Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-12
Gales allo Sketfbes.
JUDGED.
BIT ROSE TERRY COOK.
lContinued from yesterds~l

bette'rn to buy her such things"
''Pshaw men don't know no more
about clothes-women-folks' clothes. any
way. than they do about the MOON" said
Mrs Martin, who did not really persuade
clothes enough to keep her respectable
from the tight grasp of .'Paphro's" pocket
book.
Il guess he'll find out out more'n he
ever knew, when the bill comes in for that
fnery," went on Mrs. Weeks. ''And.
moreover, think it's my dooty to let the
bank folks know what l think about it. l
dont't want to hev our bank took in, no
way"
Wouldn't you wait a bit. and talk to
her. mebbe?" interposed Miss Eunice
Pell, the village tailoress, who had not
an exalted opinion Of Mrs. Weeks. having
more than once suffered from her hasty
Judgment.
Il dunno inabbe wont go tomorrow.
If he's got an extension they can't help it
now. / think will have talk with her !;
she had ought to see the error OF her ways,
anyhow"
Land, sighed Miss Eunice.
But not on Monday or Tuesday did Mrs.
Weeks deal with the offender. Unexpect-
ed company kept her at home. Wednes-
dav was sewing society day, and Mary
Barber appeared at Mrs. Weeks house,
where it convened, dressed in her black
silk sponged and pressed ove-till it looked
like new. and trimmed with the handsome
lace distracted from the gray silk ; among
Georgy's dresses and wraps she had found
little box of French flowers, and clus-
ter oil blush roses at her throat fastened
the pretty tie that was also a gift-One of
her wedding gifts indeed. Mrs. Weeks
was filled with new horror, and Mrs.
Brooks opened her green eyes to their
fullest extent.
"Sakes 3livei' she said to her hostess.
Ibid you everi Just see that lace on her
gownd. It's real thread: know It's.
Cost dollar a yard if it did a penny. /
never did! ~
Ii Mrs. Brooks had known what the
lace did cost perhaps her eyes never
would have shut again. Georgy Lasalle
never gave thought to the cost of her
dress; that was left to the dressmaker,
whose bills were paid by her father with
out question. Nothing was too good for
GeOrgv in his eyes, and to consider what
she was giving away when her father lay
u.
Nor did Mary know any better. She had
not been brought up in the knowledge Of
laces any more than Widow Brooks, who
had made II lucky guess indeed when she
suggested thread lace. without an idea Of
its price.
Mrs Weeks did not make successful
call at Mrs. BARRIERS on Thursday; she
began wrong. She said at once on taking
seat in Mary's tiny parlor: II have
come TO say few warning words of ad-
vice, Miss Barber, on the subject of your
dress"
Mary had temper of her own. which
long control had merged into dignity.
Excuse me- she said, coldly. Il must
decline to discuss such personal subject
with mere acquaintance.
"Wellw exclaimed the astonished Wis
itor. don't You think | haven't got no
right to admonish a backslider in the
church, specially one as young as you
be?r
mo, don't said Mary, quietly Il
decline 10 receive admonition except from
my husband or my pastor. If had done
you any harm or wrong, Mrs. Weeks, it
would give you right to talk to me on
that subject. ] cannot and will not re-
ceive unkind criticism on my trivia, pri-
vate affairs from you"
Trivial well, mabbe you won't find
they're so mighty trivial in the end on'tw
and with this back handed thrust Mrs.
Weeks departed.
Mary was indignant. but at last begun
to see ludicrous side to the affair. and
resolved not to tell Augustus about it lest
it should annoy him. for she knew he was
anxious enough without hearing her small
troubles. But Mrs. Weeks did not delay
her work. Her nephew was general
clerk in the little Barton bank and was as
frugal as an anchorite in his own expenses,
because he had to be. Only last Sunday
he had glanced across the church at Mary
Barber in her elegant dress and bonnet,
and sighed as he thought how such grace
full attire would become his own dark
eyed wife, looking doubly sad and tired
in her well-worn Sunday suit. turned and
freshened and dyed over for at least six
years.
lie was quick to take the alarm and to
spread it before his employer, for it was a
private bank. this little nucleus of the
moneyed interest in Barton, and Mr.. Short.
who was at its head made up his mind to
give Barber no further extension OF
credit.
His son owned the flour mills at Coven-
try where Barber dealt. and received a
hint to send in his bill, which as matter
of courtesy he had not pressed.
Mrs. Weeks related the upshot of her
visit to Mary Barber at the country store
where she met Mrs. Brooks, and the
storekeeper. overhearing it. thought 1.-THE
part of wisdom to present his account and
give hint to the butcher who was his
brother-in-law.
So the ball rolled on; not in days did il
gather force enough to crush its objects.
but in the course of months it increased
and grew mighty. Just as Mary Barber
held TO her breast fair. frail little baby,
newborn to the world of deprivation and
distress that awaited it. her husband failed.
and failed hopelessly. Mrs. Weeks said.
triumphantly: IL told you so! ALWAYS
told Deacon Weeks that my Judgment of
folks WAS worth havin.' | can see through
. stun wall as we'll as anybody"
But while she plumed herself on her
judgment. forgetting its results. Mary
Barber. hearing the story from her hus-
bands lips. which she had read first in his
face, laid down her whirling head on the
pillow, too weak to fight against the fate
that had come upon them. She and her
baby went home together to the land