The Fourth Watch | Page 7

him? It was the same,
there could be no mistake, only now she seemed more beautiful than
ever. He felt her soft hand pressing his rough, brown one, and heard her
hearty welcome. Words would not come to his lips. He was like a
dumb person. But his eyes noted much, especially the dining-room,
with the table spread, the white cloth and wonderful dishes. He had
never seen anything like them before.
And good reason was there for Dan's wonder. Others too would have
looked with admiration upon that scene had they been present.
Everything in the room bespoke Nellie's gentle care, from the spotless
table-linen to the well-polished, old-fashioned sideboard, a relic of the
stirring Loyalist days. Several portraits of distinguished divines
adorned the walls, while here and there nature scenes, done in
water-colours, by whose hand it was easy to guess, were artistically
arranged.
Nellie's devotion to her father was beautiful to behold. Her eyes
sparkled with delight as he related several amusing incidents of his visit
to a sick parishioner in an outlying district.
"And how did you find Mr. Stickles?" she inquired.
"'Simply joggin', parson, simply joggin,'" came the reply, at which the

fair hostess laughed heartily.
"And I suppose Mrs. Stickles is as jolly as ever?"
"Oh, yes. She is just the same. Poor soul! she has her hands full with
her sick husband, and a houseful of little ones. Yet she keeps
remarkably bright and cheerful. She was much concerned about my
welfare, and while she sent Sammy to look after Midnight she bustled
around to make me as comfortable as possible."
"'Poor dear man,' she said, 'ye ain't as young as ye used to be, an' I often
say to John that the work's tellin' on ye. Ye've got too large a circus,
parson, too large a circus.'"
"Dear soul," laughed Nellie. "There isn't a more real person in Glendow
than Mrs. Stickles. She's a friend to everyone, and knows everybody's
business for miles around."
"Indeed, she does," replied her father. "It was she who told me about
our young friend here, and I started off post-haste to capture him. So
we have to thank Mrs. Stickles for it all."
Supper ended, Parson John and Dan went into the study, while Nellie
cleared away the dishes. A bright fire burned in the large fire-place,
giving the room a most genial appearance. The parson brought down a
long church-warden pipe, filled and lighted it. Next he drew up a
comfortable chair and proceeded to read his mail which had arrived
during his absence. Dan, in the meantime, had taken up his position in a
cosy-corner nearby. A large picture-book had been given to him, and
eagerly his eyes wandered over the wonderful things he found therein.
After a while he closed the book and leaned back against the cushions.
How comfortable it was. What luxury! He had never experienced
anything like it in his life. It seemed like a dream. He watched Parson
John for a time as he read his letters and papers. Then he looked about
the room, admiring the many things he there beheld. Gradually his eyes
closed. He forgot his surroundings, and was soon fast asleep, far away
in dreamland.

When Nellie had finished with the dishes, she came into the study, and,
seeing Dan, she paused to look upon him. Then she crossed to where
her father was sitting, and touched him gently on the shoulder and
pointed to the sleeping lad. Together they watched him and in their
hearts there welled up a deep love for the orphan boy.
"Poor little fellow," remarked Nellie, in a low voice, taking a seat by
her father's side. "I am so glad he is with us to-night. He seemed to be
tired out."
"Yes, dear," her father replied, laying down the paper. "We are
fortunate in getting him. I wanted a boy for some time. I understand he
has a fine character."
"And you said that Mrs. Stickles told you about him?"
"Yes. And what she said was quite true. I found Dan living with the
Tragen family. Mr. Tragen has seven children of his own, and could not
very well keep another for any length of time. He told me that the day
of the funeral he went to the Flitter house, and found Dan all alone,
lying on his father's bed, weeping as if his heart would break. With
difficulty he had persuaded him to leave and go with him. That was
over a week ago and Dan has been with him ever since. Mrs. Tragen,
worthy woman that she is, took good care of him and treated him like
one of her own. Truly the Lord will reward her. By the way, she told
me an interesting thing about the