Sharp County record., 1880-08-19

room, where William stood joking with
his wife, before going to the field. They
looked at her with aStOniShment, for the
girl was always silent and shy. .
brother, l want to speak to you, 4"
she said, catching her breath.
"Well, 90 on" said Sophy, inpatient
ly. "What are you afraid off"
Lefty spoke directly to William, ig-
noring her. 1.-The potatoes and apples
must be picked over and the cellars are
damp. Could one of the hands do itP"
"Good gracious! Do you want har-
vesting to Stop?" cried Sophy. "You
and mother Taney can do it at your
leisure. Do you suppose your brother
pays men such ruinouS wages to wait
on lot of women?n
"You have always done it" said
William.
"Mother is not well, William"
"Well manage it as you like. can't
be bothered with the kitchen work," " he
burst out.
Lefty left the room hastily.
"That's right, William. The truth
is, you're too open-handed. You can't
afford to keep parcel of able-bodied
women in idlenesS if you ever mean to
buy the meadow lots"
"That's fact!' The mention of the
lots keyed his courage.
When he came back that afternoon,
he found Sophy, resplendent in pink
fowered muslin, entertaining half a
dozen girls in the parlor. He stopped
to joke and romp with them. The next
moment the door opened and Lefty
stood like a ghost on the threshold.
"Come to mother" she said.
"What is the matter?'
"You have killed her, l think, "
quietly.
The poor old lady had sunk down
on the floor of the cellar, and lay as If
dead.
Will trembled as he lifted her. The
doctor of the village happened to pass
at the moment.
"No, she is not dead" he said, after
examining her. "Great exhaustion.
1t will be long illness. She must
have rest and careful nursing"
Lefty stepped forward. "She will
have both. Mr.. Burke, will you carry
her TO Mrs. Wright's, across the roadP
She has promised to give me room" "
The crowd about her we're so stunned
at the child's action that they did moth
ing to oppose it.
Mr.. Burke promptly lifted the thin
figure in his arms and had laid her in
the bed in Mrs. Wright's shaded spare
room before William had recovered his
senses.
"Don't you see how disgraceful this
looksP" Sophy cried, shaking him
"Your mother turned out. What will
folks say?"
He hurried after Lefty, scolding and
ordering them back. But Lefty did not
answer him.
"Mrs. Wright will charge boarding.
Dye hearP"
II shall pay her." said Lefty, quietly.
Mrs. Taney's illness lasted for weeks,
Williams wife smoothed the matter
over to the community as best she
could. The Wright house was more
quiet than hers. She was willing tC
pay the boarding to insure comfort tc
dear Mother Taney," etc. Secretly she
rejoiced to escape the trouble of the
sick woman.
When Mrs. Taney was able to come
down to the porch of the cool farmhouse
for the first time, she sent for William
and his wife. The doctor was there,
and Mr.. Burke and Judge Wright and
little Lefty and man whom Mr.. Burke
at once recognized as "the fellow,
and so he turned his back on him con-
temptuously.
you've got quite color, Mother
Taney," said Sophy. "You'll soon be
ready to come over. Help with the
canning ehP"
"Mrs. Taney," said the doctor,
gravely, needs long season of rest be-
fore her health is restored. l have re-
commended a change of air, a jour,
ney-"
William exchanged alarmed glances
with his wife.
"Why you must take us for million.
aires, doc," she cried. "Change Of
air9 JourneyP That sort of prescription
suits city, fine ladies. But farmers
wives, who have to earn their living,
can't take time for such folderols."
The doctor would have answered, but
Lefty put her hand on his arm. There
was faint pink on her cheek, and her
blue eyes sparkled like steel.
Fortunately my mother" she said
gently, sis not in such strait. | have
made arrangements for her to take the
journey. We are going tomorrow to
Virginia, l have bought her old home
and we shall live there. She will have
3 long change of air"
William turned ghastly pale.
bought? What money had youP'
Her own share of the estate," said
Judge Wright, camly. "Letitia is Of
age. She seems to have always beer
under the impression that she and hel
mother were dependent on you. She
came to ask me about it two months
ago; and l, as guardian and executor
had nothing more to do than to hand
her over her share, which was, you
know, in bonds. She has chosen to in
est it in Virginia land. Mr.. Hipp;
made the purchase for her." nodding tC
the beery lawyer, who nodded gravely
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