The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-10

Nell ana pre-: d into her hand Two
old. battered kc-cncrustcd pennies,
and ran away uEaiH. -
Here there WAS no staying cScuNif
they would. with less and less OF hope
and strength. but with resolution un.
dlmintehed, the child went on, lead.
ing Tho old man. who complained
qucrulously and begged FOR rest, For
Two long days they wandered through
the ugly land. until at last they came
out Into unspoilcd country once more.
And here Little Nell, almost too faint
To speak was trying to implorc hep
from II man whom thry met on inc
road, when she fell scnsclcss nj his;
feet
Tic stranger east only one look at
her, and picked her up ana bore her az
last ns he could go To an Inn w:.ch
was closc By. lie ala no, leave her sill
she WIS conscious again. and he de-
luycd his journcy.to wait Till food and
rest should restore her strength.
lie WIS pale. simple looking man
OF spare aud mcngl:c FORM, which his
plain old suit OF black emphasized. \
thoughtful and silent ran there
dwcllcd Kindness oil his rucc that
was so steady and so earnest that IL
could have been Eravcr there only by
the long and steady years lie asked
Little Neil FOR no condolences. but told
her his own story. which was simple
enough. lie WAS only poor school.
master, nc said, on his way to n dis.
tant village. where they had offered
him u cottage ana n salary of f35 u
year.
Before LStlc Neil knew il she was
telling him her story In reply; and he
proposed that they go with him t.
his destination, where he was sur.
that he could lind some occupation fot
her grandfather. and. at least assure
,hcm OF shelter and food.
1t was AN ancient village OF brown
matched cottages ana ancient graves.
with gray and stately church,
Tainted by small buildings OF carved
stone. with archcd windows and oalScn
doors as old as the carved stones of
the chusch and spirc--a very aged
shostly place. but beautiful. with
peaceful hills: and peaceful water that
reflected quiet fields.
One OF the ancient houses by tho
church was the schooimaster's and.
true To his promise. he obtained the
other one FOR Nell and her ErRndfathcr.
II had been occupied by an old per-
son who had kept the keys OF tho
church and opened and closed II for
services. This position. made vacant by
Her death. the schoolmastcr had OBJ
tanned for Nell.
The rooms were vaultcd chambers
that still retained In sr6lned roofs and
stone tracery the message Of past
grandeur The child looked about her.
and ut her benetactor. and knew with
happy tears that she had found the
end OF the long Journey.
Soon. though She was so quiet and
SO shy. they grew TO love her in the
simple place. The minister fell into
4 4,
Even the old sexton. selfish with age.
lost something OF his frost and bright
cHcd when Neil came into the church.
yard.
Bu; among ther; ~. minister
schooimaster villagers. halr-blind sex
ton. there was something that made
their fondness for the child tender
almost awcd feeling. II feeling dominat-
cd by solicitudc and compassionate
regard FOR her. The very schoolhoys
light-heartcd ana though,less an .hey
We're fell into the habit OF asking foI
her ut her lattice window on days
when she failed TO be In her usua
place in the graveyard or the church
Some feeling WAS abroad which ruisct
the child above them all.
She spent much OF her time III III.
church. loving to wander in It's quic>
nislcs or to climb slowly to the tower
top She did not fear 1t, even alone
ut night, when only inoon-rnys STOLE
through the Old loop-hoic3 in TIC tCT'.
cr walls to light the winding stairs
She had another occupation, too--i
strange one for child. Each dag
she went 10 the churchyard. and there
quite peacefully, she plucked tile long
grass aud ncttlcs from the tombs
smoothcd the turf and cleared IL oil
leaves md weeds.
They noticed that when she bcSar
this work she began with the graves
OF children and young people: nnc
more lhan one when they thought oil
this, touched her check gently AN,
spoke 10 her with softcncd voice.
The time came when Little Nell OK,