Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-06-16
WHOLE NO 1922

y w w 'pNtHS SHN ""ss - s's"~'
\ as that, You didn't expect her to say
! that she had got It, did YOU, rejolnsd
: the landlady with dne scorn' Bat
, she didn't speak up violent and bold,
as you'd expect an Innocent girl
would.
but she was innocent all tho time,
you know.
Il amt no oyersure about that re-
piled Mrs, Nash, with shake OF her
head, lts queer business.
Now lock here shouted John
reused by this persistent iojaslicsj
what Is there queer about II, should
like to knowf Here's my wallet
slapping his pocket--'and I've told
you where ! found Il. And you know
as well as ! do that l never did put Il
under the pillow aud that that girl
OF yours had no more TO do with 1t
than the babe unborn. lt's her par.
don I ought to beg, and yon too So
I hope, ma'am, you'll drop tho subject
and just make ii up to the poor thing
by being extra kind, as II were, for
the bad day we've made her spend
Mrs. Nash seemed by no means
modified by this not oveuudicious ap-
peal, and as soon as her duties az
hostess would permit, left the room,
mutlering under her breath some
thing winch John did not catch. He
was too sleepy TO care particularly
about the matter, and presently went
to bed, when dreamless slumber drew
her veil over tho days v,eissi,udes
Hurrying out TO the barn next
morning il. the best Of spirits, a low
signing sob called his attention to a
bench onlside the Kitchen door, where
sat figure crumpled up into n f' rlorn
little heap, in which he recognized the
pretty maid Of tho day before. She
wore her bonnet, and bundle lay be.
side her. Her face was hidden on
her arms. which were crossed on the
back of tho bench.
why, what's the matterf' said
John, turning back
The girl looked up with start, i
beg your pardon, she taltered. I'm
just going. didn't mean 70 stay so
long.
'Goingi Where ?
Il don't know where, she said, de.
jectedly. I'D try for another place.
only there doesn't seem much chance
of getting one without any recon.
mend
DO you mean to say that they are
sending you away from here1'
Yes
But in the name Of goodness,
why?
Il don't know. Mrs. Nash rays she
don't like to have servants about who
are suspected of stealing The blue
eyes filled again with tears as she
spoke, and she hid her face.
by George! I 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
you stir or move till l come back. III
see Mrs. Nash. I'll put things right.
To put things right seems easy
enough to strong, 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 human nature, especially
woman nature, which have no relation
to justice and fair dealing, and are un-
affected by argument. Mrs. Nash
proved impervious to Johns choicest
appeals. Her mind was made up;
she didn't want to hear no more on
the subject; finally, her temper rls-
ing. what business was it Of bis, she
demanded, what help she kept, or if
she kept any help at all? He'd got
his pocket book back; accounts were
squared between them; there was no
further call, so far as she could see,
why he should meddle with her con-
Germs. 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 fsed-bags in
o the wagon, flung the amount OF his
on the table, and address
ng Lucy, who, pale and terrified,
tood, bundle in hand, prepared for
light, called out:
Now, then, my good girl, you've
ost one place by my fault, and I'm
larned if don't offer you another.
viii you jump into my wagon and go
lome with met My old mothers
'een talking this long piece back Of
q smart girl to help along