Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1921-09-15

NJ
such one as the Divine Mas
ter so often chose to hold up as a mod
ell for his followers-this is our hero
inc.
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 en-
joyed many delightful hours.
Now he has changed. He is anxious
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, returning just
before day, and is filed with gloom
whenever he comes back. The child
cannot comprehend the reason for this
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 secret
wealth and to be in the way of making
much more money II only he could be
carried over q temporary emergep 81.
But the child's statements to his wife
made the dwarf suspicious. He inveS-
tigated and found NelI's grandfather
had taken his loans to the gaming ia
BILE and had lost.
II am no gambler" cried the old
man fiercely, when accused by Quilp.
II call heaven to witness that / never
played for gain Of mine or love Of
play; that at every piece 1 staked
whispered that orphans name and
called on heaven to bless the venture
which 1t never did"
He cried out that his winnings would
have been made from evil men and
would have been spent on q slnless
child. Quilp was unmoved BY his APP
peals for further aid. He had legal
hold on the old mans curiositieS and
other property and brought his lawyer
to take possession Of the premises.
Kit, the servant boy Of Nell's grand
father. had. angered Quilp by calling
him names, and the dwarf took re-
venge by telling the old man that Kit
had informed Of the gambling.
Early one morning, before Qullp
and his lawyer awoke, Nell and her
grandfather crept softly out and left
their home forever. They had visions
Of fair fields and country scenes
through which they would journey.
The child had learned that she must
be the leader, and he followed willing
~. She had a little money, but they
must depend upon charity when that
was gone.
The first day they made long jour
ney and were given a ride by kind
countryman. They stayed that night
at an inn with two Punch and Judy
shOwmen for whom Nell had done
bit Of mending. With them they went
TO the races the next day, but Nell be-
came suspicious OF the men and es-
capped with her grandfather into the
open country.
Nearly exhausted by another long
walk, they arrived at school play
ground. The schoolmaster kindly took
them homo, and they stayed there
few days, obtaining needed rest.
Continuing their journey, they next
met with travelling wax-6gure show,
and Nell so favorably impressed Mrs.
farley, the manager, that she received
employment. Her bitterest experience
came at this time.
Her grandfather fell in with some
gamblers and lost nearly all their mon
ey. She had a gold coin Of which he
knew nothing. She changed this IN
payment for their nights lodging, bpt
invoke to find her grandfather robbing
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