next morning found us In France.
From Honfeur to Falalse warm, genial
sunshine filed the air. The slowly NOV
ing train carried us through woods where
the autumn seemed but few days old.
We passed through miles upon miles of
orchards, beneath which lay huge pyra-
mids Of apples. Truck-loads of them
stood at every station. The air was
scented by them. Children were pelting
one another with them. 1t was almost
like going into new world, and breath