Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-06-22

get the same old answer.
1t was the old tale-no work and at
last, half mad with disappointment, !
turned my steps homeward.
| | had hot had the heart to write for
weeks. and at times hadn't had even
the penny to pay for the stamp, because
wanted it for bread. I had not heard
from Lizzie either, for had been going
about at random; here to day, and there
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS where / thought
there might be work.
| 1t was weary tramp that, but at last
| got to London one evening, and then
| waited until it grew later, because
in my dirty, ragged state, I was asham-
ed to be seen.
It was nine o'clock when | slipped
down our court, and glanced up at the
window to see it dark.
"Poor lass" | says, "sitting in the
dark to save candle"
There was nothing to hinder me, 80 |
slipped up stairs-ours was on the first
floor front-and tried the door-fast.
"Gone out marketing" l says.
And worn out, sat down and leaned
my cheek up against the PANEL, and
waited for good hour, when heard
steps behind me, and an upstairs lodg-
er came down candle in hand.
''The misses gone out, Mrs. Winkus?'
I says.
When She gave start, half scream
and ran back up stairs.
'Don't know me-" | says to myself
bitterly; and then in a weary, dull sort
of a way, got thinking thinking that
Lizzie would know me fast enough,
changed as l was; and then began to
be troubled at her not coming back;
first one thought then another, came in
TO my terrible thoughts at last,
about what women had been driven to
who had been left penniless in London.
l had left her money, and she had things
to sell; but | had been long away and
of late | had not written, and her letters
perhaps, that she had sent to me had
remained unanswered. Had she, too,
turned despairing.
l was weak and low, and cloud
seemed to swim before my eyes l turn
ed dizzy, and a cold sweat came upon
my forehead as staggered down to the
back parlor, knocked, and some one said
"come in y and stood before our land
lady, Mrs. Chadds, who set up quite a
shrek as she saw me.
'lts only me-lIarry Jones-Mrs.
Chadds," says, huskily. Give come
back Where's Lizzie 2"
And as | asked the question, l seem
ed to see in misty vision one of the
bridges by night, and on it a thin, dark,
hurrying figure, and there was faint
shrek.
But that shrek was poor old Mrs.
Chadds-a good, old, motherly soul
as she came and laid her fat old hands
on my arm.
"Ah! Harry ! My poor, dear
lad J. she says, and the tears were run
ming down her cheeks.
"Wh-what what is it? l says,
catching at my throat, for l felt as l
was choking.
''Oh! oh! my poor soul-my poor
lad y she sobbed again.
"Lizzy! where's Lizzy?" I gasped ;
and l held her arm so tightly that she
WINGED.
"Ah, my poor lad-she's bad-she' s
bad, false creature, and
"lt's lie-a liza damned lie, false
lie !" roared, and in my madness, l
shook her till she dropped sobbing on
her knees at my 1eet.
Its true-It's true" she groaned +;
''she went off week ago. He came
one night in hurry, and ten minutes
after, with her shawl and bonnet on,
she hurried with him out of the house,
and have not seen her since"
"Who-who was it l gasped out,
for two hands seemed pressing on my
throat, and my heart was as if on fire.
'sDick Green.
| That name seemed like lightning on
my brain, for there was, as it were, a
bright flash, and then a crash, as though
something had struck me, and then all
was darkness; till in a strange, misty
way l found myself trying to get up,
and Mrs. Chadds was bathing my face
with water.
:sLie still, my poor soul" she said,
sobbing. "Here, drink this" and 1 re-
member smelling that it was gin; but l
put it away, and staggering to my feet,
I got to the door, waved her of, and
made my way into the street.
| For there was like voice busy in my
brain, ever whispering, ''fetch her back
| fetch her back = And / meant with
Gods help, to save her from him, that
she might go home to her father.
If could have met Dick Green then,
| blythe God that made, me would have
strangled him, and crushed my foot
down upon his head as ] would some
foul snake that had bitten; while, as for
her-there was only one thought. and