The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-11

lage. Patrasche llmped slowly by his side. The snow was falling fast, hur- ricane blew from the black north. It was bitter as death of those unsheltered,
 monotonous plains.
 Darkness closed in before the village was in sight. Suddenly Patrasche stopped, whined and scratched in the
 snow He brought ou, a small case Of l brown leather.
 The boy looked at it under a little Call
 vary by the roadside that had lamp
 burning under the cross. He read the
 name of Baas Colgez on the wallet and
 in 1t he found notes for 90O0 francs. The discovery reused him little from the deadly stupor that had overcome all his senses during the hopeless march. He made straight for the mill house and knocked The millers wife opened it.
 She was weeping. Alos stood c1nging to her.
 "Is it thee, poor lad?' she said kindly through her tears. "Get thee gone ere the Baas sees thee. We are in sore trouble tonight He Is out seeking for great sum of money that he lost in the snow, and he will never find it with this storm to cover it up, and God knows it will come night to ruin us."
 | Nello put the wallet into her hands I and called Patrasche within the house. | 'Patrasche found it tonight said he quickly. "rell Baas Colgez so. I think 1 that he will not deny the dog food and | shelter in his old age. Keep Patrasche from pursuing me, and I pray of you to i be good to him.
 1 Before either the woman or the dog
 knew what he meant, he had stopped and
 kissed Patrasche, then closed the door 1 quickly and disappeared in the gloom of 1 the storm.
 l The dog eaped furiously at the door, l wailing in anguish. The woman and the l girl, bewildered by the suddenness of the l happening, did not dare to let him out 1 till 1t was too late. Then they tried to l comfort him. They brought meat and
 sweet cakes, the best they had, to the
 starving beast. He would not touch it, but lay, pressed close to the barred door
 and moaning at intervals.
 It was o'clock when the miller entered through the rear, jaded and broken, with 1 his cheek pallid and his voice quivering,
 "It is gone,' Said he. we have looked
 with lanterns It is gone-the little maid s portion and alll''
 His wife put the money into hix hands ] and told him how 1t had come to her, The man sank trembling into a seat and ! covered his face. shamed and almost
 afraid. q deserved not to have good
 at the lads hands," said he at last. Little Alois crept to him and rested her
 curly head against his cheek. May not Nello come here again as he used to, I father?' she asked.
 ] The miller took her into his arms. "IIe | shall bide here on Christmas Day and any 1 other day he will" replied he, God help- | ing me, I will make amends to the boy l l will make amends.
 It was Christmas Eve and the mill house was warm with oak logs and squares of turf the atmosphere was rich ] with cream and honey and good meats, 1 the rafters were hung with evergreen and
 the chimney was draped with holly The
 family tried to coax the dog to the fire 1 and set before him a bit of their own 1 feast. But he would not leave the door. ] "He wants the lad.'' said Baas Colgez. | "Good dog! Good dog! l will go over to l the lad the first thing at day dawn" l They did not know that Nello inhabited l the hut no longer So, while Patrasche l lay with his nose to the crack of the !! door, A1ois tossed back her yellow hair 1 and sang, thinking of her playmate who 1 would be with her soon. Baas Colge7 | watched her with moist eyes and spoke
 of how he would befriend the boy. The | mother sat with contented, happy face ! at her spinning wheel
 When the supper smoked on the table