Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-01-02
Continued from First Page. !


the next minute was showing her it was
too tight, and somehow. in gentle timid /
way. the little witch quite got over me,
and | stopped there two hours helping her, |
TIL her eyes sparkled with delight, as she |
found ont how easily she could make the |
needle 60 in and out of hard material.
DO you think You can do it now %
said
"oh. yes, l think so; am so glad you
came
F. $50 am l. says gruffiy sit will make
il all the easier for you to make the money
to pay for it,
And will work so hard,'' she said
earnestly.
'sThat you will, nv DEAR says in
spite Of myself. for felt sure it wasn't me
speaking. lat something in me. '.She
taen i'll long?' l said, nodding toward
her mother
Months she said, with tears starting
in her pretty eyes; '.bur.'' she added
brightly, II shall earn enough with this
to get her good medicines and things she
can fancy and as looked at her, some
thing in me said:
God bless you. my dear. l hope you
will;'" and the next minute was going
down stairs calling myself fool.
They thought / didn't know at home,
but did: there was the wife going over
and over again to the Bennet's place ; and
all sorts of nice things were made and tax
en- there. ! often use to see them talking
about 1t, took no notice and that artful
scoundrel. my boy Luke, used to pay the
half crown every week out Of his own
pocket, and after going to fetch it from the
widow
And all the time / told myself didn't
like it, for could see that Luke was
chan sed, and always thinking of that girl
girl not half good enough for him Ire
membered when was poor and hated
poverty. and used to speak harshly to the
wife and Luke, 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 see SEX woman
i knew who it was, bless YOU and
Luke was fidgcting about, not himself, and
ut last he took his hat and went out
''They might have confided in me-
said bitterly, but all the time knew that
] wouldn't let them. They'll be spend
ing mountaineering it away. | know
they've spent pounds on them already"
At last got in such way that called
down our foreman, left him in charge,
took my hat and went after them.
Everything was quiet in BENEFITS place,
for a couple of dirty, dejected-looking
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 could not
come back.
went up stairs softly. and all was very
quiet. only as ! got nearer to the room
could hear bitter waling cry, and then
opened the door and went in
Luke was there, standing with his head
bent by the sewing machine; the wife sat
in n chair. and on her knees. with 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 the look of pain
gone out of her face, lay the widOw-GOne
to meet her hu sband where pain and sor-
row are no more.
| couldn't see very plainly, for there
was mist before my eyes; but | know
Luke flushed up as he took a step forward.
rs if to protect the girl, and the wife
looked at me in a 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 lay
ing her helpless head upon my shoulder
and smoothing her brown hair
Mother says that something from
within me. II think there is room in the
nest at home for his poor. forsaken little
bird. Luke, my boy, you will 90 and
fetch cab. Mother, will you see to what
is wanted here
My boy gave Il sob as he caught my
hand in his, and the next moment he did
what he did not do for years-kissed me
on the cheek-beiore running out of the
room, leaving me with my darling nesting
on my breast.
said my darling for she has been
the sunshine of our home ever since-a
pale. wintry sunshine while the sorrow
was fresh, but spring and summer now
Why, bless her! look at her. I've felt
ashamed sometimes to think that she, a
lady of birth, should come down to such
life; making Newell. no. it's us now,
for Luke's partner-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 i; and let me tell you there's
many gentleman not so well off as my
boy will be, even if the money has all
come out of queer trade.-Cassers Fam
Iy Magazine.
~, 90 l,to