The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-12-17

SoL no lurtner, 1Or at that moment the
girl started and turned around, and turned
upon me timid, wondering face that made
my heart give queer throb, and I
couldn't take my eyes off her.
"Hush!' she said, softly, holding up her
hand; and saw it was as thin and trans
parent as if she had been ill.
my names Smith," said, taking out
screw-driver. my machine how does it
go? Thought I'd come and see."
Her face lit up in moment, and she
came forward eagerly.
"Tm so glad you've come," she said. "I
can't quite manage this"
She pointed to the thread-regulator and
the next minute was showing her that it
was too tight, and somehow, in a gentle,
timid way, the little witch quite got over
me, and l stopped there two hours helping
her, till her eyes sparkled with delight, as
she found out easily she could now make
the needle 90 in and out of hard material
"Do you think you can do it now ?" I
said.
"Oh, yes, think so; am 80 glad you
came"
$50 am IT, says I, gruffly; "it will make
it all the easier for you to earn the money
and pay for it."
"And I will work so hard" she said, ear
nestly.
"That you will, my DEAR" says in spite
Of myself, for felt sure it wasn't me speak
ing, but something in me. "She been ill
long?' said, nodding toward her mother.
"Months,' she said, with tears starting
in her pretty eyes; "but," she added,
brightly, III shall have enough with this to
get her goods, to get her good medicines
and things she can fancy" and as looked
at her, something in me said:
"God bless you, my dear! hope you
down stairs, calling myself fool.
They thought didn't know at home, but
l did; there was the wife going over ard
over again to the Benefits place; and all
sorts Of little nice things were made and
taken there. often used to gee them talk
ing about it, but took no notice; and that
artful scoundrel, my boy Luke, used topay
the half crown every week out of his own
pocket, after going to fetch it from the
widows.
And all the time I told myself didn't
like it, for I could see that Luke was
changed, and always thinking of that girl
a girl not half good enough for him. L re-
membered poor myself, and I hated poverty,
and / used to speak harshly to Luke and
the wife, and feel very bitter.
At last there came an afternoon when /
knew there was something wrong. The
wife had gone out directly after dinner,
saying she was going to gee sick woman
I knew who it was, bless you and Luke
was fdgeting about, not himself, and at last
he took his hat and went out.
"They might have confded in me-" I
said bitterly, but all the time knew that 1
wouldn't let them. "They'll be spending
money-throwing it away. know they've
spent pounds on them already"
At last l got in such way that called
down our foreman, left him in charge, and
took my hat and went after them.
Everything was very quiet in Benefits
place, for couple OF dirty, dejected-look-
ing women. one who was in arrears to me-
had sent the children that played in the
court right away because OF the noise, and
was keeping guard so that they should not
come back.
; I went upstairs softly, and all was very
quiet, only as got nearer to the room
heard a bitter, wailing cry, and then l
opened the door and went in.
Luke was there, standing with his head
bent by the sewing-machine; the wife sat
in a chair, and on her knees, with her face
buried in the wife's lap, was the poor girl,
crying as if her little heart would break;
while on the bed, with all look of pain gone
out of her face, lay the widow-gone to
meet ner husband where pain and sorrow
are no more.
I couldn't gee very plainly, for there was
mist like before my eyes; but l know
Luke flushed up as he took step forward,
as if to protect the girl, and the wife looked
at me in frightened way.
But there was no need, for something
that wasn't me spoke, and that in gentle
way, as stepped forward, raised the girl
up, and kissed her pretty face before laying
her little helpless head upon my shoulder
and smoothing her soft brown hair.
Mother" says that something from
within me, II think there's room in the
nest at home ior this poor, forsaken little
bird. Luke, my boy, will you 90 and fetch
a cab! Mother will see to what wants do
ing here"
My boy gave sob rs he caught my hand
in mis-, and the next moment he did what he
had not done for years-kissed me on the
running out of the room,
leaving me with my darling nesting in my
breast.
Isaid "my darling" for she has been the
sunshine of our home ever since-a pale,
wintly sunshine while the sorrow was fresh,
but spring and summer now. Why, bless
her look at her. I've felt ashamed some
times to think that she, lady of birth,
should come down to such life making
newell, no, it's us now, for Luke's part
ner-no end Of money by her clever ways
But she's happy, thinking her husband,
that is to be, the finest fellow under the sun;
and let me tell you there's many q gentle
man not so we'll off as my boy will be, even
if the money has all come out of queer
trade.