The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1875-09-09

you 90 and see them"
She didn't answer for n minute, only
stood looking down at him, and then
said softly (:
"They paid you the first money ="
"No," he said hotly. 81 hadn't the
heart TO take IT,"
"Then that money you paid was
yours, Luke ?"
Yes, mother, he says, simply ana
those two stopped Loo king n MT the
other, till the wife bent down and kissed
him holding his head afterwards for Il
few moments between her hands Tor
she always did worship that chap, our
only one and then ] closed my eyes
tighC and went on breathing heavy and
thinking.
For something like n new revelation
had come upon me. | knew Lux was
five and twenty and that ! was hlty-
four, but he always seemed like a boy
TO me, and here was ] awaklng up 10
tho fact that he was Il grown man, and
thar no wa thinking and feeling ~ !
first thought and felt when | saw his
mother, nigh upon eight and twenty
years ago.
] lay back, thinking aud telling my
self | was very savage with him for de-
cciylng me, and that ! wouldn't have
him and his mother laying plots to-
RrthGr against me, and that wouldn't
stand by and see him make n fool OF
himself with the first pretty girl he laid
his eyes on, when he might marry
Maria Turner, the engineers daughter,
and have It nice bit Of money with her
TO put into the business, and then be
my partner.
"No," / says "if you plot together,
ri plot all alone" and then ! pretended
to wake up, took no notice, and had my
supper.
| kept rather PruT the next morning,
and made myself very busy about the
place, and ! dare say spoke more sharp
ly than usual, but the wife and Luke
were as quiet as conld be; and about
twelve | went out, with II little Oil-can
and two or three tools in my pocket.
1t was not far 20 Benefits place, and
on getting to the right house ! asked
for Mrs Murray, and was directed to
the second floor, where, ns | reached
the door, | could hear the clicking of
my machine, and wh.ever was there
was 80 busy over it that she did not
hear my kno3k, 80 ! opened the door
softly an looked in upon uG sad Il scene
as ! shall ever, | daresay, 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 fGcG which told plainly enougI
that the pain and suffering she must
have been going through for years
would soon be over, and situated AZ
was, it gave mo II kind Of turn.
cts no business Of yours, ! said TO
myself roughly and | turned then to
look Mt who it was bending over my ma
chine.
| could see no face only n slight
figure III rusty black and a pair Of busy
white hands were trying very hard to
govern the thing and to learn how to
use it we'll.
$50 that's the gal, is it?'I said to
myself, "Ah, Luke, my boy, you've
got to the silly calf ago, and | dare say
| got no further, for at that moment
the girl started, turned around and
turned upon M II timid, wondering
face, and made my heart give n queer
throb, and | couldn't take my eyes Off
her.
"Hush !" she said softly, holding up
her hand, and | saw it was as thin and
transparent as if she had been i'll.
"My names Smith" / said, taking
ont II screw driver. "My machine ;
now does it go? Thought I'd come
md gee"
Her face lit up in a moment, and she
,ame forward eagerly.
"l'm so glad you've come" sho said.
: ] can't quito manage this"
She pointed to the thread regulator,
md the next minute | was showing her
hat was too tight, and somehow, in n
timld way, the little witch got
quite over me, till her eyes sparkled
with delight, as she found out how
easily she could now make her needle
dart in and out the hard material.
Do you think You can do it now?" |
said.
"Oh, yes, / think 80 | am go glad
you came"
$50 am l." says | gruilly cit will
make 1t all the easier for you to earn
tho money and pay for it,"
"And will work 30 hard" she said
earnestly.
"That you will, my DEAR" | says in
spite OF myself, for felt sure it wasn't
mo speaking, but something in me.
"Sho been Ill long ?"l said, nodding
toward h.r mother.
Months " she said, with the tears
in her pretty eyes "but,"
added brightly, 81 shall have
enough with this to get her good medi.
and things she can fancy :" and
ns | looked at her, something in me
said,
"God bless you, my dear | hope
You wilI :" aud the next minute I was
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