Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-01
NO. So.
Tales aud Sketfhfs.
A SUNDAY IN LIMEBURGH.
Continued from Yesterday

4
observed him during the sermon.
What right has he TO watch you as he
does p"
She did not reply at once; the congre-
CATION had passed down the stairs TO the
basement, and there came up mild cack-
| lie OF jokes. and oder OF cheese and pump
kin pie. The stranger was left alone with
them in the church: he fingered, glanced
sharply at Mr.. Knapp, and then went down
to join the others.
| Bessy took up a package from her pew.
Snail we go DOWN. This is my lunch.
Are YOU as horribly hungry as Ip"
"Yes. Bat know better place than
that smothering basement" He ran up
the steps, to the choir loft He had meant
to avoid hcr-to turn his back on her for
ever He had forgotten that now, and
was quite red with triumph at his little
maD9uvre, by which he had secured an
hour alone with her.
The little gallery was warm and carpe-
ted there were cushioned chairs here and
there. Elizabeth brought two of them
close to the window. and another between
them for table.
"Oh, how cozy it is !" she cried, flush
ing like child when it is pleased.
"But the manp"
Never mind the man, now"
She opened her package; made great
show OF setting the table. There were a
handful of dried cherries and some little
white biscuits which he had told her q
year ago he liked.
You thought | would eat lunch with
you to-day, Bessy?"
'Yes. and then seeing that he had
biscuit in his hand, she grew suddenly hot
and silent.
Mother is very fond of these little
cakes" she said hastily. IL left her table
beside the fire, and her tea and jays
Devotions' on it. so she is just as happy
as we are. am reading Vanity Fair to
her now. She hopes for the best for Becky.
Last night. after thought she was asleep,
she said, She'll make AN excellent house,
keeper, at any rate, take my word. Bessy.'
Mother would not say anything worse of
the devil himself than-'poor fellow! y"
" You have time TO read "
"All the time, with laugh and shrug.
"No work kP"
" None at all. But we have plenty of
bread and milk and do you mean to say
that Dobbin and Rawdon are not better
diet than turkey or beef P" she asked,
biting a buiscuit with critical air.
"She is her mothers daughter, and will
see only the best side of the devil or the
devils luck thought Mr. Knapp. But
he fancied, in spite of the laughing eyes.
thai he could see traces of actual want and
hunger in the delicate lines of the face be-
fore him He sat moodily silent.
What has this man to do with you.
Elizabeth" he said abruptly.
"lt's miserable business, but there
must be some wav out of ii. lie holds
mortgage for three thousand dollars on
the house. and will toreclose and sell it
next week."
Next week. Impossible The law in
| Pennsy ylvania is altogether in favor OF the
tenant; there must be delay of months
"Oh. this matter has been going on
for year. | said nothing about it. What
was the use? could not raise the mon
ey"
Three thousand dollarsp"
| yes Take some cherries"
He turned on her impatiently. Yet she
had not been contented to starve in idle
ness; the nipped cold fingers that held
out the cherries were hard and SCARED
with work.
81 want no cherries. Do you under
stand that you will be homeless in a few
dayspn
mo, | do not understand it. Why, we
have no place to go. Mr. Knapp. could
find work as a servant but mother is help
less, as you know. There would be no
place for her but the aims house"
"Well?"
"She must stay in her own house. She
was born there. Her father gave it to her.
The debt is tor-for liquor. Do You think
| ha | wi LAT har h.a il, bar
old age to die, that her home may 90 for
liquor? No, neverr
How will the Lord satisfy the mort
gage?" was on knapps tongue. bat he
did not say it. He had as much faith AS
most men. but he hardly expected his
Maker to interfere in sheriff's sales and
tavern-keepers' bill. "Do you know any
way of satisfying this mortgagep" he
amended his question.
None at all. | have done all | could
this year. There seems to be a sort of
prejudice against me in town lately"
She stopped. coughed, her eyes filled
slowly. $50 think" but even to him
she did not say what she thought, that the
Lord had taken her trouble out OF her
own hands into His.
What, Bessy ?"
"Oh, know it will all come right.
Mother will not be driven out of her old
home. Aud now, don't let Us be misera-
bic any more" with quick change into
her usual tones. "She knows nothing
about it, and she is having her cup of tea
now, aud is just as happy rs can be. And
it is so warm and snug here. and"
There is no reason why you should not
be happy TOO ?"
No Sine poured the last of the cher
ries into his hand with beamiug little
nod, and settled herself in her chair to
watch The storm. Mr. knarp looked out
over her shoulder. The snow fell steadi-
ly, heaping itself to the farihest horizon,
white aud still. He felt in it the great,
inexpressible calm with which it has quiet
ed so many miserable souls since the world
began. But he soon turned to Elizabeth.
There was "A latent i0y in the pirl's face