Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-05-13

ana a-BaylnR HI uhy tnnt hkelJ 40 not
this scare would turn out all for moth
word, but just kept on TO that poor
| thing inside there, and she's nothing to
blame all the time. | declare, it's too
bad the way women act to each other
and folks calling them the softer sex"
| A man would be ashamed to be so hard.
| Well, do tell and so the money was
| A. living there in the dust all the time!
| Well. I'm mighty glad, for your sake
and ours too. 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 ut the denouement.
Its mix khty queer she remarked, as
| she set the last dish on the table, i
don't feel as II we'd got to the bottom OF
it yet. Why didn't Lucy deny more
:But she did, said John, between
two mouthfuls; she said she hadn't
got it,
'Whv, course she said as much as
that. You didn't eapect her { o say that
she had got it, did youp reioined the
landlady, with n fine scorn. But she
didn't speak up violent and bold, az
you'd expect an innocent girl would
But she was innocent all the time.
you know
I amt 80 over sure about that re-
piled Mrs. Nash, with shake of her
head. Its queer business
Hurrying out to the barn next morn
ing in the best OF spirits, low signing
sob called Johns attention to Il 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. Il
beg your pardon she faltered. I'm
just going. / didn't mean to stay so
long
'Goingp Where9'
L don't know where she said, de-
jectedly. I'D try for 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
Yes
But, in the name of goodness. why7'
L don't know. Mrs. Nash says she
don't like to have servants about who
are suspected of stealing The blue
eyes filed 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. Don't stir
or move till I come back. I'll see Mrs.
Nash. I'll put things right
To put things right seems easy enough
TO trong. hearty man, with justice
and argument on his side, but that is
because he docs not calculate properly
on those queer bitches and crotchets Of
human 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 waLt To bear |
no more on the subject : finally, her |
temper rising, what business was it OF |
his. she demanded. what help she kept, |
or II she kept any help at allp He'd got |
his pocketbook back; accounts were |
squared between them; there was no |
further call, so far as she could sec, why |
he should meddlc 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 fced-bas 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:
Now, then. my good girl, you've lost
one place by my fault. and I'm blamed
If don't offer you another. VIII you
Jump into my wagon and go home with
me? My old woman's been talking this
long piece back of getting n smart girl
to help along when she's laid up with
the rlieumatics; so you're just the one
we want She'll trea. 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 for
way up in are parts with vindictive
look nj the landlady, who stood rigidly
planted in The doorway. We don't set
up to 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 sayp Yes
or no. There's my hand on 1t IL it's
yes
He held out his broad palm. Lucy
hesitated. but for moment only.
Yes, will, she eaid. I've nowhere
else to go, and you seem kind
Another moment and they were driv-
ing off together down the maple-shaded
road, whose yellow and crimson boughs
danced overhead against 'October's
bright blue weather. There were peaee
and calming in the fresh stiffness OF the
early day. Gradually little color stole
into Lucy's pale cheeks, and Johns hot
mood gave place TO wonted good humor
and chee-.
You've had no breakfast, I'll bet, he
said, with n smile. And no more have
|. / was so mad with that woman that
couldn't swallow n mouthful, but now
begin 10 feel sharp enough. Wen
stop Mt the next tavern. oouthwick,
4.