Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-06-10
GALLOWSES.

\ STORY OF STRUGGLES AND SUCCESS.
'IIu>h. Liz, Don't stir the fire, It'll
last As long as she does. Let her rest.
Liz left the chimney and crcpt back tC
her place beside the almshouse keeper
wife. The faint spark of life they hac
been watching since the dull winter nigh
closed in, WAS hickering still, though the
old stccplc clock had jus; tollcd one, an,
the wood on the queer black andiunS haC
dropped into cmbcrS ON the hearth.
Its slow work, whispered the keep
cr's wife. I'VE might slip down stair
for cup of something warm while she
sleeps, and never be missed, and the tive
stole noisclcSsly from the nom. Tn,
| duh cracking of a brand Is II broke and
tell on the hearth was the only sound lei
behind them; but the ewes the keeper
wife had said were sleeping, slowly un-
/ clOSed-So.t brown eyes and talr young
iacc-how had they ever come to such ,
place: \ slender hand busted itscl
trcmblinely at a ribbon that had escaped
the sleepy watchers cyes-a ribbon with
something hanging from il that CLEANED
in the flicker from the hearth, and voice
called softly. phil
\ child stirred in it, sleep, then rose
and came quickly TO her side.
MY darling Hiss me good night
once more, Ii Is the last time. and b,
quick" for the kitchen door below creaked
asain-thc keepers wife and Liz werC
coming back. Good night, my darling,
and the trembling fingers fastened the
ribbon around his neck, land remember
BE always good and brave for my sake
and for the dear Christ; $.
"Thcy'ye neither of en- stirred, wins
percd the keepers wife. I'VE might
have had another cup and no one the
wiser.
One bv one the dark winter days
slipped away; grass and violets began Il
appear: every one felt Ike beginning life
over again, and 50 did Miss Judith Pop
hurst. with the rest. II took a good deal
20 stir Miss Judith 70 such a point, but
when she once did make up her mind tC
ANYTHING she was ready for it; and she
marched with firm step TO her bureau
drawer. There were queer things IN that
bureau: it seemed 20 have the same TASTE
for old WAYS as Miss Judy herself, anC
out came "a long, yellow straw bonnet
that poked a hands length over her face
a round silk mautilla that reached just t,
her waist, peaked, green parasol and Z
pair of black lace mitts.
There was something else, too, tha
slittcrcd as she lifted the mantilla, anC
Miss Pophurst shut the drawer very
quickly when she saw that. That wa
Toms sword. How proud she haC
thought all her life was going to be Will
Tom-juSt the same as a son TO her; bu
when at last the endless war was over
his colonel sent his sword home to Mis-
Pophurst, and that was all
Miss judith was a quick walker, anC
that yellow straw and peaked paraso
flashed along the sidewalk ike the tuu
of Kaleidoscope, till the rap Of the sharl
knuckles gave the almshouse keeper
wife a start
Miss Pophurst!" she announced grim
lv 81 heard vou had a boy here
The lands sake, yes; and have had
Is YOU might say, for some months past.
DO YOU want him. asked Miss Pop
hurst, erisply, with snap Of her blacl
eyes.
The keepers wife answered with
significant little cough.
Then do. said Miss Pophurst step
ping in with one foot. Il want som
one to take care Of my COW, and
glitter from the hastily shut drawe
seemed TO tremble before Miss Judith
ewes as she added-'and to love"
The next day was busy one wit
Miss Judith Pophurst; she had made u
her mind again.
That child's going to have decen
clothes to his back. Ridiculous logger
he's got on" And the boards of the at
tic floor creaked, as with lips drawn yer
tight she marched over them to trun
that had not been opened since Tom wen
to the war. Her fingers trembled, bu
what she had TO do she would do quickly
and almost before the creak had die
away she was seated in her rocking-chai
again with one of Toms full-grown suit
in her lap, and paper pattern she ha
used for him twenty years before in he
hand.
She shook a thread of bright golde
hair out of her scissors and began to rip
for sensible clothes and curls did not 9
together, and she had been shearing ther
of until only bristling little thicknes
of tawny white was left in their place
She drew her chair softly little nearC
! tn the blreau drawer: II was so hard {