The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-05-21

and Immediately afterward sayin' like the
Saviour, "lnasmuch rs ye did it not unto the
least of these ye did II not to me-"
She quoted me and frightened me, some
how, al the same tme-trightened me to think
tina, maybe had been wrong in good many
ways in my lite, as lately she had made me
seem to feel specially after last night Bu,
one thing | seen-Sllas must not know; he'd
never forgive even Emmie for harborin' q
tramp this away; he'd suffered too much
from 'em, long with every other farmer So
told her this,
That's what worries me-" she says, land
we must try to get her off before he comes
home"
at you can do that" says l. well and good
he'll never know
80, Jane she says panied like, "do you think
would deceive hims It's not that--only
fear he may show the poor woman she's not
welcome the best of men fail at times to see
in drunken womanhoOd the reason why they
shonld he most delicate to EN-"
thought this was very funny way ofreas-
Onin'. But hadn't much time 20 think of 1t,
for we both heard wheels and 10 and behold
there was Silas drivin' up He comes in mer.
ny and happy ana seem our faces, stopped IN
a,tOnlshmcnt
"Now, don't scold," ] SAYS; "it's all nv
wouldn't have seen the necessity to be SO soft"
And told him about the woman. He flush.
cd II lltle, ~ he always did when he was put
ont, and then began 10 talk serious to Emmie,
tclliH' her it was wrong and how did she know
what or who the woman WAS, and the like
The little thing began 10 cry aud he didn't of
ter to comfort her till | went and give him a
piece of my mind, as my fashion Is While
be WAS cOmtortin' her looked up, and there
was the woman on the stairs lOukln' ON, and
kind of laughn'. | made queer sort OF cry,
and Emmic and Silas looked, too Nobody
moved for "a while; then the woman come
down.
I'm goin'," she says; I'm rested"
| whispered to SilaS, keep her here min.
ute" ant rushed up stairs. lknowed it! The
drawers IN The bureau was tumbled out-dear
knows what was took, or what was left; the
woman was n thief! went t. the door and
holIcrcd, "Silas, SilaS! don't let her GO"
and telt hand on my mouth, and SIlas was
with me. Hi face nigh scared me to death
pointed to the state of the room.
Il scc,' he says, "thc woman must 90, after
after have gone to my room, aud got money
To give her" He 1as looking at me, bis eyes
shining. thought he WIS crazy. He says
again, Never tell Emmir," choked Ike.
Then he stood there looking at me All at
once, and kind Of whispering, he threw out
his arms Jane, Jane" he says "havc these
year, done 50 much? Don't you See in the wo
man something Sc knoWed long ago? THINK
ii good ways back Tell me, would | give
m0Rey To - woman who had robbed me unless
think Il Tins house think of this room and
tell mr who this woman isl"
tell back from him; seen it all He went
away, ana heard HIM iumbling in his room
heard him 20 down stairs. looked from
the winder, and seen him hurrying down TO
the gate and l felt he meant to wayay the
woman there and give her the money. | seen
my chance Of helping him in Il flash | shut
The room door and locked 1t, and put the key
in my pocket went down stairs, and seen
the woman taking leave of Emmie. "Emmie,"
| says, bold, II wish you'd skin them toma.
toeses TIL | come back I'm a-going to the
barn minute"
| know she thought | meant to show that
she could give the woman something, which
she might not like to do If was nigh | hur.
ried out and Ind in the hedge. seen Silas
meet the women, hesitate, let her pass HIM,
then go to her and hand her the money.
where do you go?" he asked, looking into
her blood shot eyes.
"To my husband" she says, and he held
down his head. She moved on he went after
her second time.
would you-could you not be little diff
crent with better people than you go with y"
he asked IN strange, Quivering voice. She
laughed wild-llke, and called him name
Then he left her, and | seen him clutching at
the fence as he walked back.
The woman comes up near me, and out |
goes. Here's money" says, putting bill
IN her hand land now give me the things you
took from that room" Without a word she
took from under her gown bundle she'd
made up of Emmie's things
YOU'RE the cussedcst set | ever met" she
says; "the whole three of you has give me
money. | believe you mean 10 do me u harm
Let's see who's the smarlest. And--lOok here |!
tell me, who are you? | don't know you. You
don't know me either But know him ha i!
yes | know HIM! And say, Is that
there gal his wife? What are YOU looking mt Z?
Let me go"
She never knowcd me- | was looking into
her face and trying TO spcer out what I'd seen
there long years ago 1t was Changed--all
changed. She went off in hurry, and
walked toward the house, feeling sick. was
glnd Emmie was III the kitchen at the toma.
,oCacs Invent up stairs, opened the door and
put all the things away-shc should never
know anything, for Sllas sake. Then | wen,
DOWN into the garden again without her seeing
me and hunted for Silas, and found him
leaning over the fence looking far, far away,
.urther than tins world, | think, and told
nm what done.
Bless you, Jane" he says. And can he
rue to Emme in marry ing her? I'm think
ny so much of them other days and the old
pain hurts yet"
Yes, be true to Emmle, marry her" says,
for you was true 10 Nahie."
"Hush!' he cries, don't speak her name
Think of her, Jane, oh, think of her!--God
lelp her! God help him! Man can't help
low."
Then Emmie, in the kitchen begun singing
! little solemn song, and her young voice
ounded just like an angels, Silas let his
read drop, and seen the tears a.running down
lis cheeks.
Don't, Sllas," says, crying right hard my.
elf don't, don't" And turned his face to- |
Lh kit.I.ar, I'D ,.ai.at..l IN