Innocent Her Fancy and His Fact

every breath of air,-a few stars sparkled in the sky, and a faint line of silver in the east showed where the moon would shortly rise. He looked out in dreamy silence, and for some min

e elder world. She was troubled and anxious, but she tried not to let this seem apparent. She knew from her life's experience of his ways and whims that it was best to wait till the old man chose to speak, rather than urge him into talk before he was ready or willing. She glanced up from her sewing now and again and saw that he looked very pale and worn, and she felt that he suffered. Her te

ant anyth

to fumble with the

off. The working day is over,

cates the power and the will to command; and as he unconsciously drew himself upright he looked more like some old hero of a hundred battles than a farmer whose chief pride was the excellence of his crops and the prosperity of his farm managed by hand work only. For despite the jeers of his neighbours, who were never tired of remonstrating with him for not "going with the times," Jocelyn had one fixed rule of farming, and this was that no modern machinery should be used on his lands. He was the best employer of labour for many and many a mile round, and the most generous as well as the most exact paymaster, and though people asserted t

supper! I saw thee playing with the bre

ile, but tears came into her eyes de

lously. "You, too, have had nothing. Shall I fetch

is brows though

nd I'll tell you-I'll tell you what you must know. But see you, child, if you a

ck breath, and

said,-"I will not fret

she spoke. He took her gentl

down here,-they twinkle as merrily over our graves as over our gardens,-and yet if we're to believe what we're taught nowadays, they're all worlds more or less like our own, full of l

it, leaning against his knee. Her face was upturned to his and the flickering light of the tall candles quivering over

I thought. I've got my death-warrant. Slowton was not sure about me,-but this man, ill as he is himself, has had too much expe

a sudden shock. Her eyes dilated with pain and fear, a

aid, adding with stronger e

all hand that re

ch for all that has to be done,-'twill almost take me that time to look the thing square in the face and give up the farm for

her mind found

He's wrong-I'm sure he's wrong! You'll live for many and many a happy year yet-oh

with a half-

that it should end in death. For some the end is swift-for some it's slow-some know when it's coming-some don't,-the last are the happiest. I've been told, you see,-and

way the drops that wer

ed a faint qu

d in her own-"The doctors are wrong. You're only a little weak and run down-you'll be

his hand across his forehead as t

e got trouble to meet, and you must meet it. I'm bound to s

attice swayed a branch of roses to and fro, sh

he went on, "is about yourself. It'

up at him

sudden sense of fear ran through her nerves like the chill of an icy wind a

nd Robin were wed. You and Robin-you and Robin!-your marriage bells have rung through my brain many and many a night for the past two years and never a bit nearer are you to the end of your wooing, such fanciful children as you bot

ared,-something that might, perhaps, like a sudden change in the currents of the air, create darkness where there had been sunshine, storm instead of calm. His grip on her hand was

I believe. I want to leave my little child here in safe keeping for a night. She is such a baby,-I cannot carry her any further through this storm.' And he put aside the wrappings of the bundle he carried and showed me a small pale infant asleep. 'She's motherless,' he added, 'and I'm taking her to my relatives. But I have to ride some distance from here on very urgent business, and if you will look after her for to-night I'll call for her to-morrow. Poor little innocent! She's hungry and fretful. I haven't anything to give her and the storm looks like continuing. Will you let her stay with you?' 'Certainly!' said I, without thinking a bit further about it. 'Leave her here by all means. We'll see she gets all she wants.' He gave me the child at once and said in a very soft voice: 'You are most generous!-"verily I have not found so great a faith, no not in Israel!" You're sure you don't mind?' 'Not at all!' I answered him,-'You'll come back for her to-morrow, of course.' He smiled and said-'Oh yes, of course! To-morrow! I'm really very much obliged to you!' Then he seemed to think for a moment and put his hand in his pocket, but I stopped him-'No, sir,' I said, 'excuse me, but I don't want any pay for giving a babe a night's shelter.' He looked at me very straight with his big clear hazel eyes, and then shook hands with me. 'You're an honest fellow,' he said,-and he stooped and kissed the child he had put into my arms. 'I'm extremely sorry to trouble you, but the storm is too much for this helpl

terrified exclamation, and

ped. Now you understand, don't you? YOU were the babe that was left with me that stormy night;

d, lookin

y, and her face seemed changed from the round and mobile softness of youth to the worn

know who I belong to! Oh, it hurts me!-it hurts me, Dad! I can't realise it! I thought you were

patiently. "I've done all for the best-I

ignation flew

laimed-"How could I ma

I have not e

her hands and an uncontr

!" she murmured-

he knelt down in front of him like

had been your own little girl. Oh, why did you tell me I was your own?-I was so proud to be your daughter-and now-it's so hard-so hard! Only a few moments ago I was a happy girl with a loving father as I though

inkled hand on

been a blessing to me all your days,-the farm has been brighter for your living on it,-so you've no cause to worry me o

from her kne

oed-"She knew, and s

k," answered Jocelyn, bluntly. "You

led by the tragic i

she said, slowly. "You told me

ided h

said. "The man who brought you said you w

in-and everyone else about h

sudden

h all an old man's petulance. "It doesn't matter what I

n her, and she gave ve

Oh,

s chair he raised himsel

ost fiercely-"What trouble a

me! Oh, I understand now! I understand at last why the girls about here never make friends with me!

ows met in a

th a baby and leaves it on my hands. You know what a scandalous, gossiping little place this is,-and it was better to say at once the baby was mine than leave it to the neighbours to say the same thing and that

er head and her fingers touched the faded wreath of wil

te child any longer. It's cruel of you to have made me live on a lie!-yes, cruel!-though you've been so

ly of what he had thought his own special wisdom. This girl, with her pale sad face a

eone else, sent you money for me till I was twelve. That did not look as if I was forgotten. Now you say the money has stopped-well!-my father may be dead." Her lips quivered a

ute by her words and attitud

alive would leave his own lawful child at a strange farm off the high-road and never claim it again? You're a fool, I tell you! This man who brought you t

an encumbrance to him-I've been an encumbrance to you. I'm sorry! But in no case h

moment, then

ay, since the money stopped. I wish I could do something in return

r voice touched

xclaimed, and he

h a very pitiful smil

unexpected-things have changed altogether in a moment. I

ack in his

ew minutes ago you only cared to know what the doctors thought of my illness, but now it's nothing to you th

strange to her that he should have dealt her a blo

ust forgive me if I am stupid about it. And if the doctors really believe you are to die in a year I wish I could t

sed and seem

called I

y slip of paper that came with each six months' money,

ed by that na

ed une

e never

ilent for a minute's space. "Could you not have done that much for

ng sorrow. He began to feel that he had done her a grievous wrong, though he had never en

after day, and in my own mind left all that sort of business for him to attend to-and when he didn't come and you grew older, it fairly slipped my remembrance altogether. I'm not fond of the Church or its ways,-and you've done as well without baptism as with it, surely. Innoce

fore him like a little stat

mon, so I chose the easiest. And it's been all right with you, my girl, whichever way you put it. There may be a few stuck-up young huzzies in the village that aren't friendly to you, but you may take it that it's more out of jealousy of Robin's liking for you than anything else.

s chest, and some slow tears made their difficult w

round his neck and console him. She seemed to herself removed miles away from him and from everything she had ever known. Jus

Is there anything you w

contrasted strangely with his former f

n out of wedlock! I suffered this against myself solely for your sake-I, who never wronged a woman in my life!-I, who never loved but one woman, who died before I had the chance to marry her!-and I say and I swear I have sacrificed something of my name and reputation to you! So that you need not make trouble because you also share in the sacrifice. Robin thinks yo

oss her bosom, trying to still the loud and rapid beating

hen?" she as

"The farm and all I have is left to Robin,-he's

ing. It's right that it should be so. I shall not be in his w

out to give vent to a torrent of invective when sh

ill not visit the sin of my father and mother on anyone. If you will give me a little time I shall be able to understand everything more clearly, and perhaps bear it better. I want to be quite by myself. I must try to see myself as I a

cting him to speak. Then she moved to the table whe

ine, Dad?" she asked pr

, curtly-"Prisci

good-n

t he turned his hea

a piece of wicked injustice in the world, but nothing more wicked than to set shame or blame on a child that's born without permit of law or blessing of priest. For it's not the child's fault,-it's brought into the world without its own consent,-and yet the world fastens a slur upon it! That's downright brutal and senseless!-for if there is any blame attached to the matter it should be fastened on the parents, and not on the

numbed her senses suddenly gave way like snow melting in the spring. In a moment she was in his arms, weeping out her pen

dear child! That if God deprived thee of one father he gave thee another