The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-01-08

, Mr.. fancy laughing iouuiJ'
needn't trouble yourself, ma am, to sho"
the way. Come along, all of you.
William stopped and looked with sud
den pity at his mother, then followed his
wife, who went talking loudly up the
stairs.
Mrs. Taney and Lefty placed the sup
per on the table. The bride came in, the
noisiest of the noisy party. She went
hastily to the head of the table, saying
"This is MY place, believe"
William gravely motioned his mother to
seat among the strangers. His wife
bore herself as though she had been mis-
tress for years, aud found fault freely when
the humor seized her. The bread was
dry as chaff, the butter was bitter with
salt, she said
"That's your idea of cooking, mother
Taney, eh? I'll give you hint or two
tomorrow. We young people have pro-
gressed, you know"
"Not that I mean to take the work out
of their hands," she said to her sister,
aside. "No, no. If we feed 'em, they've
got to earn their bread"
Lefty overheard the whisper, and her
scared face grew shade palcr
"Very nice old silver, William, said
the bride, directly, weighing the spoons
on her finger, and then reading the mark
"Cleveland, eh? You must have that
altered, please, to our initials. [ can'tus
spoons with strange names on EN-"
William glanced uneasily at his mother.
But the latter did not speak. every
we'll, my dear, it shall be as you please"
he said.
As the days heightened into weeks, the
bride found her sway becoming more alb
solute. 1t occurred to William sometimes
that she might share in the work. But
like most farmers of his class, he used to
see his mother drudge from morning until
night, and vaguely supposed it was her
natural condition of life. Sophy carried
the keys, and dealt out the provisions
Her ruddy animal beauty pleased him it
was pity, he thought, to mar it with hard
work,
Meanwhile, Mr.. Burke had taken lodg
ings with neighboring farmer. He
kept close scrutiny on Lefty; solely for
her mothers sake, he told himself She
met the "beery" fellow twice, and took
long walks with him; she received letters
from him by mail. The geologist found
this matter interested him more than his
fossils, even.
One morning, Lefty came into the room.
William stood joking with his wife, before
going to the field. They looked at her
with astonishmeut, for the girl was always
silent and shy.
"Brother, 1 want to speak to you,' she
said, catchlnS hef breatn.
"Well, go on" said sOphy, impstiently'
"What are you afraid of?'
Lefty spoke directly to William, ignor-
ing her. !sThe potatoes and apples must
be picked over, and the cellars are damp.
Could one of the hands do it?
"Good gracious Do you want har-
vesting to stop?" cried Sophy. You and
mother Taney can do it at your leisure.
Do you suppose your brother pays men
such ruinous wages to wait on a lot of
women p
"You have always done It," said Will
liam.
"Mother is not well, William
"Well, manage it as you like. | can't
be bothered with the kitchen work, he
burst out.
Lefty left the room hastily.
"That's right, William. The truth is,
you're too open-handed. You can't afford
to keep parcel of able-bodied women in
idleness, if you ever mean to buy the mea-
dow lots
"That's fact !" The mention of the
lots keyed his courage.
When he came back that afternoon, he
found Sophy resplendent in pink flower
ed muslin, entertaining half dozen girls
in the parlor. He stopped to joke and
romp with them. The next moment the
door opened, and Lefty stood like ghost
on the threshold.
"Come to mother 7" she said.
"What is the matter ?"
"You have killed her, I think" she
said, quietly.
The poor old woman had sunk down on
the floor of the cellar, and lay as if dead.
William trembled as he lifted her
The doctor of the village happened to pass
at the moment.
"No, she is not dead" he said, after
examining Fer. "Great exhaustion. Il
will be a long illness. She must have rest
and careful nursing"
Lefty stepped forward. "She will have
both. Mr.. Burke, will you carry her tc
Mrs. Wright's, across the road She has
promised to give me ROOM
The crowd about her were so stunned
at the child's action that they did nothing
to oppose it.
Mr.. Burke promptly lifted the thir
figure in his arms, and had laid her in the
bed in Mrs. Wrights, shaded spare room
before William had recovered his senses
Don't you see how disgraceful this
looks ?" sophy cried, shaking him. "Youl
mother turned ont What will folks say2'