The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-10-28

DanOS 40 lJE'
Good gracious! DO you want har-
and mother Taney can do it at your
leisure. Do you suppose your brother
paws men such ruinous wages to wait
OH a lot of womenp"
"You have always done it," said
William.
4" 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-haneed. You can't
afford to keep parcel of able-bodied
women in idleness if you ever mean to
buy the meadow lots"
"That's factp The mention of the
lots Ike yed his courage.
When he came back that afternoon
he found Sophy resplendent in pink
lowered 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 ghost on the threshold.
"Come to mother" she said.
"What is the matterp"
"You have killed her, 1 think"
quietly.
The poor old woman had sunk down
on the floor of the cellar and lay as if
dead.
William trembled as he lifted her.
The doctor of the village happened to
pass at the moment.
mo, she is not dead" he said, after
examining her. "Great exhaustion.
1t will be long illness. She must have
rest and careful nursing"
T,pttv steDnpd forward UShn will
have both. Mr.. Burke, will you carry
her to Mrs. Wright's, across the roadp
She has promised to give me a room"
The crowd about her were so stunned
at the child's action that they did
nothing to oppose it
Mr.. Burke promptly lifted the thin
figure in his arms, and had laid her in
Mrs. Wright's shaded spare room be-
fore William had recovered his senses.
Don't you see how disgraceful this
looksP" Sophy cried, shaking him.
Your mother turned out! What will
folks sayP"
He hurried after Lefty, scolding and
ordering them back. But Lefty did not
answer him.
Mrs. Wright will charge boarding.
Dye hear?"
o. shall pay her." said Let y, 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 quieter
than hers. She was willing. to pay the
boarding TO insure comfort to dear
Mother Taney," etc. Secretly she re-
joiced to escape the trouble OF the sick
woman.
When Mrs. Taney was able to come
down to the porch of the cool farm
rDx Yh t,,,.
William and his wife. The doctor was
there, and Mr.. Burke and Judge Wright,
and little Lefty and a man whom Mr..
Burke at once recognized as "the fel-
low," and so he turned his back on him
contemptuously.
you've got quite color, Mother
Taney," said Sophy. You II soon be
ready to come over. Help with the
canning, ehP"
Mrs. Taney," said the doctor,
grave.y, "needs long season of reEt
before her health is restored. / have
recommended a change OF air, jour
ney-"
William exchanged alarmed glances
with his wife.
" Why, YOU must takes u, for mil
lionaires, Doc" she cried. ",Caangc. o'
airP Journeyp That sort of prescrip-
| SlOh SSllIo Slu1 lnC -eluiSo' puO
wives, who have to earn their living,
can't take time for such folderols."
The doctor would have answered, but
Unity put her hand on his arm. There
was faint piEk on her cheek and her
blue eyes sparkled like steel.
Fortunately my mother" she said,
gently, " is not in such strait. l have
made arrangements tor 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
a long change of air"
William turned CHASTITY pale.
Bought! What money had youP"
| "Her own share of the estate" said
Judge Wright, calmly. Letitia is o,
age. She seems to have been always
under the impression that she and her
mother were dependent on you. She
ago, and /, 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
vest it in Virginia land. Mr.. Hipps
made the purchase for her." nodding to
the beery lawyer, who nodded gravely
back.
Mr.. Burke moved suddenly over to
his side, with beaming recognition.
"How do you propose to live ON this
farmp" said William.
my mother will withdraw her por-
tion of the estate" said Lefty. "She is
entitled to third. you know"
Withdraw Thirdsp Why, I've use
for it. If she does that have done with
the meadow lots!"
His voice was like that of an enraged
dog.
"You seem, William" said Judge
Wright, "strangely to have forgotten
the position of your mother and sister.
You have drawn the interest of your
mothers money. 1t must all, of course,
be refunded. Little Lettie has a clear
head. She will manage very well. By
the way, she has suggested to me that
your wife should send over the Cleve-
land silver. and al other household
property belonging to your mother be-
fore her marriage"
When William and his wife went out
of the gate he seemed TO have shrunk
into a smaller and older man. The last
words heard from him were "lots; it's
all your fault" in fierce bitterness.
The journey of the Pens,