The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-26

"The tailoring tradel Oh not that
l neper could do such work-never-
Could l, Rufus2 ?"
He knew her heart was almost stop
ping its beats-he knew that the girl felt
that the prospect of such a life was like
threatening a strong winged young eag-
let with the chain of hawker - he
knew all the horror and responsiveness
his mothers words conjured for this
headstrong, wayward, brave-h-arted girl
who would never brook restraint or rou-
tine.
He made no answer to her impetuous
entreaty, but his earnest, sympathetic
look satisfied her into silence, while Mrs,
Granger went on, as she rolled her blue
yarn sock into a neat ball, and arose to
wind the big clock in the corner:
'That's all nonsense, Inez; you can
just as well learn to do tailoring as make
pictures. Refus-tell your father it's
time for prayers, will you ?"
And so the matter ended with Mrs
Granger, while Inez went off to her room
with widely open eyes, and strange un'
rest at her heart.
And the next morning, when Mrs
Granger went to call her to breakfast
and the old gentleman and Rufus waited
in the big CHEEKY kitchen, instead Of the
inspiring face of the girl, and the gay
rich tones of her merry, laughing good.
morning." there came penciled note OF
doom that darkened the old homestead
for many day; Inez has gone out into
the world, where her beloved talent, hel
genius-laden finger, should redeem her
in their own charming way from the un.
bearable routine work that waited her in
the dear old home.
There were words of ardent love, and
intense gratitude, and pleadings for
forgiveness and rememb ance; only
words, only pleadings, instead of the
girl.
And Rufus Granger's face took on q
weary, patient pain that never left it,
night or day, winter or summer.
Old Mrs. Granger sat on the broad
stone step by the kitchen door, her
withered hands slowly - pitifully it
seemed-knitting on the fine yarn socks
that seemed eternally on her shining
needles; her sweet, grimed face bent
thoughtfully over her work, and only
occasionally rising her dim patient
eyes to the brisk tongued little woman
who WIS chatting away Ler harmless
gossip.
ut seems a shame, and l told my
John 80, to think O. Squire Ellinworth
payin' thousand dollars for a picture
not more'n two foot square-and to
woman, too - one O your loud, black
eyed creatures at that, for we all seen
her-a-payin' such an outrajus price for
a red and blue and yellow picture, and
the next minute turnn' round and fore
closin' the mortgage on you! | declare,
Mrs. Granger, think if ever the Lord
ought to punish man, it's Squire Elm
worth |"
Mrs. Granger smiled forlorn, tender
little smile.
'It seems very hard on U.s. Mrs. Moore,
but nobody can blame the squire for
buying the painting we hear so much
about. He is rich man and can well
afford it,"
''Then why can't he afford to let you
have another year to pay off the mort
gage? I've no patience left-and then
that high-falutin' creature what made
the picter goes a-fyin' about with her
silk dresses a-trailin', and her diamonds
a-glitterin, and as thick as peas in a
pod with them rich folks. What busi-
ness has she got to have all the money
and things, and you and the old man
and Rufus a-killin' yourselves to lift the
mortgage ?"
"Rufus would call you cummunist,
Mrs. Moore, if he heard you. And
please don't let's talk any more about
the painting, for it makes me think of
our little Inez, and how she had such a
talent for drawing, and how l tried to
crash it out of her. Maybe if | had en-
couraged her she wouldn't have gone
of-maybe she might have been here
and helped US to-day, instead of being a
stranger for two long, long years"
The tears stood in the dear old eyes,
and then the old man came up, white,
weary, and leaning heavily on his
cane.
''The squire has sent for you and to
go up to the house, mother. Rufus has
been there these two hours, ever since
they came for him, and now, suppose
we've got-to-give it-up, at once.
Get ready, mother, and we'll go, while
neighbor Moore keeps the house. We