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

.You ies' 60 down an see the rai
tomorrow. said his host warming. !
they parted. '.f you don't call that
spic-an' span bit o. scenery, TIM mi,
taken" and Maurice decided to 20.
When he reached his chamber th
clock struck nine. and Bella, evident
having just reached the eomplstion q
! this duty, among the manifold ones q.
signed to her, had made up the bi
feather-bed. brought water and towel.
and now stood irresolute at window
with bird-cage in her hand.
| my bird, sir. I-I-suppose he vii
trouble you"
What! that little thinga Not at all,'
replied Maurice.
His answer evidently pleased her.
Il am very glad. This is all the
place have to put him safe from
Herod."
| 'Herodr'
ssThe cat"
The big. skulking black fellow il
the kitchenp''
Bella said yes, and carefully hung ~
the cage again.
The fluffy, yellow bali On the perch
stirred, removed his head from undel
his seft wing, and looked sleepily at hel
with small black eye.
sGoldy's very knowing" murmuret
the girl, watching him. tse
The first smile that Maurice had seer
there frightened her cheek. and hl.
artist-eye noticed that her lips wert
round and red as cherries. How for
lorn and down-trodden she was! HI
/ put q kindly hand on her shortcut
nut-brown hair.
''What pretty hair you have! Whe
cuts It 50 sheriff
| MRS Trevethick. It takes 90 much
time to take care of it, when it get
long" she answered, gently, but re
moving from his touch with an invoI
untary air which made him wonder how
old this poor child was, and in 3 mo
ment she was gone.
He went down to the mill the mex
day, and made up his mind to make {
sketch of the river there. He wa,
obliged to alter hiE plans to do so; bu
the testimony OF his brother artists wal
not at fault-the view was lovely be
yond compare.
For day or two he forgot everything
but his work. He noticed, however
that the little bird in his window was
every day supplied with fresh seed and
water. and throve and sang. And dai.
ly and hourly, when he was upon thu
premises, he heard Mrs. Trevethick
scolding Bella.
He observed, at length, q tumbler,
fresh-filled every day with carnations
and velvety scarlet cardinal flowers
which were placed upon the table in
his room, making a fine bit of color
and wondered at the unsuspected taste
for beauty in Mrs. Trevethick.
At the end of the fourth day his
sketch was completed. He was exceed
ingly pleased with it, and promised te
perfect from it delightful picture.
1t would prove q success to display tt
his artist friends, and best Of all, his
mother. He had beloved mother
who hoped all things of her only son.
There was a girl, too, with q fringe
of golden hair above her delicate eye
brows, who would smile, too, if he SOLD
his picture at good price. Florenct
Atherton liked success.
He came into the house that day, the
last of his stay at the farm, with a igh1
heart, which beat more slowly at tht
sound of Mrs. Trevethick's high voice.
"Dinner won't be ready in time! Looi
sharp an get in the beef, an then pee
them potatoes. You could have go
everything going if you had liked il
hah the time. Whatever was you Z
doin'p Gettin' 3 few flowerse IL
stick up in that artist feller's chamber
of course! Ideclare if you wasn't six
teen years old I'd box your ears"
Mrs. Trevethick's voice was raised t.
such pitch that Maurice wisely de
cided it best to put in an appearance
and forthwith appeared upon tn.
scene.
He hardly liked to acknowledge t.
himself that he feared the irate wo
man would do the weak, friendless CIR
bodily injury, but instinctively hi
hastened to the door.
II shall be obliged to leave before
dinner, Mrs. Trevethick. Can have ,
lunch at half-past eleven? just q glas!
of milk, slice of your nice brown
bread and baked apple"
! EIoI cAcu mduIlCC . 6Ouuu SLOluAAsl
could bear no longer the rank vegeta.
bles and reeking fat of Mrs. Treve
thiek's table, and he ventured to sug
gest what his repast should be. III
fortunately obtained it, and then triet
to speak a last kind word to pool
Bella. s. ....+.
So she, poor little thing, had put the
flowers on his table. She sat in q cor
ner, peeling the potatoes. He wa
sure there were tears falling on he1
hands as the shreds dropped from hel
fingers. But she rose ut last, wipet
them away, and put the potatoes t.
cook over the fire.
When she had put some coal on tn.
fire, she sat down on an old chair BY
the hearth. The light struck her young
cheek, and showed it deadly white. I
struck Maurice that she would die
From the bottom of his heart he K,itiel
her, and longed to say something cheer
ing. Fortunately, Mrs. Trevethick lef
the room for a moment, and he went t,
her side; but Bella did not look up, ant
after an instant he laid a gentle hant
on her bent head.
.'This pretty hair! Don't let Mrs
Trevethick cut it off again, Bella. and
will hiring you a blue ribbon to tie j
with when come back"
Light words, but they seemed t,
bring life back again to Bella. Sh
looked up with strangely-radiant eyes.
care you coming back?''
'Yes; l shall stop here as l return"
Then Mrs. Trevethick entered.
| Maurice went up to the Cumberlan'
Lakes, and was gone two months, /
was q profitable Summer for him
though q letter from his mother well
nigh made 1t proftless.
my dear boy, you will be surprised
and / fear grieved, 70 learn of Flor
Atherton's marriage to Mr.. St. George
She liked you l am sure; but you ar
comparatively poor. Mr., St, George
worth half million. Thoy have gon
abroad. You will experience regret, bu
believe me, Maurice, time will prov
that this was all for the best. Befiev
your mother who loves you"
He did believe her, and wrenche
Flora Atherton out Of his heart. H
worked hard; was q little graver whe
he stopped again at the dreary home {
poor little Bella. He had brought he
the ribbon and some books, and near
to interest his mother In her when h
returned to London, Perhaps she coul
invent some way of helping her.
"Law. Mr.. Deering! Is that youe
cried Mrs, Treyethiok, Though T
almost forgotten your name. Bell,
she's been sick, but she's better now"
/ Bella crept off the chintz-covere