The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-09-07
Judith's Temptation.
BY II. r.


How bright aud cheerful the kitch.
en- of old Stedhurst farmhouse looked
to Judith Black upon the dreary
December evening when she first
came there to live 4! How merrily
the fire fiickered on the walls with
red, fantastic reflections How the
tins spaTkled against the wall, and
what a song Of welcome the old cop
per teakettle sang upon the hearth
And Mrs. Stedhurst's geraniums in
the window, with their green velvet
leaves and spikes of vivid scarlet
blOssOms-tO Judith they seemed
fairsr than any conservatory, crowd
ed full OF fan palms and cRmelias
and trailing jessamine.
Judith Black had bSen very poor.
She had been q dressmaker, but times
were hard. Judith had striven to gel
work, but applicants were many, and
the cup of starvation had been peril.
ously to her lips when she crept into
the Office where Edmund Stedhursi
saw her and engaged her to help his
mother about the hOusework.
'I shan't like her, Ned" said Mrs.
Stedhnrst, when the "neW grip had
gone up 20 her Own ruOrES-zEnr ti.4
night and mother and son were to-
gether before the kitchen fire.
"Why not, mother ?"
''She Is too pretty and she has
such q naughty, queenly sort OF
way. / should think Of asking lady
to scrub the floor and feed the pig:
as to asked her to wait on me-"
"ThRt's knOnselse, mother" sal(
Edmund, half-vexed, half-laughing
''She can't help her face, can she
1t is some of the scraggy-faeed, small
pox-marked girls who were so exact
| ing as to the wages they would re
eeive and the duties they were to b
called upon to perform, that
wouldn't have 'em in the house ol
any terms. Judith was the only on
who was willing to come for any sor
OF work, and willing to accept moder
ate wages"
"She'il suit your said Mr.. Sted
hurst who had come in while the dis
cussion was going on. Take m,
word for IL, mother, she'll suit you.
Judith Black stayed a month, an
then Mrs. Stedhurst engaged her 70
another month.
tfShe is neat,n said the lady, ian
she Is quick to learn; and / believe he
to be thoroughly trustworthy"
HIf only Ned don't fall In love wit
her." humorously suggested Mr.. Sted
hurst.
"Why shouldn't he fall in love wit
her II he wants 2" said Mrs. Sted
hurst, valisntly.
"My dear, my DEAR" demonstrate
Mr.. Stedhurst, "What do you kno'
about her ?"
"What do we know about any girl
for that matter >" said Mrs. Stedhurs
"She Is certainly very pretty, an
very faithful and very honest"
Honest" put in Mr.. Stedhurs
dryly, ''beeause she has had no tenn
tatiOn to be otherwise"
"NOw, Phineas, you are too bad,
said Mrs. Stedhurst, impatientlI
''The currant jelly has never been dii
turbed in the closet, and I've left III
sugar-bowl twice ON the dresser wit
tbirty-three Jumps of sugar in it, an
thirtysthree there were, and / counte
iem, after she had gone to bed"
mot very great temptations those!
said Mr.. Stedhurst, smiling.
"No,n said his wife; "but straw
show which way the wind blows"
About q month subsequently to tn
conversation, Edmund StedlurI
| icame to his father.
"Fsther," said he, 81 was twent.
one years old in October"
"Yes,n said Mr.. Stedhurst.
"And you were year younger tins
that when you were married !"
81 believe so, Ned"
"Haye you any objection to m
taking 9 wife ?'i
'iNone Ia the worid-if it prov
!. that she is the right sort of wife
t answered the old gentleman.
g "Father have fallen in love wi
Judith Black, % confessed Edmund.
I "Just exactly what L have fear
all along,p said Mr.. Stedharst, with
shEug Of his shoulders.
ItWhy do you use the word 'feare
father ~ questioned Edmund.
because, my lad, she is almos
stranger to u.s."
: tsFathef, would stake my life
her truth and honesty" cried
: young man. Because you are in 10
with her, my son. Edmund, 10
mere. Have you spoken to her yet
"NOt yet, sir"
"WHl you do me favor ?"
Edmund smiled a little.
Z. "That depends upon what 1t
F. father"
n HWiIl you wait a week before y
ask her to be your wife !? Will
\ wait one week without asking =
. questions ?"
'If you desire it, SIR"
cat the end of that time l will
: you what think upon the matter.
= And Mr.. Stedhurst went out.
n The next day he brought down
Rrmfnl Of old coats, ETC., from
:; garrett.
, "Jndith," said he, these things
q RettfnR moth-eaten. They belOuI
n 10 An old uncle OF mine, who died
I. wears aeo-an odd, miserly, old fell
who boarded everything up, and d
~ In cellar at last. l want them
L. up into carpet rags"
ee HYes, sir,n answered Judith Bla
A In the soft, low voice which :
4" habitual to her. Aud when her ds
T. routine Of duty was done she went
work diligently with Mrs. Stedhur
w. big shears.
She was all alone In the kitchen
next afternoon just as the clock
/. stricking three. And as Ju,
= Black worked she sang softly 70
liz self an old Scotch ballsd, "BoT
md Dundee"
m Picking mp an old walstcoa
fisSE isiT- ginger-eolored cloth, she Clipped