Saint Mary's beacon., 1883-08-09


Bat the latter did not speak. s'very well.
my dear, Il shall be As yOu please, - he said.
As the days lengthened into weeks. the
bride found her sway becoming more absolute.
1t occurred to William, sometimes. that she
might share in the work. But like most far
mers Of his class, he was ussd 10 see his moth
er drudge, from morning until night, and
vaguely supposed IL was her natural condition
Of life. Sophy carried The keys, and dealt out
the provisions. Her ruddy, animal beauty
pleased hims - was . pisy. he thOnsht, %
mar 1t with hard work.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Burke had taken lodgings
with nelghbOEing farmer He kept close
scrutiny on Lefty, solely Cor her mothers uaka.
he told himself She met the ''berry fellow
twice, and took long walks with him; she re-
ceived letters from him by mail. The geolo-
gist found this matter interested him more
than his fossils, even.
One morning, Lefty came into the room,
when William stood joking with his wife, be-
fore going to the field. They looked at her,
with astonishment, for the girl was always ST.
lent and shy.
Brother, want TO speak to you, I" she said.
catching her breath.
"Well. go on" said sOPhy, impatiently.
''Wh hat are you afraid ofF2'
Lefty spoke directly to William, ignoring
her. ''The potatoes and apples must be picked
over and the cellars are damp. Could one of
the hands do t2'
GOOD gracious Do you want the har-
vesting to stop" cried SOphy. 'You and
mother TaEey can do it at your leisure. DO
you suppose your brother pays men such ruin
Gus wages TO wait on n lot of women ?''
"iou have always done it," said William.
''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,
"Thars right. William. The truth is, you
are too open-handed. You can't afford to
keep parcel Of able-bOdied women in idle
ness, if you ever mean TO buy the meadow
lots"
''That's fact I" The mention of the lots
keyed his courage.
When he came back, that afternoon, he
found Sophy, resplendent in pink-aowered
muslin, entertaining half dozen girls in the
parlOr. lie stopped to joke and romp with
them. The next moment the door opened, and
Lefty stood, like ghost, on the threshold.
''Come to mother p she said.
t'What is the matter ?''
'tYou have killed her, ! think" quietly.
The poor old woman had sunk down, on
the floor Of the cellar, aud lay, as if dead.
William trenbled rs he lifted her. The doc
tor Of the village happened to pass at the mo-
ment.
"No, she is not dead" he said, after exam
lining her. Great exhaustion. II will be
long illness. She must have rest and careful
nursing"
Lefty stepped forward. 'She will have
both. Mr.. Burke, will you carry her to Mrs
Wrighrs-across the road She has promis-
ed TO give me a rOom,"
The crowd about her were so stunned at the
child's action, that they did nothing to OPP
pose it.
Mr.. Burke promptly lifted the thin figure in
his arms, and had laid her in the bed, in Mrs.
Wrights shaded, spare room, before William
recovered his senses.
"Don't you see how disgraceful this looks?''
Sophy cried, shaking him. "Your mother
turned outl What will folks say2''
lie hurried after Lefty, scolding and order
ing them back. But Lefty did not answer
him.
"Nrs. Wright will charge boarding. Dye
hear 2"
"a shall pay her." said Lefty, quietly.
Mrs. Taney's illness lasted for weeks. VIII
liam's wife smoOthed the matter over to the
community, as best she could. ''The Wright
house was quieter than hers. She was willing
10 pay the boarding to insure comfort TO dear
Mother Taney," etc, etc. Secretly, she re-
joiced to escape the trouble Of the sick woman.
When Mrs. Taney was able 10 come down
to the porch Of the cool farm house, for the
first time, she sent for William and his wife.
The doctor was there, and Ar. Burke, and
Judge Wright, and little Lefty and man,
whom Mr.. Burke at once recognized as 1.-THE
fellow" and at once turned his back on him,
contemptuousIy.
"You'v got quite a color, mother Taney,"
said SOphy. "You'Il soon be ready TO come
over. Help with the canning, Ell? ?'
''Mrs. Taney," said the doctor, gravely,
''needs long season Of rest, before her health
is restored. have recommended q change of
air; journey"
William exchanged alarmed glanees with
his wife.
"Why you must take US for milIionaires,
doc - she cried. "Change Of arr Journey?
That sort Of prescription suits city, hDe ladies'
But farmers wives, who have to earn their
living, can't take time for such fOl-de-rols." ;"
The doctor would have answered, bat Lefty
/ put her hand on his arm. There was a faint
pink on her cheek, and her blue eyes sparkled
/ ike steel.
Fortunately, my mother" she said gent
ly, SIS not in such strait. have made ar
rangemenis for her to take the journey. We
are going, tomorrow, 70 Virginia. I have
bought her old home, and we shall lire there.
She viii have long change Of air"
William turned CHASTITY pale.
Bought? What money had YouT'
"Her own share Of the estate" aid Judge
Wright, calmly. "Le;itia is ofsge. She seems
to have always been under the impression that
sbe and her mother were dependent on you.
She came TO ask me about il, only two months
ago; and ], as guardian and executor, had
nothing more TO do than 70 hand her over her
share, which was, you know, in bonds. She