The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1875-08-14


SEQ on Luke" she said.
"They're half starved lie said, ia husky
way. "Oh, mother, its horrible. oGcA
sweet, beautiful gin aud the poor woman
herself dying almost with some terrible DIS
ease
The wife sighed.
"Thev told me" he went on, chow hard
they had tried to live by ordinary ueed,eTork
ard failed, and that as II last resource they
had tried to get the machine"
Poor things" says the wife; "hut are you
sure the mother was lady?'
"a Clergyman widow says Luke, hast,
ly; there isn't a doub. about IT, Poor girl;
and they've got TO learn to use it before :; VIII
be OF any use
poor girl, Luke say, tie wife softly;
ard saw through my cyelashes that she laid
hand upon his arm and was looking curl
ously at him, when if he didn't cover his face
with his haads, rest his elbows on the table,
and give low groan Then the old woman
rot up, stood behind his chair, and began
playing with and caressing his hair like the
foolish old mother would.
Mother" lie said suddenly Evil. you 60
and see them
She didn't answer for minute, only stood
looking down al him, then said softly
They paid you the first money
NO he says holly. Il hadn't the Aeart 10
TAXI it,
Then that money you paid was yours
Luke
eyes, mother he says simply; and those
two stopped looking one at the other Til the
wife bent down and kissed him, holding his
head atterward for few moments between
her hands; for she always did worship that
chap, our only one; and then | closed my
ewes TIGHT and went on breathing heavy, ana
thinking. .,
For something like new revelation had
come upon me. | knew Luke was tye ana
twenty and that | was ffty-four, but he al.
ways seemed like boy to me, and here
was waking to the fact that he was grown
man, and that he was thinking and feeling as
first thought and felt when | saw his mother
nigh upon eight and twenty years ago
lay back thinking and telling myself
was very savage with him for dcceivlng me
and that wouldn't have him and his mother
laying plots together against me, and that |
wouldn't stand by and see him make too.
of himself with the first pretty girl lie set eyes
on when he might marry Maria Turner, The
engineers daughter, and have a nice bit O.
money with her to put into the business, anG
then be my partner.
mo" | says, "if you plot together II pot
all alone" and then pretended to wake up,
took no notice and had my supper.
| kept rather grutf the next morning anu
made myself very busy about the place, anu
dare say spoke more sharply than usua.,
but the wife and Luke were as quiet as could
be; and about twelve | went out with little
oil.can and two or three tools in my pocket,
1t is not far to Benefits place, and Oh get
ting to the right house | asked for Mrs. Muir
ray, and was directed to the second floor,
where, as | reached the door, | could hear
the clicking of my sewing machine, and VINO
ever was there was so busy over 1t that she
did not hear me knock, so | opened the door
and softly 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 in her face which
told plainly enough that the pain and suffer
ing she must have been going through Tor
wears would soon be over, and, situated as
She was ii gave me Kind Of turn.
"Its no business of yours, | said to myself,
roughly; and turned then to look at who Il
was bending over my machine.
I could see no face--only a slight figure in
rusty black; and pair of busy white hands
were trying very hard to govern the thing,
and to learn how to use twcll,
so that's the gal, is it?' | said to myself
"Ah, Luke, my boy, you've got to the silly
calf age, and dare say
| got no farther, for al that moment the girl
started, turned round, and turned upon me
a timid. wondering face, that made my heart
give a queer throb, and | couldn't take my
eyes off her.
"Hushw she said, softly, holding up her
hand; and | saw it was as thin and transpar
ent as If she had been III,
"My names Smith, | said, taking out
screw driver "Mymachine; how does 1t goF
Thought I'd come and see
Her face lit up in moment and she came
toward eagerly.
I'm so glad you've come, she said; can't
quite manage this"
She pointed to the thread regulator, and
the next minute | was showing her that 1t was
too tight, and somehow, in Il gentle, timid
way, the little witch got quite over me, and
stopped there two hours helping her. TIL her
eyes sparkled with delight as she found out
how easily she could now make the needle
dart in and out Of hard material.
"Do you think you can do 1t now | SAID,
ooh, yes, l think so; l am so glad you
came"
$50 am IT, says I, grutfly; sit will make 1t
all the easier for you to earn the money 10
pay for it,
"And will work so hard" she said, earn
estly
"Tha, you will, my dear says in spite OF
myself, for felt sure 1t wasn't me speaking,
but something in me. "She been i'll long?
said nodding toward her mother.
Month she said, with the tears starting
in her pretty eyes; but" she added, bright
| ", II shall have enough with this to get her
good medicines and things she can fancy
and as | looked at her something in me said
"God bless you, my dear! hope you VIII;
and the next moment vas going downstairs
calling myself fool.
| They thought di!nt know at hone, out
did; there was the wife going over and over
again to Benefits place; and all sorts OF niue
/ nice things were made and taken there. !
often used to see them ,alking about 1t, but
took no notice; and that artful scoundrel, my
boy Luke, used to pay the half-crown every
week out of his own pocket, after going 10
| fetch il from the widows.
I And all the time | told myself didn't IKE
i it, for could see that Luke was changed
L onI al think inr Of that Uirl-l girl not