The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-08-21
Concluded from Eirst Pan. /
and that as last resort they had tried t
ret the machine"

lily; "there isn't doubt about it. Poor
girl and they have got to learn to use 1t
before it will be of any use."
"Poor girl, Luke2" says the wife, softly
and saw through my glasses that she laid
a hand upon his arm, and was looking Sc
riously at him, when il 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, twill you
go and see themp"
She didn't answer for minute, only
stood poking down at him, and then said
softly:
"They paid you the first money!"
'No," he says, holly. al hadn't the
heart to take it,"
"Then that money you paid was yours,
lukep"
eyes, MOTHER he said simply and
those two stopped looking one at the other,
till the wife bent down and kissed him,
holding his head afterwards, for few mo-
ments, between her hands, for she always
did worship that chap, our only one; and
then closed my eyes tight, and went on
breathing heavy, and thinking.
For something like a new revelation had
come upon me. l knew Luke was FIVE
and-twenty, and that l was fifty -four, but
he always seemed like boy to me, and
here was | waking up to the fact that he
was a 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 l
was very savage with him for deceiving
me, and that wouldn't have him and his
In, Late
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 a nice bit of money with her to
put into the business and then be my part
ner.
NO. says; eff you plot together, I'll
plot Alone" and then pretended TO wake
up, took no notice, and had my supper.
1 kept rather gruf next morning. and
made myself very busy about the place,
and, dare say, spoke more sharply than
usual, but the wife and Luke were as quiet
as could be; and about twelve l went out
with little oil can and two or three tools
in my pocket.
1t was not far to Benefits place, AMI on
getting to the right house asked for Mrs
Murray, and was directed to the second
floor, where, as reached the door, could
hear the clicking of my machine, and who
ever was there was so busy over it that she
could not hear me knock; so l opened
abe 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 gong
through for years would soon be over
and, situated as she was, it gave me a kind
of turn.
ats no business of yours said to
myself, roughly and turned then to look
at who it was bending over my machine.
could see no face-only slight figure
in rusty black; and pair of busy white
hands were trying hard to govern the thing
and learn how to use it well.
$50 that's the gal, is it2" l said to my
self "Ah! Luke, my boy, you've got to
the silly calf age, and dare say
l got no further, for at that moment the
girl started, turned round, and turned upon
me timld, wondering face, that made my
heart give queer throb, and couldn't
take my eyes off her.
"Hush r she said, softly, holding up her
hand; and saw it was as thin and trans
parent as if it had been ILL.,.
''My names Smith," said, taking out a
screw-driver. "My machine, how does it
go? Thought I'd come and see."
Her face lit up in moment, and she
came forward eagerly.
''Tm so glad you've come" she said 81
can't 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 stopped there two hours helping
her, till her eyes sparkled with delight, as
she found out how easily it she could now
make the needle dart in and out of hard
material.
'.Do you think you can do it now!' l
said.
"oh, yes, 1 think So; I am so glad you
came.
$50 am H. says I, grufly; sit will make
it all the easier for you to earn tbs money
to pay for it,"
"And 1 will work so hard' she said,
earnestly.
"Then you will my DEAR" says, in
spite of myself, for felt sure it wasn't me
speaking, but something in me. "She
been ill long3" said, nodding towards her
mother.
"Months," she said, with tears starting in
her pretty eyes; "but," she added, brightly,
81 shall soon 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! l hope you
will; !" and the next minute l was going
down stairs, calling myself fool
They thought didn't know at home, but
did; there was the wife going over and
over again to Benefits place; and all sorts
OF nice little things were made and taken
there. | often used to see them talking
about it, 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 to fetch it from the
widows.
And all the time l told myself | didn't
like 1t, for l could see that Luke was
changed and always thinking of that girl
"a girl not half good enough for him. |
remembered being poor my self, and hated
poverty, and l used to speak harshly to
Luke and the wife, and feel very bitter.
At last came an afternoon when | knew
there was something wrong The wife had
gone out directly after dinner, saying she
was going to see sick woman-I knew
who it was, bless you land Luke was fid-
getting about, not himself; and at last he
took his hat and went out
"They might have con6ded in me-"
said bitterly, but all the time knew that
wouldn't let them. They'll be spending
money-throwing it away. know they've
spent pounds on them already"
AT last got in such way that | called
down our foreman, lett him in charge, and
took my hat and went after them
Everything was very quiet in Benefits
place, for couple of dirty, detected look
ing women, one of whom was in arrears TO
me, had sent the children that played in
the court right away because of the noise.
and were keeping guard SO that they should
not come back.
went up stairs softly, and all was very
still, only as got nearer to the room 1
could hear bitter, waling cry, and then