Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-03-26

Landed" said the man. And Mat
was conscious of n softness In his tone
that had not marked his first words.
Lead the way" he added. as the
girl brushed past him on the sand.
I'll try TO follow
Mat turned along the path. and the
stranger kept close behind her.
Him. him." he muttered again pres
entity. and the tone of il brought fresh
tears 10 Mats eyes.
Toilsomely she led the way up the
ravIne. and the man kept track of her
with good degree of skill
III ye'd left the door open we might
have had the light to lead us" he sug-
gested.
But Mat shrugged her shoulders.
II couldn't do that" she said.
NO: guess not" The strangers
voice had grown so wonderfully soft
that Mat felt an impulse to fall back
and put her hand upon his arm.
But now the faint light shining
through the chinks outlined the cabin
door TO their eyes. and Mat soon
caught the latchstring in her hand.
But she paused The horror OF the
death scene inside filed her with
dread. The stranger came up the steps
and stood beside her II was long
silence. Mat stood with her head
pressed against the door. the unpulled
latchstring held in her hand. Pres
emily the strangers arm slipped about
her waist. and the girl made no re-
sistance.
"Did-did We ever hear the old man
say anything about Joe?" The words
fell from his lips in whispers. but Mat
caught them.
'Joe. joe she exclaimed. Yes: tell
me. do you know anything Of Joe?'
I'm joe
Mats hand suddenly drew tight the
latchstring. and as the door swung in
ward she buried her face against the
breast of the stranger.
~ wonder. dad" said the man a few
minutes later as he bent over the
corpse on the bed. "how many minutes
too late was. But reckon We know
ali about II now"
Weeks slipped by. and Joe Wellesley
was doing the duties of the ferryman.
The loneliness which had held Mat one
awful moment had not come upon her
again.
One day Joe came and sat down be-
side Mat on the cabin steps and lit his
pipe.
''Ye were two years old when I left,
Mat" he said presently. AN of course
We don't remember me then. / was
sixteen. There was n misunderstood
ing. bad accused me o. takin' his
weasel skin. with two gold pieces in It.
Well. hadn't done II. but l guessed
who had. for the chap had skipped out
So swore I'd follow him all over the
west or have confession from him,
an got it,
Joe unfolded a paper. and Mat read
a confession OF theft.
but II seems I got here too late
with IL. Mat
Joe sucked his pipe slowly.
But II warn't about that I wanted
to talk particularly. Mat" he went on
at length. Il reckon dad never did tell
We anything about yerself?
NO. Why. JOe?" Mat sought his
gaze
Never told We that We warn't his
fiesh an blood daughter?''
What are We tellin me. Joe?" Mat
WAS holding her breath.
Jest the truth. Mat. Your father an
mother We're killed in tornado. an
dad found You. without scratch. in a
haystack hundred yards from the
house. An somehow I knowed after I
left dad would never let on ye warn't
his flesh an bone
Silence for some time
But I'm glad it's that way now,
Mat, for II been thinkin' that II ye'd
have me don't see the use o. we two
goin' different ways through this old
world. What dye say. Matt
I'm so glad were no blood kin.
joe" the girl said softly MS he drew
her 10 him.