Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-25
JUDIT'H's TEMPTATION,

How bright and cheerful the kitchen of the
ora s'eahurst farmhouse looked to Judith Black
upon thc dreary December evening when she
frst came there to live. How merriIy the lire
nickered on the walls with red fantastic reilec-
tons. How the tins sparkled against the wall
and what Il song of welcome the old copper tea
Eettie Sang upon the hearth. And Mrs. Sted-
hursts Seranluins in the window. with the
b!ossoms-to Judith they seemed iairer than any
conservatory, crowded iull of fan palms and
cameias' Ir.ii;' and trailing jessamine.
JUDITH Black had been very poor. Sae had
been dressmaker's assistant, but times We're
hard, and Mrs. Necdebam had discharged two
thirds OF her Iorce. judith among. the number.
Judith had striven to get work, but situations
We're lew and applications Inany, and the cup of
starvation had been pcrilously close TO her lips
When shr crept into the intelligence Office where
Edmund Stedhurst her and engaged her to
help his mother nth the housewOrk.
- snan't like her, Ned said Mrs. sted-
hurst, when the 'new glrl'' had gone up to her
own room Tor tho night. and mother and
Were together before the kitchen fire.
why not, mother?'
'she Is too pretty; and she has such a hsugh-
", queenly sort of way. l should soon
think Of asking the presidents lady to scrub the
''rhat's nonsense. mother,' SAID Edmund,
half vexed, half laughing. '.She can help her
face. can she? 1t is some of the scrsgGy-faced,
smallpox marked girls, who were SO .xactIng
as TO the wages they should receive and the
duties tney We're to be called upon to perform.
THAI wouldn't have 'em in the house on uny
terms. judith was the only who Will
Ii ling TO come @ for any sort q work, and willing
u uCCept uOttlaIe wages.
''she' II suit you.' said Mr.. stedhurst, who
had come in while this discussion was gong on.
''rake my word for it, mother. she II suit YOU
judith Black stayed month, and then Mrs.
Stedhurst engaged her for another month
she is neat" said the lnrmer's wife. land
she is quick t. learn, and believe her to be
thoroughly trustworthy
III only Ned don't fail in love with her, -
dangerously suggested Mr.; Stedhurst:
why shouldn't t he fall in love with her, if he
wants TO ?' said Mrs. Stedhurst valiantly.
MY dear, my DEAR" demonstrated Mr..
What DO WE Know about sny rDoal urI her for that
matter ?'' SAID Mrs. Sredhurst .'she is Ger
ts,n.y very pretty and very faithful and very
..Aonest!'' put in Mr.. Stedhurst dryly. .'be-
CAUSE she has no temptation to be otherwise.''
NOW, Phineas, you are too bad. - said Mrs.
Stedhurst, impatientiy., 1.-The currant jrily has
never been disturbed in the closet, auu l. We lett
the bowl twice ON the dresser, with thifly-tnree
-; ,a,,,a
NO very great temptations. those. - said Mr..
stsdhurst. smiling.
NO, - said his wife, ''but straws show which
| way the wind blows
About month subsequent to this conversa-
| ton Edmund SIedhurst came to his fither.
"Yes,' said Mr.. stedhurst, locking hard at
| the end of the awl with Which he mending
| his sunday harness.
"And You ere year younger than that when
| you We're married ~
| 81 believe so, Ned"
wife -
..None in the world-if it proves that he is
tcman. .. ..--
Father. have fallen in love with Judith
Black. % confessed Edmund.
i Just exactly what nave feared. all aiong,' -
said Mr.. stedhurst. with IL snrug oi the snoul-
ders.
why do you use the Word feared father, !"
questioned Edmund.
'lsecause, my lad. she is almost II stranger TO
''Father. 1 would stake my lie on her tiuth and
!. honesty!'' ciieu the J.. ung man.
- 'Because you are In love with her nay sonl
Edmund. look here. Have you spoken 10 hel
tyel2'' ...... 1T.
"Not yet, SIR"
:, "WIli you do me favorp''
what 1t is, father'
will you wait one week before you ask her t.
be your VIE? Wlll you wait one week with
r out asking any questIons?"
r '.I you desire il. sir''
5 .At the end OF tn a; time will tell YOU wha
think upon the matter.''
/. And Mr. Ste,hurst went on with the repairing
: | Of the Sunday harness.
n rheneXt day he brought down AN armful of oil,
= | coats, vests and pants from the garret.
It Judith" said he, ''tnese thfngs are gettin
e mine who died ten years ago-an odd, miseri
:. old fellow, who boarded everything up, an
;, died in cellar ut last. want them cut up int
II ''ies, SIR" answered Judith Black, in tn
l. soft, low voice which was habitual to her. An
& when her days routine of duty was done sh
!. Went to work diligently with Mrs Stedhurst
d big shining shears.
Al She was all alone in the kitchen the next al
= ternoon just Us the clock was striking thrc.
Edmund was in the barn sorting out winte
n apples. Mr.. Stedhurst was hammcring ava
D; milk dairy, and Mrs. Stedhurst had gone to
's neighbor's with her knitting wolk. And a
% Judith Black worked she sang softly to herse
y an old Scotch ballad, ''BOnnle Dundeeu
ss Picking Up old waistcoat of ginger colore
'e cloth. she clipped of the buttons and mechanl
IL caly turned the pockets inside out to cut thel
lie | AWAY. There Il DieCe ed
a paper in one of them. Judith took it out with
I'd Out Ut thir king much Of it, and nnfolded it:
Il 10 her surprise she perceived that it was
I'd | fifty dollar treasurs note.
III In her first establishment she uttered litt
10 cry, all alone though she was. And then she !
er meInbered what Mr.. Stedhurst had said abo
TO the miserly old uncle who had 'hoarded up h
10 little gains and died in cellar at last Thu
r. doubtless, was one of the old mans s hidiI
to plaeeessvvia4aI he hsd disd anA mAde no sign.
hit by right of discovery Her eyes sleamed III
he her fingers trembed convulsively as they tigh
,lr muchi She was so poor-so pinched for none
nj And these Stedhursts, to whom it would nat
?y ?5y rally revert, were rich. did not need it! Tn
eI For minute the temptation battled fierce
90 with her better nature. For minute oni
ur And then Judith rose up and went straight
~ the do. r of the toOlrOOm-and went with droo
~, ing eyelds and u scarlet stain on either cheel
.N Come in,' sald Nj. stedhursl, as Judi
ew ''Mr. stedhurst,'' said She, in !. voice III
iat would falier little in spite Of her resolution
" cOntrOi II, mere ls some money 0fty dol
ew bill. l have found it in the pocket of one
Die those old waistcoats. -
tly "Ah!'' said mir. Stedhurst, putting down /
lai plane and taking up the crumpied bit ef pupe
'And why ditln't you keep it? Did it not occ
tt iss'? you that would never Know anything abe
..Yes." idJudth. lit did occur to me, sir
''Then why didn't you keep it?''
"It was not mine," Judith answered il
low tone.
raj ..Judilh," said Phineas Stedhurst, SEQ,
Key here ami kiss me girl. put that money there
or lyon did?''
m II did; to test you. To make sure that
iy iy girl to whom my boy had given his heart W
~. worthy of him.
ace Juditl's face glowed a deep arlet.
my Ill dom understand you. sir, - she said
n io "No. suppose not. But you will
Vlll days.
lis And she did when Edmund Stedhurst ash
ns her to be his wife. #.
be MY own love- he said. ''the farm hol
oi has been like different place since you ca
~. ~ into it. Will you promise me to stay IL
IL always?'
the And Judith's answer was ''Yes %
.ck SAMRO AT THE CENTENNIAL