The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-07-07
A Sigh escaped him ~ he bent, for . mo-

ment over her hands. >~z @~.~...
Poor little hands, he half-whispered.
This 10 hard work.a-dsy world, IL 1t
not? You have never seen it, brightness,
ito beauty, but you will some day, please
heaven. You will know what happiness
then means, Lizzie"
He bowed over her in the darkened on:
try and left ono burning kiss upon her
| lips.
Faint with emotion, Lizzie half felt her
way along the passage to the tiny rooms
stairs outside for moment to still her
quickly beating heart.
"Oh, how cruel!'' she sobbed. BE-
cause lam poor he dared to do it, and I?
Oh. how love him."
She heard shrill, sweet little voice in
the room beyond, singing, and she arose
wiped her eyes on corner of her shawl,
and softly opened the door.
A little figure lay on the low bed near the
| fire. Polly's bright golden hair fell over
her white night-dress, and in her arms,
| clasped tightly to her breast, she held a
waxen image.
At sight Of Lizzie she laughed gleefully.
See. Lizzie darling, what the fine lady
| brought me!''
Lizzie took the beautiful waxen doll ont
VI 00T Bl6k6E HI1uG6.
How splendid! But what fine lady is
it, Polly?"
"Mr. Arthur" chattered Polly, not
noting her sisters blush, brought these"
pointing to some books and toys--and then
she came in, her own self, and gave me the
doll; and oh, Liz"-with estate enjoy
ment-"the clothes comes off and on!"
Lizzie laughed.
| And who is she, Polly? It sounds like
fairy story. believe that you are a little
Cinderella living here by the fire, and hav-
ing soMe ugly old godmother to visit you
while am away"
."Old and ugly" cried Polly. II wish
that you could have seen her.-Great brown
eyes and yellow hair, Follower as mine,
and tho beautifnllest bonnet! Why, she is
come all the way from Germany, Liz! She
is Mr.. Arthur's wife"
Lizzie turned deathly pale, and sat down
as il stunned
A shutting, unsteady step sounded out
side: the door opened and old man en-
tered, accompanied by Luke Hutton.
| Both men took their seats near the fire,
and Lizzie detected at once the smell of
liquor.
With sickening sense of shame she
turned from her father to Polly.
| "Come, darling, will carry Won to bed:
you eau take all your pretty toys with Won,
and You must be up bright and early, for
tomorrow is fair-day. you know, and if you
are at the window You can see the folks CO.
ing by"
She tried to smile bravely, as the little
! cripple clasped both hands round her
| neck.
Luke arose and clumsily opened the
door for her.
As Lizzie came back for Polly's toys, he
| whispered:
Don't think to make fool of me, with
| the sly ways. A woman as allows q mar
ried man to see her home, and'k her, amt
| too good even for Luke Hutton"
How long Luke Hutton and her father
sat there she never knew. She fell asleep
waiting and listening for them to part.
Morning dawns for her at last; dawns,
life. What is it that makes her life 80
heavy that she can scafcely bear to wake
and face the morning ight?-It is not her
father nor Polly; these are old griefs made
endQraple through long habit. This pain
is bitter, poignant, piercing3her heart cruel
| ~ as she wakes into consciousness. All,
she remembers, now? It is Arthur Roll
leston's wife!
She repeats the words over and over.
with the remembrance of that kiss still up
on her lips, and then, God forgive her
longs. with longing unutterable, for an
other word, another caress from him ere he
leaves her forever!
She bushes, and the next moment hates
herself for her folly, rises hastily, dresses
Polly, and goes into the next room to find
her father gone.
A heavy day for her. She wonders With
binding tears, if all holi lays are as wretch
ed, The merry voices and loud laughter
in the streets come to her as o mockery and
her voice chokes ms she tries to join Polly
in a hymn.
The door opens, and Arthur Rolleaton
At the sound of his voice Lizzie rises
hastily.
Unmindful of Polly, he walks straiRht MP
to her, looks deep into her dark eyes, and,
bending, is about to press another kiss up-
on her lips, when, like haunted thing.
she pushes past him and escapes. He
smiles amusedly, sits down by Polly. and
transports the child to the seventh heaven
with his fairy stories and his account of
the fine shows in the fair.
He waits in vain for Lizzie, and at length
kisses Polly and goes.
Polly is in bed at last. The day is near
~ ovor, The fddlers have ceased their
playing IN the old trvern near by, and they
stand at the open window, looking out at
the moon lighted, deserted street.
Soon she sees Luke Hutton and her
father approaching the house.
The latter's step was unsteady, and Liz
zie. with bitter shame in her heart, enters
the next room and locks the door.
A few moments later she heard mutter-
ed oath and the words:
II an glad the lass is in bed. She is al
ways moithering me with her pious airs. ."
Hush! She'll hsar thee" whispered the
more cautious Luke.
well, wot if she does? Amt agoin to
make rich lady of her? Will she blame
me? Not when show her these
He held out some bank notes, and jingled
| bag of silver, triumphantly.
Lizzie had her eye at the key-hole and
shivered as she caught Of the money in her
fathers hands.
''Hould the jaw" warned Luke, land
| not a word or We are Jagged. Mind, not
one word, Or
He finished his sentence with q blood
curdling oath, slammed the door and ran
out.
Lizzie came out before her father like an
avenging angel and placed hand on the
| money.
what are you doing with this, father"
TITS no harm. lass. Luke says rs it
wasn't. would M haze took it but in an
hour or two it would a been worth naught,
They would a been as poor as if had ma
| took it.
"Where did you get it father2"
"From MIR. Ro1leston's- Office, Liz
don't be telling on me, GIRL" he whis-
pered. Don't be a-ruining your ownfa-
ther."
With resolute, set face, Lizze tied on her
hat, threw her shawl about her, and with
the precious bundle hurried silent and