Year: 1878

AS the village clock rang out the hour
of ten the two men slowly sauntered off
in the direction of the bridge.
Scarcely stopping to breathe. Kit ran
to the shore and stood for moment ir-
resolute beside the boat which lay moor
ed just in the edge of the water. How
dismal everything seemed in the dark
only the few lights in the village across
the stream, and the faint starlight over
head !! In mid-stream she saw the white
flash of curling waves, like the cleaning
teeth of hungry wolf, waiting to de-
your her.


Poor Kit the tears streamed like rain
over her face, and the sobs came thick
and fast. She had fully decided to
leave the boat and rush wildly toward
her home when the thought of Master
Williams past kindness came upon her
once mole, and she sprang in. resolved
to do her best. Perhaps she might reach
him in tine, and there was still more
dismal perhaps that the tide might car
ry her out into the broad bay, where she
must run her chances of being picked
up or overwhelmed in the rising waves.
How her arms ached with the strain,
and how the swells lifted the little boat


Shaping her course by the signal
lights, hung out for the coming train,
she pulled wearily across, landing near
ly half mile further than had she in
tended down the rocky shore.


Kit breathed freer as the keel grated
on the coarse sand, but the shrill whis-
tie of the incoming train in the distance
warned her to make haste. Tugging the
boat up out of the reach of the tide, she
ran like deer along the rough shore.
How her weary feet seemed to lag !!
Would she get there in time? Once on
the bridge and her labor was in vain.
The thought upheld her failing strength.
Just as the long train rolled into the
station, she stepped, painting and breath
less, on the platform.


A few passengers landed for the vii
lage, and among them Master William,
smiling and handsome. Bidding cour-
teous goodnight to some fellow-traveler,
he took the path leading to the bridge,
whlstling as he went merry tune.
master William !" cried Kit, hyster-
ically, ''don't go! They mean to kill
you-indeed they do !" and she clung
with frantic energy to his arm.


"Who ?" said Master William, star
tied by the wrath which had thus beset
his path. "What do you mean, child
who are you, and who will kill me ?"


"lt's the money, sir, you have got.
Im Kit Allen. from the brick-yard. l
heard them talking" sobbed she, over
come with her emotions" Black
Pete and another one. Don't go-say
you won't !''


"Sit down here, child" said he, lead
ing her back to the deserted station,
"and tell me ALL"


| Gradually he drew from the sobbing,



frightened child the tale of the contem-
| plated robbery, and the still more won.
derful story of how she had braved the
darkness and the wave to warn him of
his danger.


"Well, little one," said he, '.we will
let them wait until they are tired. Come
back to the boat and | will row you
home"


| On the homeward passage across the
dark water he drew from her the story
of her life, full of neglect and ignorance.
When the boat touched shore he lifted
her tenderly over the rough rocks, and
together they climbed to the little old
house, where the mother, after a vain
search for her lost child, was pacing the
floor and waiting for the day.


On the morrow, as the operatives in
the brick-yard were assembled in the
counting room to receive their monthly
wages, Master William appeared, lead.
ing the blushing, awkward Kit. In a
ftting speech he told the story of her
brave efforts in their behalf, and his
gratitude for the service she had render.
ed him. Fifty hats swung high in air.
and from q hundred throats rang rousing
cheers. Miss Mary Waldron. Master
Williams stately sister, bent with tear.
full eyes to kiss Kits freckled brow, and
the portly old father wiped his gold.
bowed spectacles and laid his fat hand
caressingly upon her yellow hair.


On the record of Madam Cartland'
seminary for young ladies one may read
the name of Katherine Allen. Question
the preceptress and she will point out a
tall girl. with blue eyes. golden curls
and complexion of pink and pearl, who
has little in common with poor, neglect
ed Kit of brick-yard memory. Kindness
and culture have done much for her
Like diamond in the rough. she is de
veloping under madam's careful hand
into an accomplished woman. Master
Williams gratitude has lifted her to a
higher plane of existence, where, will
energy and annlicatinn she NAV vet be