The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-08-05

He ullBu1 luuIIy uallu luIueT, bHe tuSl-
neer's daughter, and have nice bit of
money with her, to put into the business,
and then be my partner.
"No," says; I" if you plot together,
I'll plot all alone," and then pretended
to wake up, took no notice, and had my
supper.
1 kept rather gruff the next morning,
and made myself very busy about the
place, and 1 dare say I spoke more
sharply than usual, but the wife and
Luke were as quiet as could be and
about twelve I went out, with little
oil-can and two or three tools in my
pocket.
1t was not far to Benefits place, and
on getting to the right house I asked for
Mrs. Murray, and was directed to the
second floor, where, rs L reached the
door, could hear the clicking of my
sewing machine, and whoever was there
was SO busy over it that she did not hear
me knock SO 1 opened the door softly,
and looked in upon as sad scene as l
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 going through for years would
soon be over and situated as she was,
it give me a kind of turn.
"It's no business of yours" [ said to
myself, roughly; and 1 turned then to
look at who it was bending over my ma
| chine.
1 could see no face, only 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 it well.
$50 that's the gal, is it2" said to
myself. "Ah Luke, my boy, you've
got to the silly calf age, and L dare
say ?
L got no further, for at that moment
the girl started, turned round, and turn
ed upon me timid, wondering face,
that made my heart give 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," 1 said, taking
out screwdriver. "My machine how
does it go? Thought I'd come and see. "
Her face lit up a moment, and she
came forward eagerly.
"Im so glad you've come" she said,
81 can't quite manage this"
She pointed to the thread regulator,
and the next minute 1 was showing her
that it was too tight, and somehow, in q
gentle, timid way, the little witch quite
got over me, and L stopped there two
hours helping her, till her eyes sparkled
with delight, as she found out how easily
she could now make the needle dart in
and out of hard material.
said.
"Oh, yes, I think SO; I am SO glad
you came"
$50 am l." says I, gruA1y; "it 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" I says, in
spite of myself, for felt sure it wasn't
me speaking, but something in me.
"She been i'll long?" L said, nodding to-
ward her mother.
Months" she said, with the tears
starting in her pretty eyes; "but," she
added, brightly, 81 shall have enough
with this to get her good medicines and
things she can fancy" and as 1 looked
at her, something in me said:
God bless you, my dear I hope
you WILL" and the next minute'I was
going down stairs, calling myself
fool.
They thought didn't know at home,
but 1 did; there was the wife going over
and over again to Benefits place; and
all sorts of nice things were made and
taken there. L 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 1 told myself I didn't
like it; for L could see that Luke was
changed, and always thinking of that
girl-a girl not half good enough for
him. 1 remembered being poor myself,
and I hated poverty, and used to speak
harshly to Luke and the wife, and feel
very bitter.
AT last came an afternoon when 1
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 and
Luke was tidgeting about, not himself
and at last he took his hat and went
out.
"They might have confded in me-"
said, bitterly; but all the time 1 knew
that 1 wouldn't let them. "They'll be
spending money-throwing it away. L
know they've spent pounds on them al
ready"
At last 1 got in such q way that call
ed 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 couple of dirty, de-
lected-looking women, one of whom was
in arrears to me, had sent the children
that played in the court right away be-
cause of the noise, and were keeping
guard SO that they should not come
back.
went up the stairs softly, and all was
very still, only as L got nearer to the
room 1 could hear bitter, wailing cry,
and then opened the door gently and |
went in.
Luke was there, standing with his
head bent by the sewing machine the
wife sat in q chair, and on her knees,
with her face buried in the wife's lap, |
was the poor girl, crying as if her little |
heart would break while on the bed, |
with all the look of pain gone out of her
face, lay the widow-gone to meet her
husband where pain and sorrow are no
more.
couldn't see very plainly, for there
was mist like before my eyes; but L |
know Luke flushed up as he took step
l.