SATURDAY, DEDEMBER 18, 1920,
"THE CRICKET ON THE *HEARTH."
(Continued from Page 17)
"Heaven bless her said the barrier, ** for the cheerful constancy with which she has tried to keep the knowledge of this from me? And Heaven help me, that, in my show mind, I have not. lourd it out before! Poor child! Poor Dot! ! not to find it out, who have seen her eyes fill with tears, when soch a marriage as our own was spoken of: I, who have seen the secret trembling on her lips a hundred times, and never suspected it till last night: Poor girl That I could ever hope she would be fond of me: That I could ever be- Beve she was!
**She made a show of it," said Tackleton. She made such a show of it, that to tell you the math it was the origin of my misgivings."
And here he asserted the superio ring of May Ficking, who cermainly mide to sort of show of being lond
of him.
winr
"She has tried." said the poor carrier, with greater emotion than he had exhibited yer; only now begin know how hard she has tried, be my fitiful and zealous wile. How good she has been; how much she bar
dose: how brave and strong best
self, in its every passage, in review before me. And upon my soul she is innocent, if there is One to judge the innocent and guilty?'
Staurch cricket on the hearth: Loyal household fairies!
"Passion and distrust have left me!" said the carrier; "and nothing but my grief remains.
In an m happy moment some old laver, bener suited to her tastes and years than I- forsakes, perhaps, for me. against
her will-returned. In an unhappy moment, taken by surprise, and want- ing time to think of what she did,' she made herself a party to his treachery. by concealing it. Last night she saw him, in the interview we witnessed.
THE CHINA MAIL.
I'd try to please you in a) danced in a weird, St. Vitus manner choose her from a crowd! My we say.
on the floor, and at the same time! sister!**
"Bertha, my dear?" said Caleb, harder case than that."
Irummaged with her face and head
among the bed-clothes, apparently have something on my mind deriving much rekel from those extra-want to tell you, while we tree are alone. Hear me kindly! I have a ordinary operations.
"Not at confession to make to you, my darl
"Well :" muttered Tackleton. must off, for when the clock strikes again, it'll be necessary for me to be upon my way to church. Good- I'm morning. Jom Peerybingle: sorry to be deprived of the pleasure of your company. Sorry for the loss, and the occasion of it 100!
"I have spoken plainly," said the carrier, accompanying him to the
Sor.
"Mary!" said Bertha.
the marriage!"
ing
19
295. I
endurance, why did you ever do thoughtful, gray-haired m this? Why did you ever all my heart him now,, despondent and bowed so full, and then come in like Death, down, and striving against nothing. and tear away the objects of my love! But, Berths, I have seen him many Heaven, bow blind I am! How times before, and striving hand in helpless and alone?"
many ways for one great sacred ob- Her afflicted father hung his head, ject. And I honour his gray head, and offered no reply but in his pent-and bless him?” "A confession, father,"
tence and soIDOW.
The blind girl broke away from ber; "I old her you would not be
**I-have wandered from the truth there, mum," whispered Caleb. 1
She had been but a short time in and throwing herself upon her knees beard as much last sight. But bless and lost myself, my child,” said tenderly by both hands, "*} don't care his bewildered face." "I have wanker on the hearth, unheard by all but breast.
"It is my sight resicred. It is my you," said the little man, taking her Caleb, with a pitiable expression in this passion of regret, when the cris-belore him, sook the gray head to her for what they say, don't believe dered from the truth, intending to be her. began to chirp. Not mernly.
but in a low. faint sorrowing-way. sight?" she cried. I have been It was so mournful, that her jears | blind, and now my eyes are open. them. There ain't much of me, but kind to you; and have been cruel."
She horned her wonder-stricken that little should be torn to pieces sooner than I'd must a.word against He put his arms about her neck and hugged her, as a child might have hugged one of his own dolls.
"Bertha corka't stay at home this **She was morning," said Caleb. afraid, I know, to hear the bells ring and couldn't mest herself to be so
"Oh, quite!" "And you'll remember what I have said?
Why, il you compel me to make the observation," said Tackleton, pre-you!" it was wrong. But otherwise thanviously raking the precaution of get- this, she is innocent if there is muthting into his chaise, I must say that on earth: **
it was so very unexpected, that I'm far from being likely to forget it."
"The better for us both," returned "the carrier. ""Good-bye. I give you
If that is your opinion Tackleton began.
71
She'll learn q
"So. let her go" parsued the carrier. Go, with my blessing for the many happy hours she has given me,and my forgiveness for any pang she has capsed me. Let her go, and have the peace of mind I wish her She'll never hate me. like me bener, when I'm a drag poa her, and she wears the chain have riveted, more tighty. This is the day on which I took her, with so little bought for her enjoyment, her home. To-day she shall return) to it, and I will trouble her no more Her father and mother will be here
وذا
* Cruel !"
face towards him, and repeated. "He accuses himself too strongly,
"presently. You'll be the first to tell Bertha," said Dot, "You'll say so
him so."
I wish I could give it to you."fear them on their wedding day. So we started in good time, and came said Tackleton. *As I can't, thank'ce. Between ourselves (as I here. I have been thinking of what told you before, eh?), I don't much I have done," said Caleb, after a think I shall have the less joy in my moment's pause; "I have been blam- married life, because May hasn't been ing myself hill I hardly knew what to to offerous about me, and too de- do or where to turn, for the distress monstrative. Good-bye! Take care of mind I have closed her and I've come conclusion that I'd bet ter, if you'll stay with me, mun, the while, tell her the truth. You'll stay with me the while?"" he inquired, trembling from head to foor.
of yourself.
His wife, being left alone, sobbed piteously; bür often dried her eyes and checked herself, to say how good he was, how excellent he was
was
|
sence which had been beside the car have died, and never truly seen the began to Bow: and when the pre. I never knew him: To think I might ries all night, appeared behind her, father who has been so loving to me)" There were no words for Caleb's like, rain.
emotion. She heard the cricket-voice more pointing to her father, they fell down
and
conscious, "He cruel to mer" cried Bertha, plainly soon.
through her blindness, of the presence "Not meaning it, my child." said hovering about her father. with a smile of incredulity.
**Mary," said the blind girl, "tell Caleb. "But I have been; though
hever suspected it Ell yesterday.me what may home is. What is truly "It is a poor place, Bertha: very My dear blind daughter, hear me and is." forgive me! The world you live in. heart of mine, doesn't exist as I have poor and bare indeed. represented it. The eyes you have misted in have been false to you."
She turned he wonder-stricken face towards him still; bur drew back, and clung closer to her friend. ̈ ́
Your road in life was rough, my
to smooth it for you. I have altered poor one," said Caleb," and I mean
"There is not a gallant figure of this earth," exclaimed the blind girl holding him in her embrace, “thiki I would love so dearly, and would cherish so "deveredly" as this! The grayer, and more worn, the dearer, father: Never let them say I am blind again.. There's not a furrow in The house his face, there's not a hair upon his
prayers and thanks to Heaven!" head, that shall be forgotten in my
another winter.. It is as roughly will scarcely keep out wind and rain shielded from the weather. Bertha." Dor continued, in a low, clear voice, as your poor father ip his sackcloth coat."
The blind girl greatly agimied, rose, and led the carrier's little wife
Caleb managed to articulate, “My Bertha!"
"And in my alindness I believed him," said the girl, caressing his with tears of exquisite be so di
rent! And, having him be- fside me, day by day, so mindful of Those pecsents that I took such me always, never dreamed of this!"
**The fresh smart father in the Dire
she has; let the hess I have to day-we had made a little plan for and once or twice she laughed; so don't know what effect it may have objects, changed the characters aside. known under the foot bear witness keeping it fogether-and they shall heartily. triumphantly, and incoher-upon her; I don't know what she people, invented many things that It will be me help and coralon to make her home. I can trust her, there, .ently still crying all the time), they think of me; I don't know that she'll never have been, to make you are of that came almost at my wish,
(evér care for her poor lather aker-pier. I have had concesiments from and were so dearly welcome to me. "Love Bertha," said poor Caleb. *Ow, il you please don't!" said wards. But, it's best for her that sacekak decentiora ao vos.God 100ght said, trembling" where did they "He's gocê Oh! Then you do mean to take 1 should die-1 may perhaps while Tily, It's enough to dezd and bare should be undeceived, and I must give me! and surrounded you with
me, when I am here alone."
"Here alone?" said Tackleton..
some notice of this?"
or anywhere. She leaves me without Mame, and she will live so I am sure.
she is still young: I have lost some "I mean," rerned the carrier, courage in a few hours-she'll find to do her the greatest kindness, and that I remembered her, and loved her make her the best reparation, in my to the last. That is the end of what you power. I can release her from the | showed me. Now, it's over!" daily pain of an unequal mariage, and "Oh, no, John, not over. Do cor the struggle to conceal it. She shall be ss free as I can render her.”
Tilly was quite horrified. ̧
the baby, so it is, if you please."
Will you bring him sometimes to see his father, Tilly," inquired her mistress, drying her eyes; when I can't live here, and have gone to my old home?"
say it's over yet? Not quite yet. I Ow, if you please don't" cried
bear the consequences as I deserve 1" fancies."
cies."
If Mary," said Bertha, "where is! But living people are not fan- she, said hurriedly, and turn- your hand: Ah: Here it is: here it is: pressing it to her lips, with a smile, and drawing it through her am. "I heard them speaking softly rong themselves, last night of some ble against you. They were WTOOL.
have heard your noble words. I could Tilly, throwing back ber head, and howl-she lookea **Make her reparation. "exclaimed nor steal away, pretending to be ig-bursting out into Tackleton, twisting and turning his norant of what has affected me with at the moment uncommonly like great ears with his hands. **There such deep gratimde. Do not say it's Boxer. Ow, if you please don't: must be something wrong here. You over, all the clock has struck again!" Ow, what has everybody gone and didn't say that, of course."*
had entered shortly after been and done with everybody, making The carrier set his grip upon the Tackleton, and had remained there. everybody else so wretched: Ow-w1 told them so. collar of the toy-merchant, and shock | She never looked at Tackleton, but | w ,him like a reed..
Listen to me!" he said. "And take care that you hear me right. Listen to me. Do I speak placly !**
Very plainly indeed," answered Tackleton.
"As if I means it?""
She
The carrier's wife was silent, Caleb answered for hi
***They were wrong," he said. "1 knew it!" cried Berthe proudly.
I scorned to hear! a word! Blame her with justice?" she pressed the hand between her own, and the soft cheek against her face. "No! I am not so blind as that."
fixed her eyes upon her husband. Bet| The soft-hearted Slowboy trailed of she kept away from him, setting as at this juncture, into such a deplorable wide a space as possible between howl, the more tremendous for its them; and though she spoke with long suppression, that she must infall-
Her father went on one side of her rost impassioned earnestness, she bly have awakened the haby, and went no nearer to him even then. frightened him into something serious while Doc remained upon the other, How diferem in this from her old probably convulsions). if her eyes holding her hand.
self!
22
11
"Very much as if you meant it." "I sat upon that hearth. jast "No hard" can make the dock night." exclaimed the carrier On which will strike again for me the the spot where she has often sat hours thar are gore," replied the beside me, with her sweet face look- carrier, with a faint smile. But let ing into mine. I called up her whole it be so, if you will, my dear. It will c. day by day. 5 had her dear strike soon. It's of little matter what
ing very pale, and still retiring from him. You can't change them.”
"I have done so. Bertha," plead ed Caleb..There is one person that you know, my core--"
were front? Did you send them?,"
"No." "Who, then?”
"Nothing is gone.” she answered. Dearest Father, mo! Everything is here-in you. The father that I loved so well: the father that I never loved enough, and rever knew; the bene- factor whom I first began to reverence and love, because he had such sym One Fathy for me; all are here in you, Speak Nothing is dead to me. The soul of You are true: I know, all that was most dear to me is here
Dot saw she knew, alrerly; and was silent. The blind girl spread her bands before her face again. But in
Dear Mary, a moment. quite another manner now.
More this way. "Oh, father? why, do you say. I moment! nowe" she answered, in a term of softly to me. keen reproach. When whom do You'd not deceive me now: would-bere, with the worn face, and the
* VOI
/ know I who have no leader! so miserably blind!”
In the anguish of her heart, she stretched out her hands, as if she were groping her way; then spread them, in a manner most forlors and sad, upon her face.
I
*No. Bertha, indeed!”
**No. I am sure you would noi. You have too much pity for me. Mary, look across the room to where We were just now-to where my father is my father, so compassionate and loving to me and tell me what you
The marriage that takes place to day." said Caleb, is with a stem. see.
A hard mas- I see," said Dot, who understood sordid, grinding man. ter to you and me, my dear, for many | ber, well, an old man sining in a had nor encountered Caleb Plummer-know you all," said Bertha, years. Ugly in his looks, and in his chair, and leaning sorrowfully on the
But none nature. Cold and callous always. back, with his face resting on his | leading in his daughter. This spec- better than you think.
Not even you, father. Unlike what I have painted him to sou hand. As if his child should com- tacle restoring her to a sense of the so well as her.
In every fort him, Bertha," proprieties, she stood for some lew There is nothing half so real and so in everything my child.
If I could thing." moments silent, with her mouth wide true about me, as she is.
"Oh. why." cried the blind girl. open: and then, posing off to the be restored to sight this instant, and bed on which the baby lay asleep, not a word were spoken, I could tortured, as it seemed, almost beyond
"Yes, yes. She will. Go on.” "He is an old man, worn with care He is a spare, dejected. and work.
gray head. And I am not blind. any longer
Dor's whole attention had been com- centrated, during this discourse, upon the father and daughter; but looking. now, towards the little haymaker in the Moorish meadow, she saw that the clock, was within a few minutes of striking, and fell, immediately, into servons and excited state.
#
Father," said Bertha, hesitating. Mary."
"Yes, my dear," returned Caleby. Here she is."
"There is no change in her. You never told me anything of her that was not rue?”
(Continued on Page 21.)
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