The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-08-09

neer's daughter, aud have nice bit of
money with her, to put into the business,
and then be my partner.
"No," says; =" il you plot together,
I'll plot all alone, aud then pretended
to wake up, took no notice, and Ind my
supper.
/ kept rather gruir the next morning,
and made myself very busy about tho
place, and | dare say I spoke more
sharply than usual, but tho wife and
Luke we're rs quiet rs could be T.; and
about twelve I went out, with little
oil.can and two or three tools in my
pocket.
It was not far to Benefits place, and
on getting to the right house l asked for
Mrs. Murray, and was directed to the
second floor, where, rs I reached the
door, I could hear tho clicking of my
sewing machine, aud whoever was there
was SO busy over ii. TINT she did not hear
me knock so I opened the door softly,
and looked in upon rs sad n scene rs l
shall ever, dare say, see.
There in the bare room sat. asleep i'll
her chair, the widow hdy who came
about the machine, and I 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 be over and, situated rs shc was,
it give me kind Of turn.
ats no business OF yours" l said to
myself, roughly; and / turned then to
look at who it was bending over my ma
chine.
I could SEQ no face, only slight
figure in rusty black; and pair of busy
white hands were trying very hard to
govern tho thing, and to learn how to
use it well.
$50 that's the gal, is it3" I said to
myself. "Ah Luke, my boy, you've
got to tho silly calf age, and 1 dare
say
I got no further, for ut that moment
the girl started, turned round, and turn.
cd upon me n timid, wondering face,
that made my heart give queer throb,
and I couldn't take my eyes off her.
Flush p sho said softly, holding up
her hand and saw it was rs thin anil
transparent as if she had been i'll.
"My names Smith" said, taking
out scrcwdriver. "My machine |; how
does itgo? Thought I'd come and sec"
Her faco lit up moment, and she
came forward eagerly.
"I'm so glad you've come" she said,
H I emit uuitc manage this.
She pointed to tho thread regulator,
and the next minute l was showing her
that it was too tight, and somehow, in
gentle, timid why, tho littlc witch quite
got over me, and I stopped there two
hours helping her, till her eyes sparklcd
with delight, rs she found out how easily
she could now make the needle dart in
and out Of hard material.
"Do you think you can 10 it now"
l said.
"Oh, yes, l think so; I nm so glad
you came"
$50 am l." says I, grrilly; sit will
make it all the easier for you to earn the
money, and pay for it."
"And I will work so hard" she said,
earnestly.
"That you will, my dear, Il says, in
spite of myself, for | felt sure it wasn't
me speaking, but something in mt.
"Shc been i'll long?" l said, nodding to-
ward her mother.
"NTonths," she said, with the tears
starting in her pretty eyes; "but," she
added, brightly, ~ shall have enough
with this to get her good medicines and
things she can fancy and rs l looked
ut her, something in me said:
"God bless you, my dear l hope
you WILL" and the next minute l was
going down stairs, calling myself
fool. --.stz-
They thought I didn't know at home,
but did; there was the wife going over
and over again to Benefits place; and
all sorts Of nice things were made and
taken there. I often used to see them
talking about it, but I took no notice;
and that artfrll scounQrel, my boy Luke,
used to pay tho half-crown every week
out of his own pocket, after going to
fetch it from the widows.
And all the time I told myself I didn't
like it, for I could see that Luke was
changed, and always thinking of that
girl-a girl not half good enough for
him. remembered being poor myself,
and I hated poverty, and I used to speak
harslly to Luke aud tho wife, and feel
very bitter.
At last came m afternoon when I
knew there was something wrong. The
wife had gone out directly after dinner,
saying she was going tosee n sick woman
i knew who it was, bless You and
Luke was tidgeting about, not himself
and nt last he took his hat and went
ont.
"1hey might have contidel in NO."
l sail, bitterly; but all tho time I knew
that wouldn't let them. "They'll be
spending money-throwing it away. l
know they've spent pounds on them al-
ready"
At Inst got in such way that I call
ell down our foreman, left him in charge,
and took my hat and went after them.
Everything was very quiet in Ben
nett's place, for n couple Of dirty, de-
jectcd. looking women, ono OF whom was
in arrears to me, had sent the children
that played in the court right away be-
cause Of tho noise, and were keeping
guard so that they should not como
back.
went up tho stairs softly, and nil was
very still, only rs l got nearer to the
room | could hear n bitter, wailing cry,
and then l opened the door gently and
went in.
Luke was there, standing with his
head bent by the sewing machine: the
wife sat in II chair, and on her knees,
with her face buried in tho wifc's lap,