Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-10

/ TO tel his good fortune and eXonefate the poor
girl, who, as he now remembered with Self-re-
| prOach, must have passed a painful day under
| the stigma OF undeseryed suspicion.
! The heat was yielding to evening freshness
| straig ut; but, with his best endeayor. If was
after eleven before he at last drew rein In front
OF Nash's Hotel He was expected, that was
evident, for lights were burning and bOth Nash
and his wife hurried out to meet him. wearing
faces of lugubrious length, which only In pari
changed TO cheerfulneSs when they heard of
the recovery of the wallet
"There, what did tell you.r cried the hus.
DaDu. Havent ben a-saytng and a-Say1ng
an DAY that likely as not this scare would turn
out aIl LOT nothing :? And you wouldn't listen
inside there, and she nothing to blame all the
time. declare, it's too bad the way women
aet 70 each other-and folks calling them the
SoIter SEX man would be ashamed to be so
hard. Well, do tell and so the money was a.
Iying there In the dust all the time! Well nm
mighty glad, for your sake and ours, TOO GO
TX 1ea IN, sf ana wife IL give you some supper.
Mrs. Nash waited on the meal In grim SILL
ence She seemed only half reJoiced &t the
" It's mighty queer" she remarked, as she set
the last dish on the table. Il don't feel as II
Wed got to the bottom OF 1t yet. Why didn't
Lucy deny more pOsitive?"
. But she did, +" said John between two month";
fuls; 'she said she hadn't got it"
why, OF course, she said as much as that.
:. on didn't expect her to say that she had got
~, IL
ScoIn. But she didn't speak up violent and
oold, as you'd expect an innocent girl would"
" But she was innocent all the time, YOU
II amt so oversure about that" replied Mr..
Nash, with shake OF her head. Its queer
NOW, look here" shouted John. roused nv
this persistent injustice; what is there queer
about II, should like to know? Here's my wal
iesmslapplng his poeket-''and I've told you
where found 1t. And you know as well as 1
no nd
that that girl OF yours had no more to do with
1t than the babe unborn. It's her pardon |
youl drop the subject, land just make it up to the
poor thing by being extra kind, as 1t were. for
The bad day We've made her spend"
Mrs. Nash seemed by no means modified by
ms not oVerludlclouS appeal, and as soon as
her duties as hostess would permit, left the
room, mutter1ng under her breath something
which John dld not catch. He was too sleepy to
drew her veil over the days vicissltudes.
J., Hurrying out to the barn the next morning
his attention to bench outside the kitchen
door; where sat figure crumpled up into a for
lorn little heap, In which he recognized the
bonnet. and a bundle lay beside her Her face
was hidden on her arms, which were crossed on
the back Of the bench.
why what's the matter?n said John. turn
ing back.
The girl looked up, with start. 81 beg YOUR
pardon" she faltered. Tam Just going.
didn't mean to stay so long,"
''GOing? Nhere?"
Il don't know where" she said, dejectedly. ard
Try for another place, only there doesn't seem
much much chance OF getting one without any recon-
do tou mean to say that they are sending
you I away from here9"
But. In the name of goodness. why?"
Il don't know. Mrs. Nash says She don't like
10 have servants about who are suspected of
steallng' The blue eyes filled again as she
spoke. and she hid her face.
by George! / never heard of such Injustice
In my life, shouted John. "Now, Lucy, If that's
your name, you just sit still where you are
D H you stir I or move tn come back. I'll see
TO put things right seems easy enough to q
strong, hearty man, with justice and argument
on his side, but that Is because he does not CAL
crOtchetS Of human nature especially woman
nature, which have no relation to Justice and
ialr dealing, and are unaffected by argument.
Mrs. Nash proved tmperv1ous to Johns choicest
appeals He mind was made up: She ..ddn't
want to hear no more On the Subject finally.
her temper rising. what business was 1t of his,
See an1 hse what help she kept OF Il she
back; accounts were squared between them;
there was no further call, so far as she could
see, why he should NEEDLE with her concerns.
Inc upShOt OF the Interview was that John flew
out OF the kitchen with his face as red as Are,
tackled his horses, threw valiSe and feed-bagS
into the wagon; flung the amount of his reckon
ing On the table. and addressing Lucy, who.
pale and terrified, stood, bundle In hand. pre-,
pared for flight, called out:
,, !" Now: then, my good girl, you've lost one
| oher you another. VIII you jump into my
wagon. and go home with me? My old WON an S
beeh talking this long piece back Of getting
smart girl to help along when she's laid up with
rheumatics; SO you're just the one We want.
She'll treat you fairly enough. I'll be bound aud
you snall nave Whatever you We're getting here.
AND If you behave yourself, you'll be well used,
not turned out OF doors for nothing; I'll engage
10 that: 1t Is mt the way up In our parts" with
VlndictlVe look at the landlady, who stood
rigidly planted In the doorway. 1--WE don't set
up 10 be extra Christians, but there's little
honesty and decency left among US, which is
more than can be said for all places. Well
what DO you say? Yes or no. There's my hand
He held out his broad palm. Lucy hesita ed,
but FOR moment only.
Yes, WILL" she Said. ''Tge nowhere else
10 go, and you seem kind"
Another mofaent, and they were driving off
together down the maple-shaded road whose
yellow and crimson boughs danced overhead
against ''OctoberS bright blue weather. There
were peace and calming IN the fresh stiffness of
the early day. Gradually a little color stole
INTO Lucy's pale cheeks. and Johns hot mood
you've had no breakfast, I'll bet he said
with a smile "And no more have |. / was SO
MAD with that woman that couldn't swallow a
mouthful, but now begin TO feel sharp enough.
Wen stop at the next tavern. SouthWick. isn't
| 1t? Five miles and halt. Can you hold out
| I'LL then?r N'
'.oh yes, indeed" with grateful look out OF
The blue eyes.
Johns tone grew more and more friendly.
we ~ nave something hot and hearty there"
re said. You lock pale. guess you didn't
sleep any too much last night
Ion, couldn't sleep at all. Mrs. Nash told
me that must go theIirSt thing in the morn
| ing, ana felt so badly
:" shouldn't think you would want to stay
with woman like that"
. But It's so dreadful to have nowhere to 90
10. And besides She stopped abruptly
with look like terror In her eyes,
- Have you no friends, them, asked John
" NO." The tone was very reserved. but re-
serve could hardly fail to melt under so sun
SHINY presence as John Boyd's and before the
| long dayS ride was DONE he had won from her
| the main facts OF her story.
Lucy DIN was ner name. Her mother had
! married for the second time when Lucy was
/ Twelve years old, and three years ago. when the
giri was barely fifteen had died, leaving her to
! The protection OF her Step-father
she didn't know what sort OF a man he
was said Lucy. "And he wasn't that kind OF
man when she was alive. was too young to
notlce much, and mother always put herself be
tween him and me when things went wrong.
AFTER she died 1t was dreadful EIktns-that7s
MS s0n-came home to live. He never lived
there before, and-and he"
" wanted to marry you?"
=" eS; and his father said must But WAS
aIrald OF h1m-of them both. And people began