The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-10-01

A little child-the beautifully-drawn
character sketch of such a one as the
Divine Master so often chose to hold
up as model for His followers-this
| is our heroine.
Though not yet fourteen years old,
she could look back on better days
gone by. Then her grandfather was
happy and contented and had often
talked OF her angel mother. She had
| walked with him in the fields beyond
the city's noise, and they had there
enjoyed many delightful hours.
Now he has changed. He is anx-
| ious, worried, and secretive He often
sends the child on business to the
house of the hateful dwarf, Quilp. He
is away from home every night, re-
turning just before day, and is filled
with gloom whenever he comes back
The child cannot comprehend the rea
son for the change.
She tells this to the sympathetic
Mrs. Quilp, while the monster who
! has loaned her grandfather money
listens at the door. He has supposed
the old man to be possessed Of great
wealth and to be in the way of max
ing much more money if only he could
be carried over a temporary emerg
ency But the childs statements to
his wife made the dwarf suspicious.
He investigated and found that Nells
grandfather had taken his loans to the
| gaming table and had lost
Il am no gambler" cried the old
man f1ercely, when accused by Quilp.
l call Heaven to witness that l never
played for gain Of mine or love Of
play; that at every piece l staked |
whispered that orphans name and
called on Heaven to bless the venture,
which it never did,
He cried out that his winnings
would have been made from evil men
and would have been spent on a sin
less child. Quilp was unmoved by his
appeals for further aid He had a
legal hold on the old mans curiosities
and other property and brought his
lawyer to take possession of the prem
ises. Kit, the servant boy of Nell's
grandfather, had angered Quilp by
calling him names, and the dwarf took
revenge by telling the old man that
Kit had informed of the gambling.
Early one morning. before Quilp and
his lawyer aWoke, Nell and her grand
father crept softly out and left their
home forever. They had visions o.
fair fields and country scenes through
which they would journey. The child
had learned that she must be the lead
er, and he followed willingly. She had
little money, but they must depend
upon charity when that was gone
The first day they made a long
journey and We're given a ride by a
kind countryman. They stayed that
night at an inn with two Punch and
Judy showmen for whom Nell had
done a bit Of mending. With item
they went to the races the next day.
but Nell became suspicious Of the men
and escaped with her grandfather into
the open country.
Nearly exhausted by another long
walk. they arrived at school pay
ground. The schoolmastcr kindly took
them home. and they stayed there a
few days, obtaining needed rest
Continuing their journey, they next
met with a travelling waX-figure show,
and Nell so favorably impressed Mrs.
farley, the manager, that she received
employment. Her bitterest expert
ence came at this time
Her grandfather fell in with some
gamblers and lost nearly all tl.eir
money She had a sold coin of which
he knew nothing. She changed this
in payment for their nights lodging,
but aWoke to find her grandfather rob-
bing her purse of every coin in order
to gamble again. A short time later
Nell heard the gamblers persuade him
to steal from Mrs. farley, holding out
the hope that he would win much
more than enough to repay her
secretly.
Poor Nell was now in absolute ter.
ror She woke him that night and
told him Of a terrible dream, wherein
she saw men like him robbing those
asleep. She made him fee with her at
once.
On and on they walked, farther and
farther from London. Finally they
came to smoky town. A poor work
man took the tired child in his arms
and let the way near the furnace room
OF huge factory where they could
sleep warmly
Inc poor girl was nearly exhausted.
but in the morning they pressed on
their journey. At last they saw
familiar form. The child screamed
and fell sense.ess at the feet of the
schooimaster. He carried her gently
into nearby inn, and there she grad
ually recovered by means of stimu.
lants, food and rest.
1he schoolmaster had received what
was to him a princely appointment
he had been given a position, paying
thlrty-tve pounds annually in a dis.
tant town, and he was walking there
He had loved Nell since he first saw
her and begged them to go and live
near him. Entirely friendless, except
tor him, they went gladly. Their new
nome was in a beautiful peaceful vii
lage. Nell obtained position as care.
taker of the church, and they lived
next door to the schoolmaster
Now the old mans servant, Kit, had
obtained an excellent position near
nome by being strictly honest in his
dealings with a kind old man. Mr.
Garland. He had never lost his de-