The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-08-02
CHAPTER XXII.-continued,

N''HT En- NNII.-Continued
II broke the spell of awe that ha
lain upon him, so that he felt for tn
moment only pious horror of he
speech. He called Christina to TAX
charge of her, and Martha, the secont
Wl1e' to put away her little bundle O
Clothing. He himself went to be alon,
where he could think what must b,
done for her. From an entry in the
little Bible, written in letters thai
seemed to shout to him the accusation
OF his crime, he had found that she
must now be five years old. 1t was
plainly time that he should begin to
supply her very apparent need of re.
Igious instruction.
When she had become little used
70 her surroundings later in the dav.
ne sought to beguile her to this end,
beginning automatically with other
matters.
Come, tell me your name, dear"
She allowed her attention to be d.
verified from her largest doll.
MY name is Prudence" She hest.
tated.
"Prudence-what?"
II lost my mind of it." She
looked at him hopefully to be
prompted.
prudence Rae"
She repeated the name. doubtine1v
Prudence Rae?"
Yes - remember now Prudence
Rae. You are my little girl-Prudence
Rae"
But you're not my really papa
hes went far off-oh, ten ninety miles
far"
NO, Prudence-God is your Father
IN heaven, and am your father on
earth"
But not my papaw
Listen, Prudence-do you know
what you are?"
O The puzzled look she had worn fled
instantly from her face.
I'm generation of vipers."
She made the announcement with
palpable ring of elation in her tones
looking at him proudly, and as if wait.
Ing to hear expressions of astonish.
ment and delight
Child, child, who has told you such
things? You are not that"
She retorted, Indignantly now, the !
lines drawing about her eyes in signal
OF nearby tears:
i am a generation of vipers-the
Bishop said | Was-he told that other
mamma, and l am it,"
well, WELL don't cry-all right
you shall be it-but l can tell Won
something much nicer" He assumed
a knowing air, as one who withheld
knowledge of overwhelmin- fascina.
tons.
Tell me-What?"
And so, little by little, hardly know.
ing where to begin, but feeling that
any light whatsoever must profit a
soul so benighted, he began to teach
her.
In the days that followed he wooed
her patiently, seeking constantly to
md some favor with her, and grateful
beyond words when he succeeded ever
30 little. At first, he could win but
slight notice of any sort from her.
and that only at rare and uncertain
intervals. But gradually his unobtru.
slVe efforts told, and, little by little. l
sne began to take him into her conf. q
1ence. The first day she invited him
70 play with her in one of her games v
was a day of rejoicing for him. il
And that night, before her bedtime.
When ne sat in front of the fire. she
came with most matter.of.fact I'm. Il
consciousness to climb into his Ian. s.
he held her a long time, trying to h
oreathe gently and not daring to move Ia
est ne make her uncomfortable. Her a
head pillowed on his arm, she was b
loon asleep, and he refused to give h
Ter up when Martha came to nut her
o bed. ' -,
Though their intimacy grew during d,
ne winter, so that she called him her II
ather and came confidingly to him At e,
NJ umes' in tears or in laughter, vet W
10 never ceased to feel in aloofness tr
rom her' an awkwardnes in her pres as
nce' fear that the mother who W
ooKed from her eyes might at any m
loment call to him. ey
11y