Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-06-26
Judith's Temptation.

to Judith Black upon the dreary Decem-
Der evening when she came to live there !!
How merrily the fire flickered on the
walls with red, fantastic reflections
How the tins sparkled against the wall,
and what q song of welcome the old cop
per teakettle sung upon the hearth. And
Mrs. Stedhurst's geraniums in the win
dow, with their velvet leaves and spikes
OF vivid scarlet blossoms Judith they
seemed fairer than any conservatory,
crowded full of fan-palms and camelias
and trailing jasmine.
Judith Black had been very poor. She
had been a dressmaker, but times were
very hard. She had striven to get work,
but applicants 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 his mother about the
homework.
~ shan't like her, Ned,n said Mrs.
Stedhurst, when the "new grip had
gone up to her room for the night, and
mother and son were together before the
kitchen fire.
"Why not, mother?"
"She's too pretty; and she has such a
naughty, qtfeenly sort of a way. I
shouldn't think ofasking q lady to scrub
the floor and feed the pigs"
"That's nonsense, mother" said Ed
ward, half vsxed, half laughing. "Shs
can't help her face, can she? It is some
Of the scraggy faced, smallpox marked
| girls who were SO exacting as to the
wages they would receive, the duties
they would 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" ).
who had come in while the discussion
| 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 an
other month.
"She is neat" said the lady, land she
is quick to Learn, and believe her to be
thoroughly trustworthy"
.'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 top" said Mrs. Sted-
hurst, valiantly.
| "My dear, my dear" demonstrated
Mr.. Stedhurst, what do we know about
her."
"What do we know about any girl, fol
that matter ?" said Mrs. Stedhurst. 'She
Is certainly very pretty, and very faith
full, and very honest"
Honest" put In Mr.. Stedhurst, dry.
ly, because she has no temptation to be
otherwise"
"New, Phineas, you are too bad" said
Mrs. Stedhurst, impatiently. 1.-THE cur
rant jelly has never been distributed in
the closet, and have left the sugar bowl
twice on the dresser with thirty.th three
humps of sugar in it, and thirty three
there were, and counted them after she
had gone to bed"
mot very great temptations, those"
said Mr.. Stedhurst smiling.
No" said his wife, "but straws show
which way the wind blows"
About month subsequent to this con.
versation, Edward Stedhurst came t.
his father.
Father" said he, 81 was twenty one
years old in October"
Eyes," said Mr.. Stedhurst.
"And you were year younger thar
that when you were married."
II believe SO, Ned"
Have you any objections to my tax
ing wife?"
| 6None in the world-if it proves tina,
she is the right sort Of a WIFE" answer
ed the old gentleman.
Father, have fallen in love with
Judith Black" confessed Edward.
Just exactly what have feared al
along" said Mr.. Stedhurst, with shrue
of his shoulders.
"Why do you use the word feared,
father ?" questioned Edward. -.
Because, my lad, she is almost {
stranger to u.s."
Father. would stake my life ON hel
truth and honesty" said the young man
Because you are in love with her
my son. Edward, have you spoken IL
her yet?"
:. "Not yet, sir"
"Will you do me a favor?"
Edward smiled little.
"That depends upon what it is, faith
en-"
''Will you wait week before you ash
her to become your wife? Will you wal
a week without asking any questions p
eff you desire it, SIR"
cat the end of that time l will tell you
what I think upon the matter"
And Mr. Stedhurst went out.
| The next day he brought down al
armful of old coats, vests, ETC., from tn,
garnet.
Judith" said he, "these things ar
getting moth. eaten. They belonged Il
an old uncle of mine, who died ten year
ago-an odd, miserly old fellow wht
boarded everything up and died in a:cel
lar at last. [ want them cut into carpe
rags"
eyes, sir,' answered Judith Black, il
the soft low voice which was habitua
to her. And when her days routine 0
of duty was done, she went to work dill
gently with Mrs. Stedhurst's hrg,
, shears.
She was all alone in the kitchen tn
next day as the clock was striking three
And as she worked she sung softly t,
herself an old Scotch ballad, "Bonni'
Dundee"
Picking up an old waistcoat of ginger
colored cloth, she clipped offthe buttons
and mechanically turned the pocket.
inside out to cut them away. There wa
piece of folded brownish paper in on
of them. Judith took it out, withou
thinking much of it, and unfolded it.
To her surprise she perceived that i
was twenty pound note.
In her establishment she uttered lit
tie cry, all alone though she was. An(
then she remembered what Mr.. Sted
hurst had said about the misery old on,
who had "hoarded up his little gains ant
died in cellar at last.p This, doubtless
was one Ofthe old mans hiding places
and he died and made no sign.
And this precious bit Of paper-was il
not hers by right of discovery?
Her eyes cleaned and her fingers
trembled convulsively as they frightened
upon it! She needed it so much! Sh,
was poor-so pinched for money. Ant
these Stedhursts, to whom it would ma.
turally revert, were rich and did mo-
need 1t. They would never know. No
body would know it.
For minute the temptation battlet
fiercely with her better nature. For on,
minute only; and then she rose up ant
went straight to the door of the tool
house-went with dropping eyelids and
scarlet stain on either cheek.
Come in" said Mr.. Stedhurst. as sb,
knocked at the door, anG she entered.
"Mr. Stedhurst," said she, in yoic,
that would falter little in spite of he
resolution to control it; there is som,
i, mOney-a twenty Dound nota-T no.,