The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-02-29
TowsoN. MD, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 90. 1908

kitchen and the muttered threats they
had heard her make while holding
the knife.
my unhappy child" said the poor
father, in broken voice, while the
tears rolled down his cheeks. "She
has been bereft of reason for the past
three years and been the inmate of an
asylum until recently. Her keepers
thought she was so much better that
they allowed her to come out and try
a change. While we were riding
slowly along yesterday she suddenly
leaped from the carriage and plunged
into piece of woods by the road. I
followed as fast as I could, but she
escaped me, and her mother and I
have been suffering tortures of sus-
pense in regard to her fate. She has
spells of frantic thirst for blood.
shudder to think what a tragedy
might have happened here" !"
1T was a narrow escape" said
Uncle John," as it happened, there
was no harm done and am glad that
your daughter is safe.'
Soon after the young lady appeared,
accompanied by her mother and dress
ed for her journey. AS her father
passed out of the door he thrust bill
into Tilly's hands with the remark :
IT owe you a debt of gratitude for
sheltering my daughter and you shall
hear from me again."
Tilly opened her hand and crisp
ive-dollar bill lay upon her palm.
She had never owned so much money
in her life before and she gazed at it
in pleased wonder. How long the
time seemed till night, for then she
expected her parents home. At last
they drove slowly into the yard and
from the expression of sadness upon
both their faces, she knew their er-
rand had been fruitless one.
"Yonr fathers friend was unable
to make US the loan, and he has come
home feeling utterly discouraged, "
said Mrs. Clifford, as she sank wearily
into chair.
"I'm so sorry" said Tilly, with
trembling lips, "but it isn't so bad to
lose our home as though some one of
us had been killed or gone crazy"
Then, as her father entered soon
after, Tilly told all about the events
of the previous day and night.
AS they realized the danger that
had threatened their only child, Mrs.
Clifford exclaimed, thankfully:
'You were right, Tilly, in saying
that our trouble is not the worst that
could befall us, we'll bear it with be-
coming fortitue, now that all our
lives are spared"
A few evenings after, while the
family were sitting together in the
twilight, a neighbor, who had been
to the postohice, threw letter into
the open door.
lilly lighted a candle and her father
snzed caTiSus1y at the direction and
the postmark.
"Whom can it be from?" he ex-
claimed, turning it over and over in
his hand.
"Why, father, open it and see, .
said Tilly, laughing, Chats the
quickest way to find out"
He did so and a check for five hun
dred dollars fell out.
Here, Tilly, read it," he said,
with trembling voice. IT can't
think what it means"
1t read thus
Mr.. clifford, Dear Sir Having obtained your
name and address as passed through your viii
sgsa the Usf9c ass checE ( only slight
return for the service your daughter rendered
to my affiicted child. beg that you will use
the money for your own or her benefit, as you
''"' ''o "'' HERMAN ST. CLAIR.
80, father" said Tilly, clapping
her hands with delight, "that will
pay off the mortgage, and we can
keep our home after ALL"
eve can thank God," he said ;
"what a merciful Providence sent
that young woman to our door"
"God has many ways OF bringing
about the same result" said Mrs.
Clifford reverently. have had faith
to believe He would help us in our
trouble, but 1 never dreamed it would
come in the way it has. How can
we ever be thankful enough?"
A few days after the whole family
went upon a journey, and when they
returned they brought with them a
clear title to the little homestead.
After paying the mortgage they in
vested one hundred and fifty dollars
in the bank for Tilly, and the re-
naming fifty they presented to Uncle
John, thus enabling the old gentle
man 20 purchase some farm imple.
ments he had long needed.
Tilly never forgot this lesson oi
her girlhood, or the lesson of Gods
watchfu1 care over us which it taught
her.--Monthly Magazine.