Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1882-12-14

l
To but fell death. Death is the Boss Butter.
From ButtviIle- don't you forget II, Billy;
He laid thee low. ga ~ -
-Post-Despatch.
BELLA.
A hot August day; dusty country
road, or rather lane, on the fringe OF
Dartmoor, far away from all towns or
any signs OF civilization, save an occa-
sional alehouse. The lane is narrow, as
all lanes thereabouts are, the banks
high, and the hedges that grow along
their ridges higher still, overhanging
till they meet in the centre, and SO form
. perfect bower of shade, grateful
enough to the solitary pedestrian who
trudged steadily onwards, despite the
heat of the day-a handsome young
! man, with perspiring brow, toiling up
parched roadside, laden with an ar
lists sketching paraphernalia.
''Whewm he exclaimed, pausing a
moment to shift his easel to the other
shoulder, and lift his. straw hat an in.
stant from his moist curls, ''this is get
| ting monotonous."
Maurice Dering was a good traveller,
and was not deferred by the heat, dust
or distance, but for more than . mile
the close branches had twinkled unbro-
ken overhead on either side his way, mot
a dwelling or glimpse of landscape to
| be seen.
| He covered his blonde curls and re-
sumed his walk. He intended to put
up for the night at the next house.
He reached it at last-a low, broad
farmhouse, with cattle lowing in the
! yard, and q sour-visaged woman gath.
| ering up milk-pans from bench by the
door. 1855
/ ''Good evening, madam! Can get
put up here for the nightp' asked Mau-
rice. coming rather gladly to a stand
stal under the doorway, and relieving
| himself Of his burdens. -
The woman gave him a sharp glance,
which however seemed to be satis-
factory. |
.sThis amt q public" !" she answered,
''but rve got room I don't mind let
ting. Come and look at it," and went
within doors. 49,
The artist followed.
Mrs. Treyethick, however, instantly
disappeared beyond his sight, and he
found himself in a low. long room,
| with an open fireplace filled with ever.
green bushes, and swarm of flies de-
vouring sickly baby. asleep on a
chintz-covered sofa. The whole house
was filed with the odor Of boiled bacon
and greens, and was quite breathless.
The Young man retreated again into
theopen air, and sat down on the bench
where the miikpans had been, tanning
himself with his straw hat
| The interminable hedges had come tt
an end here, and vista of low-lyine
emerald meadows and silvery, curvine
river opened against the sunset sky.
The heat was tempered by the gath
ering dampness. bringing sense OF
| refreshment and rest, which was speed
| lily banished by sounds from within.
First came the bump and jingle of q
tray of dishes set upon the table, then
an excited female voice.
BELLA! Bella! say! lift that sauce
| pan off the fire; then come an take this
young one off my skirts an lay the ta-
ble. There's gentleman here to sup
| per-a painter chap leastways. There!
Keep out from under my feet, then!'
A bump, the scream of q child, the
wailing of two children.
Harmony, sweet harmony!' hum
! med Maurice, rising and walking down
the lane.
/ The open air was sweet; the sunset
/ sky magnificent gold. At the end of
the lane was q spring, running into a
rocky basin, pretty IS a poem. He for
got Mrs. Trevethick, and strolled and
mused, watching the lights and shad-
! ows, and breathing the perfume of
white clover and sweet-brier, until a
shrek of ''Sup-p-err' from the open
doorway recalled him 10 the house.
''Supper's all ready, young man." sa-
luted Mrs. Trevethick from the dusky
interior. ..Wash yourself. There's
plenty of water in the kitchen sink.
Bella, you show him. Amt got any
brush. You can shake your coat out to
the door,"
Maurice's smile of amusement as he
followed these suggestions was sudden
ly arrested by the sight of young
face, so deadly pale and sad that in an
instant he forgot everything else.
"Here is water" said tho girl called
Bella. She had q baby In her arms,
another by the hand. 1.-The towel is
Clean" she added timidly.
She had sweet and gentle voice,
Thank you! Never mind me. I'll
do very well now, replied Maurice,
plugging into . swimming basin of ice.
cold water. 81.
But he watched Bella, as she sat wea.
rilv down upon q stool, and placing
both babies In an antiquated cradle, be
gan to rock them, softly singing. The
| -llx.a! L3,S aox, q NJ, Sc. ~
squal1ed Justify; but she persevered pa.
tiently, until both were asleep. Then
she rose and waited on the table.
There was large family of rough
men, redolent Of the Darn-yard, who
energetically devoured the meal, witt
their elbows at right-angles. plying fori
and knife alternately. on trips to ant
fro between plate and mouth, givins
either no rest until the last Drumming
saucer Of hot tea had been emptied. and
the repleted eater rose and lounged on
at the door.
/ Maurice thanked his stars that b.
was blessed with the digestion of an os
trich, rs he rose fron the table of greas,
bacon. greens, and potatoes, and no
saffron bread.
4 He, too, went out for q breath o
fresh air. but could hear Mrs. Treve
thick scolding Bella.
4 Don't want no supper? Umph
/ that's all fancy. Sit right down her
an go to eatin'! II you don't cat ye1
can't work, an the works got TO b
I done. No appetitsf Well, eatip' 7
make An Appetite C0n,e. be quick
There's the dishes to wash, clothes
, be folded. bread to set. hash to chop
! fowls to get in, an bed made up !
the spare chamber. - 3 ~
81 Maurice spent the evening under th
stars, responsive to his hosts civil e
forts to entertain him. and listenin
| with inward amusement to the unse
4 phisticated remarks Of the Others COL
cerning his art
n He learned also thai other artists ha
{ been before him, and made pictures I
) views pronounced by them unexceptiol
y n13xr tina p