The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1868-11-01
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you; but they said I'd best tell it. You
mind that woman as came in last night
Margaret Hench 1t was. She was good
pure girl two years ago. You and she used
to play together when you was little shavers
I saw you didn't speak to her of late. That
wasn't right or womanly, Matty. She had
much to bear, Marget had, and other wo-
mems scorn, maybe, was worst of all. So,
it might be all this pain drove her mad, or
it might be seein' the man as she loved COM
ing to love another was what brought the
devil to her temptin' but, howsoe'r it was,
she made up her mind to put an end to it
all yesterday. She made up her mind, I
say, that she, and him, and her baby should
go together to hell, if it was to be /; don't
think che cared where. Yet Marget was a
rosy, jolly little thing only ayear or two
nn;dfs.ahsaa M;ffs.ha,a as,snnsse s,snses had suddenly grown
"Go on" she said, the red blood rushing
to hef face.
The old man took her head in his trim
bling hands and hurried on:
I. So she waited for him, the father of her
child, you know, in dark lane, and he
coming by, with his hands clasped behind
him and his head down, thinking, may be,
of the other poor girl he was going to
marry, she strikes him once-seven times
she took up her baby from the gronnd
where shed laid it, and was making off Like
o dazed woman, when"
IL know" covering her face with her
hands, her lips nervous; only God knew
what they said.
cry, and sees how it all was. Marget is his
cousin. That was why he was dumb. He
said he knowed he was safe that it would
come right, and he couldn't bring that child
to death of shame. For she was but lit
tie more than a child.''
"Was 7" in whisper.
Yes" said the jaiier reverentfy, she's
dead now. AM she told all afore she died" )"
his voice growing thick and fast with eager
ness. can, had q magistrate here for the
'davit. an just as Sam was committed an
here he is"
He came and put his hand on Matty's
head, where Sam held it to his breast
ayes, old father must always have his
share in you, child" he said.
Sam put up his hard hands quickly and
grasped his bony fingers; then all three
We're silent for little while.
Mrs. Tolivar spread out her New Years
dinner to her hearts content that evening
face was dyed scarlet that lasted for
days.
1t was a cosy bright little table, faces too
happy for laughter about it. Yet under all
in the closed room lay the dead girl-not
many doors away her victim.
1t puzzles me-" said Martha as they
stood alone in the evening freight, "such
sad, useless lives as these"
Carton made no answer. .,
"And what have I dOne,r putting her
hand to her head, the tears coming, - that
mine should be different from theirs 7 So
llttle-as ] have deserved itr So discon-
tented as have been, SAM"
did not know it, Matty;" taking her
hand gently. r.
Il
ows coming and going. Then he said, his
grave voice hesitating:
49,: There was one thing thought. Maybe
this was sent to us to make our lives less
sham and shallow, Matty-"
Yes, SAM" humbly. 81 -
AN if there was any work offered itself
to us, not to shirk it, no matter how mean
or little it was Eh 1 think needed
that lesson. l was always planning out
my work clear to the grave.
She said eyes "again doubtfully, feeling
that he had some Notwithstanding un-
spoken.
They went into the kitchen presently.
where Mrs. Tolivar was feeding the dead
girls child by the fire.
hen do you send it away9n asked
Sam, putting his fingerinto its httle skinny
"Tolivar'll take tito the poor house to-
morrow, poor little wretch !" she said, dan
ding 1t tenderly enough.
Martha thought the baby's eyes again
followed hers with that strange look of ap-
"Look !" she said nervously. "An the
loss and pain of these two lives seem to be
in this child's facen
81 see," said Sam.
- 1t looks, Sam, as if it asked Ms to help
He made no answer. She took the baby
In her trembling arms. 1t clupg to her
neck and laughed
:" L will take it for mine," she said. "God
do so to me as shaff deal justly with it or
"God bless you, Matty," he said; "I
thought you would do that''
So Martha Tolivar found her new life,s
work."
a -WIFE.-When n man of sense comes to
marry, IT is q Communion he WANTS aud not M,