Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-01-06

and thought we would talk about some
thing else.
1 will explain now what had detained
John. We learned about it in good time.
There was an Irish family living little
Wy from his fathers house. They were
always in trouble and always keeping the
neighbors in trouble. That night, just as
John was ready to start for meeting, his
mother came to the door looking quite
distressed.
'John," she said, ''Maggie McCreery
and her children are in the kitchen, and
Peter has come home drunk again.
sis he very bad ?" said John, who knew
his neighbor of old.
eyes. o., John, he has given her
terrible black eye! She and the children
just fed for their lives, and they are crying
and walking SO that could hardly get
their story out of then.'
"Well, what can We do 20
"Why, somebody has got to go down, you
know. John. He was as wild as a mad
man. They left him crashing the dishes
upon the floor and putting the bed-clothes
and furniture into the fire. Maggie is
afraid he'll set the house afire, and he's in
fair way to do it you know, and burn
himself up in it.''
1.-The best thing he could do, muttered
John.
"You mustn't say so, you know, dear. :. |
hate to have you 60 down there, but it's
dreadful to think of the poor raving crea-
ture just left to himself"
"Where are the others 20 said Joha.
"Why Bess and Mark have gone to the
fair in Barton. There's only Buell. at
home, and he's hardly old enough to 60
down there alone"
"No," said John, throwing off his coat,
81 suppose we got to go with him. Tell
him to get q rope. Well have to tie the
wretch and then send for the sheriff.
Its dreadful you should have to go,
DEAR" said his mother pityingly, land just
when you were all ready for meeting. The
girls will be waiting for you too. But
you'll fisl sorry enough for Maggie, poor
thing, MA you see her. And there's no
time to- e lost. You can hear Peter ours
ing and throwing things clear up to our
kitchen door,
AS John and Buell. were ready to start
Maggie said: "Shure, sur, if ye see me
COW in the road, wud ye phase drive her
back forninst ye? Peter left the gate
open when he come in, andlI was that dis
tracted 1 didn't see the craytur till she
was gone. The byes will be havin her in
the pound in glffy, and sorra cent is
again!'
John did not see the COW. She was like
the rest of the McCrserys, unexpected in
| her movements. But Jennie and l saw
her, grazing along the road side, with her
head turned the other way from home. |
had presentiment of mischief the mo-
ment 1 caught si0ht OF her i half-stnn-
ped saying. "There's Peter McCreerys
COW. How could they let her get out
Now if the boys put her in the pound they
never can raise fifty cents to Get her cut.
I've great mind to drive her back a little
ways, Jennie, just to get her headed to-
| ward home"
But Jennie was too impatient. "Please
don't stop, Phoebe" she said. ''It's not
your place to do it, and we'ce so late
already"
| It was SO late that all the pews on the
girls side of the choir gallery were filed,
except the two farthest back. By gong
to the head Of one of these could be
among the altos, and Jennie by gong to
the head Of the other could be among the
sopranos, while at the same time we could
sit together. I was glad to be near her
that night, and knew she was glad to
have me, she was so nervous. I hoped the
singing would quiet her, and SO it did for
little while. But she could not get quite
out of her futter Proud as she was she
could not help casting a glance, now and
| then, toward the door, and occasionally
she would give little sigh. She was un-
easy every min ute till he came.
| And oh, dear she was good deal more
uneasy afterward. For-will you believe
it ?-who should walk in that door beside
John bus Jessie Sears
She did look pretty that night. There was
no denying her good looks even when you'd
lost every bit of faith in her. Tonight
she wore new pink muslin dress: a thin,
feecy, white shawl was round her Shout
ders, and one point of it was laid over the
enough to hide the pretty pink rose she
had stuck between them. She was all
smiles and brightness. We usually sat
near the front, but Jessie spied where we
were the moment she came in. John,
however, did not see us. He pushed TO-
ward the front row, and Jessie of course
followed him. She did not mind it that
every eye was upon her. She was as COM
| posed and complacent as possible.
Somebody moved up to make room for
| aisle. Before she was fairly seated she
had contrved to drop her handkerchief,
and John was obliged to stoop and pick it
| up for her. I saw his face then. 1t was
gay and smiling like .Jessie's, but be looked
pale and tired. 1t somehow set me con-
sidering. When had first seen him COM
| ing in with Jessie my heart had stood still,
and then was so angry / could have sha-
ken my fist at him. There he sat; the
same old John, and couldn't believe he
| was traitor. Yet, what had brought
him here in Jessie's company The more
1 cooled down, however, the more sure I
was it would be explained in some way.
But Of course Icy feeling couldn't help
Jennie at all, just now. l knew she had
jumped to her own conclusions, How she
Strengthened up! There were no signs,
and no more turnings of her head. The
color was fixed in two bright spots upon
her cheeks. She looked right at her book
and began to sing so clear and strong that
was fairly startled, and was afraid every
body would notice the change. John
knew we'll enough where she was by this
time. He gave one half glance round, that