The Elbert County tribune., 1914-04-03

Chatham. Cayuga; Guelph-not Guelph
oh, what comes after Cayuga?"
Then feeble hands battered against
the door. ''Teacherl Teacher!"
But when | opened the door. the
girl stepped back afraid.
You're not the teacher" she said:
"oh. tell me before she comes. Sixty
six counties and the towns have all
got mixed"
Come in and let me tell you"
81 daren't! I daren't! You're not
the teacher This is not the school
You'll take me backl"
She turned, trying to run away, but
her legs seemed wooden. and she slid
about as though she were wearing
clogs
81 won't" she screamed. 'I won't go
back" Then she fell
Dear child, you shan't go back"
But still she shrank from me. "Oh.
leave me alone!" she pleaded.
'Mayn't l give yon some tear"
you won't take me back to Spite
House7"
mot to that dreadful place."
do you keep girls, too?'
There's only a nurse. and poor
dying man"
And youT hear me the counties
OF Ontario?"
why, yes, dear"
"Pll come then" but as she tried
to get up, Its cramp." she moaned.
Dear child, you're freezing"
I'm not cold, it's cramp."
She must have fallen through the
snow which covered our water-hole,
for she was literally incased in ice
up to the breasts
Finding l had not strength to carry
her. shouted for the nurse, who
reused Billy, and then the Chinaman.
Together we carried her indoors. gave
her brandy, and laid her. dressed as
she was, in Captain Taylor's bath.
Then while Billy rode hard for doc
tor, nurse and l filed the bath with
freezing water, which for eight hours
we kept renewed with ice.
She told me of village among vine
yards, overlooking Lake Ontario, Just
whore creek comes tumbling down
from the Niagara heights. Her ia
ther. a retired minister, wasted -
narrow means in trying to raise the
proper grapes for sacramental wine.
Mother was dead, and nine small chill
dren had to be fed and clothed. to ap-
pear with decency at church and
school. SO that they would not be
ashamed among the neighbors.
Then Uncle John found an adver
tisement In the paper. A governess
was wanted for four children some
where in British Columbia. The
wages were SO generous that there
would be enough to spare for helping
father. 1t meant SO much OF proper
food, and good warm clothing for the
younger children. So references we're
exchanged with Mr.. Brooke. who
wrote most charming letters. and Un-
Gle John lent money for the journey.
My little schoolma' am pursed her lips
severely over that loan. which must
be repaid by instalments.
Mr. Brooke met Jenny at Ashcroft,
and took her by sleigh nearly hundred
miles, getting more and more familiar
and horrid until, in a state Of wild
fear of him, she ran for safety into q
at opttc IlOu5o. u6
Mattresses were rude and cruel, Polly
lay drunk OIL the floor. There were
no children.
After learned from Mr.. Eure that
was prejudiced witness, without a
shred of evidence, that no court
would listen to hearsay. and that the
dying girls confession would not be
allowed in court except 1t were made
under oath before magistrate. Poor
Jenny would never have told any man
what happened at Spite House; she
would not have given the last sane
moments of her life to vengeance;
and SO there was no case against eth
er Brooke or Polly in crime which
had earned them penal servitude.
Vengeance? l think our prayers to-
gether did more good, and when the
time came for Jenny's removal to q
bed of lint soaked In carbolic oil. she
was prepared to face the coming pain.
"Shall l die?" she asked. could
only kiss her.
Then" she said. even II 1t isn't
true. tell papa i died game"
She was Canadian, and there is
valor In that blood.
Before she was moved, Doctor
Saunderson. of Clinton, had taken
charge. and since we lacked petroleum
enough for bath, approved what we
had done. He used opiates, but the
pain, after a frostbite is thawed. is
that which follows burning. On the
third day came exhaustlon-and re-
lease.
was obliged to give evidence at
the inquest, and my profession has
taught me quietness. restraint, sim
plicity. The coroner might talk law,
but was dealing with men; it was my
business to make them cry. There was
no case against Brooke. but from that
time onward visitors to Spite House
,,.c.1a treatad o. Lamar.