Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-12-18


| If must quarrel.
He saw 1t too, but said nothing, only put the
accounts away and began to read.
My wife saw the storm brewing, and she knew
how pnt out was, for had not lit my pipe, nor
yet had my evening nap, which always have
how to do-hlled my pipe, forced it into my
hand, and Just as was going to dash it to pieces
In the ashes, she gave me one OF her old looks,
kissed me on the forehead, as with one hand she
pressed me back into my chair, and then with
her other she lit spint and held 1t to my to-
bacco.
was done, she always gets over me like that
and after smoking in silence for half an hour,
was lying back, with my eyes clesed, dropping
on to sleep, when my wife said (what had gone
before hadn't heard)-
!" Yes. he's asleep now"
That woke me up. OF course, and II didn't lie
there shamming and heard all they said in whis-
per.
"How came you 70 make him more vexed than
he was, Luke 7" said the wife and he told her.
" couldn't do it, MOTHER" he said excitedly.
ut was heart-breaking. She's living in a
wretched room there with her daughter and
mother, when I saw her felt as if-there,
| can't tell you"
$50 on, Luke" she said.
They're half starved he said, in husky
way "Oh mother, it's horrible. Such'a sweet,
beautiful girl, and the poor woman herself al
| most dying with some terrible d. ease.
The wife sighed.
"They told me-" he went on, show they had
tried to live by ordinary needle-work and failed,
and as last resource they had tried to get the
| machine"
"Poor things" says the wife," ibut are you
| sure the mother WAS a lady? r
"a clergymans widow" says Luke hastily;
"There is no doubt about it. Poor girl and
they've got to learn to use it before 1t will be Of
any USE"
"Poor girl, Luke 2" said the wife; and I saw
through my eyeashes that she laid hand upon
his arm and was looking curiousy at him, when
II 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 says suddenly. "will you go and
see them?'
She didn't answer for minute, but only
stood looking down at him, and then said soft
"
"Tbey paid you the first money?
mo, he says hotly." hadn't the heart to
Then that money you paid was yours
Luke 2"
"Yes, mother" he said simply and those two
stopped, looking one at the other. till the wife
bent down and kissed him, holding his head af-
forwards for few minutes between her hands;
for she did worship that chap, our only one; and
then closed my eyes tight ond went on think
ing.
For something like new revelation had
come upon me. l knew Luke was Eve and
twenty and that was fifty-four, but he always
seemed like a boy to me, and here WAS waking
up to the fact that he was grown up man, and
that he was thinking and feeling as l first
thought and felt when l first saw his mother
nigh upon thirty years ago.
lay back, thinking and telling myself WAS
very savage with him for deceiving 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 fool Of himself with the
first pretty girl he set eyes on, when he might
marry Maria Turner. the engineers daughter,
and have nice bit Of money with her to put
into the business, and then be my partner.
:" No." says; g II you plot together, LII plot
Alone" and then pretended to wake up, took
no notice, and had my supper.
l kept rather gruff the next morning, aid
made myself very busy about the place. and
dare say spoke more sharply than usual, but
the wife kind Luke were as quiet as could be
and about twelve o'clock l went out, with lit
tie oil can and two or three tocls in my pocket
1t was not far to Bennett's place, and on get
ting to the right house asked for Mrs. Murry,
and was directed to the second floor, where, AZ
reached the door, could hear the cinking OF my
| machine and whoever was there was 30 busy
over it that she did not hear me knock, 30
opened the door softly and looked upon as sac
| a scene as shall ever, dare say, see.
There, in the bare room, sat asleep in her chail
| the widow lady who came about the mach ne
and could SEQ that in her face which tolt
plainly that the pain aud suffering she mus
have been going through for years would soor
| be over, and situated as she was, 1t gave me {
kind of turn.
"It's no business of yonrs," said to myself
| roughly ;and turned to look who it WAS bend
| ing over my machine.
| could ses no face-only slight figure II
| rusty black and a pair Of busy white handi
were trying very hard to govern the thing, ant
| to learn how to use it well.
$50, that's the gal, is it p said to myself.
All, Luke, my boy you've got the silly calf age
and dare say"
/ got no further for at that moment the CIR
| started, turned round and turned upon me {
| timid, wondering face, that made my heart give
| queer throb, and couldn't take my eyes of
her.
Hush - she said softly holding up hel
hand and saw it was thin and transparent as Il
| she had been i'll.
my names Smith," I said, taking out
screw driver. I" My machine; how does it go
| Thought I'd come and see."
| Her face lit up In moment, and she came for
ward eagerly.
"rm SO glad you've como" she said, 81 cam
| quite manage this"
She pointed to the thread regulator and the
| next minute ! was showing her that it was too
| tight, and somehow, in gentle, timid way, the
| little witch quite got over me, and stoppee
| there over two hours helping her, till her eyer
| sparkled with delight, as she found how easily
she could make the needle dart in and out o
| the thick material.
" Do you think you can manage it now2"
said.
"Oh, yes think 80; am so glad you came.
$50 am l." says grufiy; /" 1t will make it al
the easier for you to earn the money and pay To-
| it."
| And will work so hard" she said earnest
| ly.
"That you will, my dear" says in spite oil
myself, for felt sure it wasn't me speaking
but something in me. "She been i'll longY"
said, nodding toward her mother.
| "Months," she said with tears starting In he
pretty eyes, but she added brightly, 81 shal
have enough with this to get her good medicines
and things she can FANCY !" and, as looked q
| her, something in me said
| "God bless you, my dear hope you will !
and, the next minute l was going down stair
calling myself fool.
They thought didn't know at home, but
did there was the wife going over and owe
! again to Benefits place and all sorts OF little
nice things we're mads and taken there. Otter
| used to see them talking about it, but l took nj
notice and that artful ecoundrel, my boy Luke
| used to pay the half-crown every week out o.
his own pocket, after going to get it from th'
| Widows
And all the time told myself l didn't like it
| for could see that Luke was changed, and al
ways thinking of that girl-a girl not half goot
| enough for him remembered being poor my
self, and hated poverty and l used to speal
very harshly to Luke and the wife, and feel YER,
bitter.
At last came an afternoon when l knew there
l a,rif had ntl