The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-04-15
lugubrious length, which only in part
changed to cheerf1lness when they

changed to cheerfulness when they
heard of the recovery of the wallet.
There, what did tell youP' cried
the husband. Haven't l ben a-saying
and a.saying all day that likely as not
this scare would turn out all for moth
ingp And you wouldn't listen TO
word, but just kept on to that poor
thing inside there, and she's nothing to
blame all the time. l declare, it's too
bad the way women act to each other
and folks calling them the softer sexp
A man would be ashamed to be so hard.
Well, do tell! and so the money was
a-lying there in the dust all the time!
Well. I'm mighty glad, for your sake
and ours 30. Go right In, sir, and wife
III give you some supper. I'll see to the
horse
Mrs. Nash waited on the meal in
grim silence. She seemed only half re.
joiced at the denouement.
It's mighty queer she remarked, as
she set the last dish on the table. Il
don't feel as if we'd got to the bottom of
it yet. Why didn't Lucy deny more
positive?'
But she did, said John, between
two mouthfuls; she said she hadn't
got it,
why, course she said as much as
that. You didn't expect her o say that
she had got it, did youp reioined the
landlady, with fine scorn. But she
didn't speak up violent and bold, as
you'd expect an innocent girl would
But she was innocent all the time,
you know
Il amt so over sure about that re-
piled Mrs. Nash, with a shake of her
head. It's a queer business
Hurrying out to the barn next morn
ing in the best of spirits, a low signing
sob called Johns attention to a bench
outside the kitchen door, where sat a
figure crumpled up into forlorn little
heap, in which he recognized the pretty
maid of the day before. She wore her
bonnet, and bundle lay beside her.
Her face was hidden on her arms,
which were crossed on the back of the
bench.
Why, what's the matterp said John,
turning back.
The girl looked up with start.
beg your pardon she faltered. I'm
Ijust going. l didn't mean to stay so
long,
L don't know whore she said, de-
jectedly. I'd try tor another place,
only there doesn't seem much chance
of getting one withou: any recon-
mend
DO you mean to say that they are
sending. you away from hereP
But, in the name of goodness, whyP'
Il don't know. Mrs. Nash says she
don't like to have servants about who
are suspected Of stealing The blue
eyes filled again rs she spoke, and she
hid her face.
BY George! never heard Of such
injustice in my life,' shouted John.
just sit still where you are Don't stir
or move till come back. III see Mrs.
Nash. I'll put thin gs right
To out things right seems easy enough
to n trong, hearty man, with justice
and argument on his side, but that is
because he does not calculate properly
on those queer bitches and crotchets of
humaa nature, especially woman nature,
which have no relation to justice and
fair dealing, and are unaffected by ar
|. gument Mrs. Nash proved impervious
to johns choicest appeals. Her mind
was made up; she didn't wait to bear
no more on the subject ; finally, her
temper rising, what business was it of
his, she demanded, what help she kept,
: or if she kept any help at alp He'd got
| us DlCh, WeIt
squared between them; there was no
iurther call, so far rs she could ee,whs
, he should meddle with her concerns.
, The upshot of the interview was that
John flew out of the kitchen with his
: face as red as fire, tackled his horses,
threw valise and feed-bag into the
wagon, flung the amount of his reckon
ing on the table, and addressing Lucy,
: who, pale and terrified, stood, bundle in
hand, prepared for flight, called out:
J Now, then, my good girl, you've lost
, one place by my fault, and I'm blamed
if don't offer you another. Will you
jump into my wagon and go home with
me? My old woman's been talking this
| long piece back of getting a smart girl
J to help along when she's laid up with
the rheumatics; SO you're just the one
we want She'll treat you fairly
enough, I'll be bound, and you shall
have whatever you were getting here
And if you behave yourself you'll be
well used. not turned out of doors fol
nothing, I'll engage to that; it isn't the
way up in are parts with a vindictivt
look at the landlady, who stood rigidly
planted in the doorway. I'VE don't SCI
up to be extra Christians, but there's 6
little honesty and decency left among
us, which is more than can be said fol
all places. Well, what do you sayP Ye!
or no. There's my hand on it if it'
yes
He held out his broad palm. Lucy
hesitated, but for moment only.
Yes, will, she said. I've nowher,
else to go, and you seem kind
/ Another moment and they were driv
ing off together down the maple-shadeC
t road, whose yellow and crimson bough,
, danced overhead against October
/ bright blue weather. There were peac,
and calming in the fresh stiffness of tn,
early day. Gradually little color stol
/ into Lucy's pale cheeks, and Johns no
mood gave place to wonted good humol
; and chee".
You've had no breakfast, I'll bet,' h
said, with smile. And no more hav,
/. was so mad with that woman tina
couldn't swallow a mouthful, but nov
| heSin to feel sharp enough. Wei
, stop at the next tavern. Southwick
isn't itP Five miles and halt. Can
t you hold out till thenP
oh, yes, indeed, with grateful lool
, out of the blue eyes.
: Johns tone grew more and more
: friendly.
'We'll have something hot and heart,
} there he said. You look pale.
/ guess you didn't sleep any too much las
: night
e 'Oh, couldn't sleep at all. Mrs
5 Nash told me that | must 90 the frs
: thing in the morning, and l felt s,
| badly
1 i shouldn't think you would want Il