The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-20
JUDITH'S TEMPTATION.

jUDlIHS lEMPlAIlUN.
How bright and cheerful the kitchen
of the old Stedhurst farmhouse looked
to Judith Black upon the dreary De-
cember evening when she first came
there to live! How merrily the fire
Aickered on the walls with red, fantastic
reflections !! How the tins sparkled
against the wall, and what a song of
welcome the old copper teakettle sung
upon the hearth And Mrs. Stedhurst's
geraniums in the window, with their
velvet leaves and spikes of vivid scarlet
blossoms-to Judith they seemed fairer
than any conservatory, crowded full of
fan palms and camellias and trailing jas
mine.
Judith Black had been very poor.
She lad been q dressmaker, but times
we're very hard. She had striven to get
work, but applicants were many, and
the cup Of starvation had been peril
opsly close to her lips when she crept
into the Office whe,e Edward Stedhurst
saw her, and engaged her to help his
mother about the h~ousework.
ashanti like her, Ned" said Mrs.
Stedhurst, when the "new girl" had
gone up to her own room for the night,
and mother and sou were together be-
fore the kitchen fire.
"Why not, mothera" .
"She's too pretty; and she has such
q naughty, queenly sort of a way. I
shouldn't think OF asking a lady to scrub
the floor and feed the pigs"
"That's nonsense, mother" said Ed
ward, half vexed, half laughing. "She
can't help her face, can she2 It is some
of the scraggy faced, smallpox marked
girls who were SO exacting as to the
wages they would receive and the duties
they would be called upon to perform,
that I wouldn't have 'em in the house
on any terms. Judith was the only one
who was willing to come for any sort of
work, and willing to accept moderate
wages
"She'll suit you," said Mr.. Stedhurst,
who had come in while the discussion
WAS going on. "Take my word for it,
mother, she'll suit you"
Judith Black stayed for Il month, and
then Mrs. Stedhurst engaged her for
another month. 49,.
"She is neat, said the lady, "and she
is quick to learn, and I believe her to be
thoroughly trustworthy"
eff only Ned don't fall in love with
her." humorously suggested Mr.. Sted-
hurst.
"Why shouldn't he fall in love with
her, if he wants tol" said Mrs. Sted-
hurst, v~aliantly.
"My dear, my DEAR" demonstrated
Mr.. Stedhurst, "what do you know
about herr"
"What do you know about any girl,
for that mstter2" said Mrs. Stedhurst.
"She is certainly very pretty, and very
faithful, and YER .onest."
"Honest," put in Mr.. Stedhurst, dry
ly, "because she has no temptation to
be otherwise"
CHOW, Phineas, you are too bad"
said Mrs. Stedhurst, impatiently. "The
current Jelly has never been disturbed in
the closet, and I have left the sugar bowl
twice on the dresser with thirty-three
Jumps of sugar in it, and thirty-three
there we're, and I counted them after she
had gone to bed" .
"Not very great temptations, those"
said MI. Stedhurst, smiling.
"No," said his wife, "but straws
show which way the wind blows"
, About q month subsequent to this
conversation, Edward Stedhurst came to
his father.
"Father," said he, "Iwas twenty-one
years old in October"
eyes," said MI. Stedhurst.
"And you were a year younger THAI
that when you were mairiede"
81 believe so, Ned"
Have you any objecti ons to my tax
ing a wife2"
"None in the world-if it proves that
she is theright sort of a wife |" answered
the old gentleman.
"Father, I have fallen in love with
Judith Black" confessed Edward.
"Just exactly what I have feared all
along" said MIR. Stedhurst, with a shrug
of his shoulders.
"Why do you use the word feared,
father2" questioned Edward.
Because, my Lad, she is almost 8
stranger to u.s."
FEATHER, I would stake my life on
her truth and honesty" said the young
man.
because you are in love with her,
my son. Edward, have you spoken tc
her yet2"
"Not yet, sir"
"WM you do me a favor2"
Edward smiled a little.
"That depends upon what it is
father" .
evil you wait a week before 4ou ash
her to become your wife? Will yor
wait a week without asking any ques
tions9"
eff you desire it, sir"
"At the end of that time I will tel
YOU what I think upon the matter"
And Mr.. Stedhurst went ont.
The next day he brought down or
armful of old coats, vests, ETC., from th'
garnet. =.
Judith" said he, "these things
are getting motheaten. They belonged
to an old uncle of mine, who died tel
years ago-an odd, misery old fellow
who boarded everything up, and died
g cellar at last. I want them cut ihtt
carpet rags"
Eyes, SIR" answered Judith Black
in the soft, low voice which was habitua
to her. And when her days routine o.
duty was done, she went to work dill
gently with Mrs. Stedhurst's large
shears.
She was all alone in the kitchen the
next afternoon just as the clock wa
striking three. And as she worked sht
sung softly to herself ar old Scotch bal
lad, Bonnie Dundee"