Sharp County record., 1880-08-19

her to visit them, that she might see
their children. But they never did it.
While they were hanging out the
clothes that afternoon, Mrs. Taney
heard tap, three times repeated, on
the orchard fence. Letty's face colored.
She dropped the clothes and ran behind
the apple tree. As she came back her
mother saw her thrust note into her
pocket. Mrs. Taney grew suddenly
sick at heart. Lefty with a secret,
Lefty carrying on clandestine love af-
fair?
While Mrs. Taney stood, doubling
whether to ask the child for her conf
dence, Lefty had disappeared. A few
moments later, the girl went down the
road in her clean dress and sunbonnet.
1t was but a trife, yet it stunned the
jaded woman, as a sharp blow would
have done.
The other farmer daughters kept up
perpetual, vulgar flirting and secret
courtships. But Lefty was her own
eve lamb, delicate and pure.
Mr.. Burke, coming over the fields
that afternoon with his hatchet and bag
of specimens, was amazed to see Lefty
standing in the road in earnest CONVEX
sation with man. "a coarse, red
iawed, beery fellow" was his angry
verdict: The fellow talked long and
earnestly. Then took Letty's hand and
pressed it fervently. Burke turned his
back on them and struck across the
hills. The girls mother should hear OF
this at once, he said to himself decided
ly. Then he slackened his pace. What
was it to him? Why should he vex him.
self about this girl? Or meddle in her
love affairsP He went slowly back to
the hills. But the blood rushed with a
strange beat through his veins.
In an hour Lefty was back and at
work with redoubled yigor, to make up
for lost time. Her mother scanned her
innocent meek face with breathless
terror.
Surely there was no guilt there. She
would not doubt her; she would not ask
question.
II have dressed the table with flow.
ers," the mother said, "and made
cake-a real bride's cake. Ihope Will,
lam won't be angry. But this is SC
different from weddings in Virginia. D,
Lefty, if you and l could only 60 to the
old house and sleep for one night in the
room which was mine when l was
child. 1 think just that little thing
would give me years of life"
There they come" cried Lefty, as
the big Crawford carriage was seen
dashing up the road. She grew very
pale and shrank back. The girl had al
ways been afraid of her brother Will.
lam; and his wife, she suspected, would
be as hard ruler and a more vulgar
one.
But Mrs. fancy led her to the porch
"You must welcome them, Lefty
she said.
The bride watched them from the
carriage window, with keen, jealous
eyes. Her father had given her hint
as to her future course.
you've made good match, Sophy,'
he said. "Bill Taney's got as long
purse as any man in the country anC
the farms comfortable. But the ole
woman an her da' ater will be draw
back. They'll t1y to ride over yor
rough-shod, likely. Just take you
stand at once. Let 'em see you will bt
mistress in your own house"
"Trust me for that, pappy," sale
Miss Sophy.
The whole Crawford family had &C
companied her to see how she would
hold her ground.
When poor Mrs. Taney stepped for
ward, therefore, her thin face redden
ING and her hands held out, the bride
received her welcome with careless
nod.
81 hope you will be happy in you
new home, my dear" said the gentle
lady.
80, no doubt, ma'am! 1 generally
hold my own pretty well. Come in
pappy. Come, Sue. want you to see
my house, before it is dark. Here's the
living room. Bill must fit that up into
a parlor-double quick, TOO. Dye hear
Mr. TaneyP" laughing loudly. "Yor
needn't trouble yourself, ma'am, tt
show the way. Come along, all Of
you"
William stopped and looked with sud
den pity at his mother and then follow.
ed his wife, who went, talking loudly,
up the stairs.
Mrs. Taney and Lefty placed the
supper on the table. The bride came
in, the noisiest of the noisy party. She
went hastily to the head of the table
saying: "This is my place, believe
William gravely motioned his mother
to seat among the strangers. His wits
bore herself as though she had been
mistress for years and found fault freely
when the humor seized her. The bread
was dry as chaff, the ham was bitter
with salt, she said
THAT your idea of cooking, mother
Taney, ehp I'll give you hint or two
tomorrow. We young people have
progressed you know"
mot that l mean to take the work
out of their hands," she said to her sis
ter aside. "No, no! If we feed 'en
they've got to earn their bread"
Lefty overheard the whisper, and hel
scared face grew shade paler.
Every nice old silver, William" sale
the bride directly, weighing the spoons