The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-04-16
THE VENIN STORY
SUSAN.

Mr.. and Mrs. Spencer congratulated
themselves on taking her.
Shes quiet little thing" Mr..
Spencer said to his wife. IAN she gets
q heap done. Wen miss her when she
goes to school," :. :.
Yes his wife answered. well
miss her more'n ! kin say. She's been
hemnnin' sheets for me an she done
Well. n does everything she's told
to do an never says a word. l hope
he amt one q them still waters that
run Deep"
Well. Mrs. Bentley was over n l
was praisins -sunn-not to her face.
you kin Depend An while we was
taikin' susan came in. Shed got
through with a sheet She was dom
ana wanted some more work. I give
her a couple Of more. Az soon a. she
was gone I showed her work to Mrs.
Rentley-aM nice little stitches. most
as even as ] could "a done myself. But
MRS; Rendey didn't niore'n glance at
proud of all I've hecn teschin' her.
She'll be a master fine housekecper
some ., these days, told her some
o the things she's done an she didn't
pay no attention. Then she said:
'Tain't natural Tor young ones to be
so quiet. You ought to SEQ mine.
Look IL for her. Still water runs
deep An she told me a case about
some people who took a child same
to gel acquainted. An one day she
tried to burn EN- in their beds. 1t
kind O. settled on my mind"
MI. Spencer said "Fshaw!!" and
laughed a BIT. but whether they would
or no the words refused Ia be forgot
ten. They began to suspect Susan Of
deceit. and watched her with sharpen
ed eyes. And day Mrs. Spencer
saw her slSly concealing pieces Of
apron pocket.
The poor little thing" she aid to
herself. God forgive. me. if she amt
been gettin' enough to eat. Still. she'd
ought to a. knowed she could have
had anything for the askih'."
In the morning she cut slices Of
bread and meat and bread and Jelly
and put them on a plate in the pan
try. IF o git hungry time. SILL
san.. she said. Jest help yourself to
anything around. l fixed somo sand.
witches for In here"
And yet it was but tho following day
that she again saw her slipping food
slN1N in. her apron. A moment later
Susan was gone
Next time Iii foller," said Mrs
Spencer grimly..
The next time was the next day.
There was the Same sly, hasty move.
ment. tho same quick retreat. But this
time Mrs. Spencer was on her guard.
in sight. Susan walked quickly. with
her little hating step. She made for
an old disused shed. almost hidden by
trees. Mrs. Spencer. painting and
afraid. came up as she disappeared.
What II she's. got a tramp in there
an made 1t up with him to rob us?"
she thought fearfully.
1t was some time before she could
bring herself to. part the trees and
look inside. The child was in plain
view. but she would scarcely have
known her. 80 lovelit. so eloquent was
the little face. A lame rooster hop
ped back and forth. eating the. crumbs
from her hand. When they were fin.
ished he hoped up on her knee.
a sound made Mrs. Spencer turn,
and she held up her hand for silence
as her husband approached; They
stood together booking in. Suxan wss
grooming owe the rooster; in her soft,
childish voice. r,
AN some dsy,' she promised him,
you an nell go Of together some.
where's. Well haze people to love ue,
an III give o ice cream every day.
an everything YOU want. They'll love
us. an they'll say, Little lame ones,
you kin lust play together all day,
cause .,you's both lame They'll love
us. more'n YOU ever seen. Well. kiss
EN-. We won't be lonesome. no more"
Mr. and-Mrs. spencer. .clasped hands
and hurried away. Their knees trem.
bled under them.
"Mirandy.' the man said. "we've
committed q terrible sin. The lone.
some mite! I told her I was goin' to
kill that rooster cause he was lame.
He disappeared. I clean forgot It."
Mrs. Spencer cried softly. I'VE
didn't understand" she said. Zone Of
them little ones Christ spoke about.
Benjamin.. don't YOU think it would be
q good plan to have the. aunt come
here-come here an live?"
He patted her hand. Yes" he
answered. "An' II an operation'n be
any good. Ill put up for. it. We must
make up these months to Susan" >.