The daily gazette., 1876-01-22
Judith's Temptation.

| f1ickercd on the walls with red faRtas-
tic 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 the
green velvet leaves and spikes of vivid
fairer than any conservatory crowded
full of fan palms and camellias and
trailing jessamine.
Judith Black had been very poor
She had been dressmaker's assistant,
but times were hard, and Mrs. Needle
ham had discharged two-thirds Of her
force, Judith among the number. Ju-
dith had striven to get work, but situ-
ations we're few and applicants many
and the cup of starvation had been
perilously close to her lips when she
crcpt into the intelligence office and
Edmund Stedhurst saw her and engag-
ed her to help his mother about the
house work.
! 81 shan't like her, Ned" said Mrs.
Stedhurst, when the new glrl,r had
gone up to her own room for the night
and mother and son were together be-
fore the kitchen fire.
"Why not. motherg"
"She is too pretty; and she has such
II naughty, queenly sort Of way. l
should as soon think of asking the
Presidents lady to scrub the floor and
feed the pigs.
"That's nonsense, mOther,p said
Edmund, half vexed, half laughing
"She can't help her face, can she? 1t
is some of the scraggy faced, small
pox marked girls who were so eXacting
as to the wages they should receive
and the duties they were to be called
upon to perform. that | 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 a month, and
then Mrs. Stedhurst engaged her for
another month.
"Shc is neat" said the farmers
wife, land she is quick to learn, and |
believe her to be thoroughly trust.
WORTHY"
"If 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." said Mrs Stedhurst,
! : valiantly.
MY dear. my dear" demonstrated
Mr.. Stedhurst. "what do we know
about herr"
"What do We know about dng girl,
for that matter?" said Mrs. Stedhurst.
"She is certainly very pretty and very
faithful, and very honest"
"Honest," put in Mr.. Stedhurst, dry
ly, because she has no temptation to
be otherwise"
Now, Phineas, you are loo bad, "
said Mrs. Stedhurst, lmpatieptly,-
THE current jelly has nev been
ldisturbed In the closet, and I've left
the sugar bowl twice on the dresser
with thirty three Jumps of sugar in il
And thirty three there we're, when l
counted 'cm, after she bad gone to
bed
NO very great temptations those.d
sad MIR. Stedhurst, smiling
mo-" said his wife: "but straws
show which way the wind blows"
About month subsequently to this
conversation, Edmund Stedhurst came
to his father.
Father" said he, II was twenty
two years old in October"
Yes" said Mr., Stedhurst, looking
hard at the end of the awl with which
he was mending his Sunday harness.
And you were year younger than
I m
81 believe so, Ned"
Have YOU any objection to nv ia.
king wife,"
None in the world-if it proves
that she is the right sort OF wife!'
answered the old gentleman.
Father, have fallen in love with
Judith Black" confessed Edmund
"Just exactly what have feared all
along" said Mr. Stedhurst, with
shrug of his shoulders.
"Why do you use that word feared
fathery" questioned Edmuni.
because, my lad, she is almost
stranger to u.s."
"Father, would stake my life on
her truth and honesty" cried the
young man.
because you are in love with her
my sonl Edmund, look here, Have
you spoken to her yet?'
mot yet, SIR"
win you do me favors"
| Edmund smiled little. THAT de-
pends upon what it Is, father
WIN you wait one week before YOU
ask her to be your wifes Will you
walt one week, without asking any
eff you desire it, sir"
At the end of that time will tell Won
what / think upon the matter"
And Mr.. Stedhurst went on with
the repairing of the Sunday harness.
The next day he brought down an
armful of old coats, vests and pants
from the garrett.
"Judith," said he, "these things are
getting moth eaten. They belonged
to an old uncle of mine who died ten
years ag0-an odd, misery, old fel.
low who boarded everything up, and
died in a cellar at last. want them
cut up into CARPET rags"
~