The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-10-26

aud Just as was going to dash it to
pieces 10 the ashes, she gave me one OF
her old locks, kissed me on the forehead
as with one hand shc pressed me back
into nv chair, and then with the other
she lit spiut aud beld it to my tobacco
was down. She always gets over me
like that; and after smoking in silence
for half an hour, was lying back with
my eyes closed, dropping off to sleep,
when the wife said (what had gone before
| hadn't heard)--
Yes, he's asleep now"
That woke me up of course, and if l
didn't lie there shawming and hear all
they said in whisper!
How camo you to make him more
vexed than he was Luke 2" says the
wife; and he told her.
Il couldn't do it, mother" be said, ex
citedIy. at was heart breaking. She's
living in wretched room there with her
daughter; and, mother, when saw her,
| felt as il:-tbcre, I cant tell you"
Go on. Luke" she said.
~"Tbey're half starved, be said 10 a
husky way Oh mother it's horrible.
Such a sweet. beautiful girl, and the poor
woman herself dying ancet with some
terrible disease -
The wife sighed.
They told me, he went on, 'how hard
they had tried to live by ordinary needle.
work, aud failed, and that as last re-.
source they had tried to get the machine" "
Poor things ~ says the wife; "but
are you sure the mother was lady2"
IA clergyman's widow" says Luke
hfstily {; "there int q doubt about it.
Poor girl and they've got to learn to
use it before it will he OF any use"
"Poor girl Luke ?" says the wife soft
ly and | saw through my eyelashes that
she laid hand upon his arm, and was
looking curiously at him, when if he didn't
cover his face with his hands. rest his
elbows on the table, and give low groan!
Then the old woman got up, stood behind
his chair, and began playing with and
caressing his hair like the foolish old
mother would.
Mother" he soys, suddenly, "will you
go and see them 2"
She didn't answer him for a minute,
only stood looking down at him, aud then
said softly:
They paid you the first money ?"
NO" be says, hotly, II hadn't the
heart to take it,"
Then hat money you paid was yours,
Luke 2"
Yes mother" he said simply; and
those two stopped. looking one at the
other, till the vile bent down aud kissed
him, holding his head afterwards, for
few moments between her bands for she
always did worship that chap, our only
one and then closed m7 eyes tight, and
went on breathing heavy, and thinking
For something like new revelation
had come upon me. knew LUX, was
FIVE and.twenty, and that was fifty-four,
but he always seemed like boy to me.
and here was | waking up TO the fact that
Ln ------ ----. --I .L.. L.
thinking and feeling as first thought and
ielt when / saw his mother, nigh upon
thirty years ago.
lay back, thinking and telling myself
was very savage with him for deceiving
me, and that l wouldn't have him and bis
mother laying plots together against me,
and that wouldn't stand by aud see him
make fool OF himself with the 6rst pret.
ty girl he set eyes on, when be might
marry Maria Turner. the engineer s
daughter, and have nice bit Of money
with her, to put into the business, and
then be my partner.
mo" says; "if you plot together,
I'll plot all alone" and then | pretended
to wake up, took no notice, and had my
supper.
/ kept rather grutf the next morning,
and made myself very busy about the
place. and l dare say spoke more sharp
y than usual. but the wife and Luke we're
as quiet as could oe and about twelve l
went out with little oil can and two or
-. .~sis Ia my pvvHet.
1t was not far to Benefits place. and
on getting to the right house asked for
Mrs. Murray and was directed to tie
second floor. where. as | reached the door,
I could hear the clicking of my sewing
machine. and whoever was there was 20
busy over it that she did not hear me
knock so | opened the door softly, and
looked in upon as sad scene as shall
ever. | dare say. see.
There in the bare room sat. asleep in
her chair. the widow lady who came
about the machine, and / could see that
in her face which told plainly enough that
the pain and suffering she must have been
going through for years would soon he
over and situated as she was, it gave q
kind Of turn.
"It's no business of yours" | said to
myself roughly; and l turned then to
look at who it was bending over my ma
chine.
could see no face only a slight figure
in rusty black aud pair of busy white
hands were trying very hard to govern
the Thing, and to learn how to use it well
80 that's the gal. is it ?" | said to my
self.
"Ah! Luke, nv boy, you've got to the
silly calf age. aud dare cay"
got no further. for ct that moment
the girl started. turned round, aud turned
upon me a timid wondering face, that
made my heart give queer throb. aud
couldn't take my eyes off her.
Hush !" she said softly, holding ny
her hand and | saw it was thin snc
transparent as if she had been Ill.
r my Dame's Smith," | said. taking ou
a screwdriver. "My machine how doe
, it goi Thought Id come and see."
Her face liz up in moment and she
came forward eagerly.
I'm o glad you've come" she said
IL can't quite manage this"
, She pointed to the thread regulator
! and the next minute | was showing hc
that IL was ion tioht and somahow in