Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-07-14


know what suffering was once, and she
known that while sorrow and pain soft
eNs some natures, it hardens and en-
b ters others.
Ars. Denton lived entirely alone on
the outskirts Of the village, in little,
old, weather-beaten house she had
bought when she first came to Brier-
vile, ten years before. Weeds grew
tall and rank in the yard, the sunken
steps leading to the door were half
buried in vines, the well-curb was bro
ken, the gate fallen to the ground, in
fact, everything about the place spoke
of ruin and decay.
Not a very cheerful place, GER
tainly," muttered Miss Keziah, as the
day following the meeting of the sew
ing circle, she drove up to the Widow
DentOn's and hitched her horse to the
tuEble-down fence which partially en-
closed the yard. "Now, Hetty, you sit
right still till 1 come back, and don't
start old Moll."
Hetty was diminutive neice of
Miss Keziah's, a golden-haired, blue
eyed child of six years of age, who
had been left 10 her aunt as the sole
legacy of an only sister.
Miss Keziah walked up the grass
grown path, and knocked boldly on
Mrs. Denton's door.
Before her knuckles had fairly left
1t, the door was flung open by Mrs.
Denton herself, who stood sileatly re-
garding her visitor, with an expression
of resentment and indignation.
"HOw dye do, Mrs. Denton? Pm
Keziah Fletcher. Perhaps you've
heard tell of me before. l was at
HelmstOne a considerable spell, an
since I've got back I've been laid by
with the Theumatis', or / would have
called before. l come to see If you'd
take tea to my house tonight. I'll
make you comfortable, an it'll be a
sort o. change for YOU"
Mrs. Denton made no reply. She
stood staring at her visitor as if she
had not heard her words. Then her
eyes wandered to the gate, and fell at
last upon the spring wagon and its
small occupant, whose golden curls
were escaped from the close sun-bOn-
net which shielded her face from the
MONDAY sun.
"Is that your child?" she asked,
abruptly, but without taking her gaze
from Hetty. There was a hungry
yearning look in her eyes as she spoke,
n tremor in her voice.
"Land sakesl no indeedP" calculated
Miss KeZiah, with virtuous horror in
her tone. 81 never was married. The
only man ever cared a straw for was
drowned at sea, and those that cared
for me was mostly mercenary i'm their
views. IIetty's my sister James child.
Jane, she died at HelmstOne some six
months back. Come, won't you Jump
in the wagon and go with me? / didn't
low to be disappointed in having you
to tea, so l made all ready for YOU"
Eyes, I'll come" said Mrs. Denton,
withdrawing her gaze from Hetty, who
was grasping the reins with ludicrous
earnestness, as if the steadiness of old
Moll depended entirely upon her.
She went into the house and put on
an old-fashioned straw bonnet and a
faded black merino shawl. Then she
walked down the path and climbed into
the wagon after Miss Keziah. without
uttering q word.
"You forgot TO lock your door," said
the careful spinster, as she took the
reins from Hetty's little hands.
A bitter smile curled Mrs. Denton's
lips.
"I never lock it," she said; "there is
nothing in the house worth stealing"
The two women logged along the
quiet country road, with the child be-
tween them, Miss Keziah talking on
Indifferent subjects in her kind, sensi-
ble, whole-hearted way. She did not
allude to her visitors SORROWS, nor did
she mention the visits paid to the lonely
cottage by other members of the sew
ing circle.
A man took the horse when they
reached Miss Keziah's farm, which was
a mile from the center of the town,
and one of the finest in the country.
1t was well cultivated, we'll stocked
with fruits of various kinds, and its
buildings were all comfortable and
roomy, the house itself being built of
stone, in a substantial, old-fashioned
manner.
Miss Keziah led the way into her
sitting-room, and helped her visitor
take OF her bonnet and shawl.
"IIave this easy chair, Mrs. Denton"
she said with great cordially, "and
make yourself at home. I've got to see
to supper, but guess Hetty kin amuse
you a spell. Hetty, mind you're good
while I'm gone"
She left the room and was absent
nearly half an hour. When she re-
turned Mrs. Denton had Hetty on her
lap and was telling her fairy story.
The first smile the poor woman's face
had worn for nearly year, rushed on
1t as she looked up at Miss Keziah's
entrance and said, "She reminds me so
much of my little Bertha. You can't
tell the good It does me just to hold her
in my arms-they have been empty so
long"
A deep sigh followed the words.
"rm glad she hasn't bothered YOU"
said Miss Keziah. cheerfully. "But
now come in to tea guess you're
pretty nigh famished a-waitin' for IL"
A sumptuous repast was in readiness.
Broiled chicken, cold ham, light bis
cult apple, grape, and pumpkin pie.
doughnuts, pound cake and cookies,
composed the bill of fare, concluding
with every variety of sweetmeat and
condiment preserves, pickles, honey
and cheese. Miss Kezia could not
have arranged a better feast had she
been expecting bishop to tea, instead
Of the widow whose stony heart she
wished 10 soften.
With a cordial smile the spinster
mOtioned her guest to a seat, and, after
putting Hetty in high chair, reverent-
ly asked blessing.
81 didn't put up as many kinds Of
preserves as usual this year." she OBJ
4