The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-17
THE HISTORY OF A LIFE.
~ THE AUTHOR OF CAPTAIN GERALD" ''THE
RIGHT OF Way" ETC.
CHAPTER XI1-(CoNTINUED.)


"Pve begged my way home, that's all
I've got to say. A little, of course, she
left-shc couldn't help that; but then
there was the journey across seas; and,
when / got to London, / had TO pawn my
clothes. So here | am now, just as you
see me, and without penny in my
pocket, or crust of bread to satisfy my
hunger"
"You aren't come to the right place
for good fare" replied the old woman,
sullenly. "rhe lads haven't got much
game lately, for the new gentleman at
the Hall means to preserve high, they
say, which puts the keepers on their met
tie. And there's the funeral expenses to
be paid"
''What funeral?'
"Why, Annals"
"She's dead, then"
Margaret said this coldly enough, for
there had never been any sympathy be-
tween her and her sister. Indeed, poor
Anna had always felt herself alone and
solitary IN the midst of her relations, for
their ways were not her ways; and often
she excited their anger and resentment
by remonstrances she had thought it her
duty to make. However, she was gone
to her rest now and Margaret, having
disliked her living, feared her dead.
Her eye followed her mothers involun-
tary glance into the death-chomber, and
she shuddered.
"Why must you needs have the door
open, mother? can't do no good, and it
scares me"
"Get up, and shut it, then .
"No," said Margaret, family, 81 have
not the heart, mother | expect it's be-
ing so weary makes me feel timid. When
is the funeral to be?'
"She only died this morning."
There was a short silence, and then
Margaret spoke again.
"Pm we'll nigh perished of hunger
haven't you got a morsel OF anything i'll
the housew
"There's bit of rabbit-pie," answered
the old woman, reluctantly; "but it was
meant for the lads supper. l expect
they will be pretty much put out when
they find it's gone"
"But Pm famishing."
81 dare say, if the truths told"
muttered the old woman, as she went
to the cupboard to fetch the pie, ''it was
your ill-behavior that made them cheat
you in the way they did. They shouldn't
have hoisted me out of comfortable
quarters quite so easy, not if I'd clung to
the door of their carriage with both
hands"
"But supposing they gave YOU some
thing to keep you quiet, what then~
GLOW do you mean? They never dared
do that.w
"!sbe did | don't expect he knew
much about it,"
Then Margaret was silent for while,
actually deyouring the pie like Il famished
animal. She cleared up every fragment,
the old woman watching her with kind
of dismay, as if she were wondering how
1t would be when her sons came home
hungry, and found the best of their sup
per gone.
However, she made no remark until
Margaret had finished, and began to COM
plain of the cold. "Therc's Anna's shawl
hanging up behind the door," said Mrs.
Cell; she'll never ask you for it again,
which will suit your purpose, fancy"
81 can't 90 in there, MOTHER" ex-
claimed Margaret, shrinking.
Her mother rose with contemptuous
smile.
"The dead won't hurt us, she said,
tartly; "it is only the living we need
fear Poor girl" with some faint show
Of feeling; 'she was the best of US
all, and never harmed so much as a
fy when she was living; but it's as well
she's gone, too, for she never had any
comfort to speak of when she was alive" "
Margaret took the shawl without any
Sign of emotion, and spread it over her
shoulders with an air of satisfaction.
"Now, then, let us hear all about your
misfortune said her mother.
"You havn't got drop of spirits to
give me first, mother" whined Margaret,
In her most persuasive tone.
"Oh, that's where the land lies, is itT'
inquired her mother, sharply. II had
my suspicious, albeit you was so sly; but
tueSt . HOuc VI tUCHl tlllSS kcpt ucTt.
What the lads want in that way they get
at the public"
Margaret heaved sigh of disappoint-
ment, and relapsed into silence, with her
head bent low on her breast.
At this minute the door opened
There was step on the threshold, a
sudden pause, and a hoarse cry-"Moth-
er!'
"Well, what now?' answered the old
woman, Grossly.
"Is it Annals ghost you've got beside
you, or is it she come to life againW
"Neither; it is your sister Margaret
come home"
"Ohw
The exclamation showed nothing but
relief at first, for the sight of that dark
figure at his mothers side, dressed in An
mas shawl, and with her black hair, had
evidently been painful shock to Josh
But as soon as he recovered his fright he
also recovered his temper
"What the de11ce does she want here