Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1876-12-14

Meier again nv teet shall wander
To those stranger lands remote,
Nor will Maysie need to promise,
II will meet you at the boat"
She has met me at the boat
JUDITH'S TEN PTATION.
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
flickered on the walls with red fantastic
reflections How the tins sparkled
against the wall, and what song of
welcome the old copper tea.kettle sang
upon the hearth And Mrs.Stedhurst's
geraniums in the window, with their
velvet leaves and spikes of vivid scar
let blossoms-to Judith they seemed
fairer than any conservatory, crowded
full of fan palms and camelliaS and
trailing jessamine.
Judith Black had been very poor.
She had been dressmaker, but times
were very hard. She strived to get
work, but applications were many,
and the cup Of starvation had been
perilously close to her lips when she
crept into the office where Edward
Stedhurst saw her, and engaged her to
help her mother about the homework.
II shan't like her, Ned" said Mrs.
Stedhurst, when the ''new girl had
gone up to her own room for the night,
and mother and son were together be.
fore the kitchen fire.
''Why not, mother =
"She's too pretty and she has such
naughty, queenly sort OF way. l
shouldn't think Of asking 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 she 1t is
some of the scragy.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, and l 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.. Sted.
hurst, who had come in while the dis
cussion was going on. ''Take my
word for it, mother, she'll suit YOU"
Judith Black stayed for month and
then Mrs. Stedhurst engaged her for
another month.
''She is neat said the lady, land
she is quick to learn, and believe her
to be thoroughly trustworthy
s:lf only Ned don't fail in love with
her." humorously suggested Mr.. Sted.
hurst.
"Why shouldn't he fall in love with
her, if he wants to - said Mrs. Sted.
hurst, valiantly.
"My dear, my DEAR demonstrated
Mr.. Stedhurst, ''what do you know
about her!''
:'What do we know about any girl,
for that matter!" said Mrs. Sted.
hurst. 'She is certainly very pretty,
and very faithful, and very honest"
Honest" put in Mr.. Stedhurst,
dryly, because she has. no temptation
to otherwise
snow, Phineas, you are too bad, -
said Mrs. Stedhurst, impatiently. 1.-The
currsnt jelly has never been disturbed
in the closet, and have left the sugar
bowl twice on the dresser with thirty.
three Jumps Of sugar in it, and thirty.
three there were, and counted them
after she had gone to bed"
''Not very great temptations, those,
said Mr.. Stedhurst, smiling.
''No' said his wife; ''but straws
show which way the wind blows
About month subsequently to this
conversation, Edward Stedhurst came
to his father.
Father" said he, 81 was twenty.
one years old in October
Eyes, said Mr.. Stedhurst.
"And you were a year younger than
that when you were married!'
II believe so, Ned
''Have you any objections tc my
taking a wife!
':None in the world-if it proves
that she is the right sort Of wife =
answered the old gentleman.
"Father, I have fallen in love with
Judith Black confessed Edward.
"Just exactly what have feared all
along,' said Mr.. Stedhurst, with a
shrug of his shoulders.
"Why do you use the word feared,
father e questioned Edward.
Because, my lad, she is almost a
stranger to U.S.
"Father, l 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 to
her yeti"
"Not yet, SIR
gSNVin v1,, ID fov -
Edward smiled little.
'That depends upon what it is. ia.
ther.''
"Will you wait a week beofre you
ask her to become your wife Will
yoa wait week without asking any
IF you desire it SIR
"At the end of that time l will tell
you what Think on the subject
And Mr.. Stedhurst went out.
The next day he brought down an
armful of old coats, vests, etc., from
the garrett. "
"Judith," said he, these things are
getting mQth.eaten.: They belonged to
an old uncle of mine, who died ten
years ago-an odd, miserly old fellow
who boarded up everything, and died
in a cellar at last. l want them cut
into carpetrags.'. . -
eyes, SIR" answered Judith Black
in the soft low voice which was habit.
ual to her. And when her days rou.
tine of duty was done, she went to
work diligently with Mrs. Stedhursts
large shears.
She was all alone in the kitchen the
next afternoon just as the clock was
striking three. And as she worked,
she sang softly to herself an old Scotch
ballad, Bonnie Dundee
Picking up an old waistcoat of gin.
ger.colored cloth, she Clipped off the
buttons. and mechanically turned the
pockets inside out to cut them away.
There was a piece of folded brownish
paper in one of them. Judith took it
out, without thinking much Of it, and
unfolded it.
IN hor annnrioo o1,o ;norooix,od %ho% -