Mattie:—A Stray (Vol 3 of 3)

is just worth when he cast her off as unworthy of the love he had borne her. She had not seen him since that time; he had hel

had come there, and given that strange unearthly look to eyes still clear and bright, and which turned towards her, and startled her with their expressi

of me at last," he said, with the querulousness characterist

to ask how you were," sai

"and you answered her, and let her go away, sparing me the pain of replying f

es

hands together; he spoke firmly; he spoke the truth as h

o difference in the voice. Mattie's voice, we have remarked at an earlier stage of this narrativ

ng of a new business for us

" gasped

, and induce your father to extend his consent. I have no o

N

counts. I was always clever at mental arithmetic, and it don't strike me that I shall be quite a dummy. And then when I am used to the place-when I can find the drawers, and know what is in them,

Mattie-Mattie in whom he believed and trusted, and on whose support in the future he built upon from that day! She knew how the story would end for him and Mattie-a peaceful and happy ending, and what both had already thought of, perhaps-let it be

efore him. Harriet had risen, and was standing with her

Who would have thought of me in particular, cut out for a man of action, with no

resigne

l-al

very

attie? Why don't you sit down and ta

sent

he lower regions-I'm as talkative to-day as an old

N

if I can write in the dark-my first

Harriet left her post by the do

. She shivered as she read the words. The story s

e read, "saved from sh

gnation," said he, laying his hand upon Harriet's. "M

cowering from him as though he saw her there, the

noticing the glove upon the

r a litt

are you going that I

shall be back

or, sister, friend, and that I cannot bear you too long away from me. I wish I were more worthy of y

, with a vehemence that star

d to make perhaps, out of gratitude for the life of servitude Mattie had chosen for herself. He had been wrong; he had taken a mean advantage, and rendered Mattie's presence there embarrassing; his desire to be grateful had scared her from him, as well it might-he, a blind man, prating o

ithout a good

otten," she

aid to him?-have

Harriet; "I have not taken your advice. He thinks and speaks only of

don't go away yet, with tha

thi

offend

N

ve

well. I ought not to have intruded here. I

g me in the good work I have begun here. You and I together,

I shall return, or what use I shall be to eithe

ntently; "what have I done? Don't you," she added, as a new thought of hers

tie, it cannot matter

-to

riending him, as a sister might come?

our, with

"why tell him that your father gave his consent

id not undeceive him, lest he should s

our house. He is anxious

m so

ve no right to be here

t, you do n

with you. You have been too good a friend of mine, for me to envy

aid yo

ntic from a child. It is all passe

he-w

protector; you alone can save him now from desol

hat did she mean?-what had Sidney said to her that she should go away like that, distr

ited and trembling. Close to his side

ing straightforward in your speech-of tell

changed me, I

u said to Har

wh

the facts of the case at once,

arriet We

es

ssumed your character, Mattie?" h

t you, and she had come hither to make inquiries witho

on?" he asked

wo might become bette

ppiness, except her own, perhaps. Mattie, you talk as if I had my sight, and were strong enough to win m

om she has loved-it would not stand in the way of any true woma

rce outcry; "Mattie, I ask

ersisted

ow-let me b

forth that morbid despondency which had kept him weak and hopeless. The remainder of that day the old enemy