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

hours before day, kfndling hres, milking, and
cooking breakfast for the six harvest hands.
Then came washing, a dinner At noon, all the
work of Farm. in short, which falls on the
women, IN addition TO which was the clean
ing and preparation Of the room, which the
bride had chosen for Der own. Mrs. Taney
moved slaggishly through the latter part of
the work
"Nhat is the matter, mosherl'' said Lefty.
Mrs. Taney laughed feebly.
81 don't know. feel like q clock, that Is
nearly run down.
Lefty made no rep.y. The child had lately
been absent almost indifferent, while her
mother talked, apparently wrapped In her own
thoughts. Could ii be, the mother thought,
that Lefty also was Forsaking her? Mrs. Ia
neY had only had one other daughter-the
baby who died. The other children were
sons, all Of whom, except William, had gone
to the West, and married there. She often
had wished they would ask her to visit them,
that she might see their children. But they
never did il.
While they were hanging out the clothes.
that afternoon, Mrs. Taney heard tap. three
times repeated, on the orchard fence Letty's
face cOlOred. She dropped the clothes and ran
down behind the apple trees. As she came
back, her mother saw her thrust a note into
her pocket. Mrs. Taney grew suddenly sick
at heart. Lefty with secret Lefty carry
ing on clandestine love affair
While Mrs. Taney stood, doubling whether
TO ask the child for her confidence, Lefty had
disappeared. A few moments later, the girl
went down the road, in her clean dress and
sun-bonnet. II was but trife, vet it stunned
the Jaded woman, as n sharp blow would have
done The other farmers daughters kept up
perpetual, vulgar flirting and secret court
ships. But Lefty was her own one ewe-lamb,
deli ;ate and pure.
Mr.. Burke, coming over the fields, that AZ
ternoon, with his hatchet and bag of speci-
mems, was amazed to see Lefty standing on
the road, in eager conversation with man.
"a coarse, red-jawed, beery fellow" was his
angry verdict. The 'ifellow'' talked long and
earnestly; then took Eetty's hand, and pressed
1t tfervently. Burke turned his back on them.
and struck across the hills. The girls moth
er should hear Of this at once, he said 10 him.
self. decidedly. Then he sIackened his pace.
What was it to him? Why should he vex
himself about this girl? Or meddle in her
love affairs2 He went slowly back to the
hills. But the blood rushed with a strange
beat through his veins.
In an hour, Lefty was back, and at work.
with redoubled vigOr, TO make up Cor lost time.
Her mother scanned her innocent, meek face
with q breathless terror.
Surely there was no guilt there She would
not doubt her; she would not ask question
II have dressed the table with flowers" /" the
mother said, 'and made cake-a real brides
cake. hope William won't be angry. But
this is so different from weddings in Virginia.
o. Lefty, ifyou and could only go to the
old house, and sleep for one night in the room
which was mine when was child think
just that little thing would give me years Of
life."
"There they come ~ cried Lefty, as the big
crawford carriage was seen dashing up the
road. She grew very pale, and shrank back
The girl had always been afraid OF her BROTH
er William; and his wife, she suspected, would
he as hard ruler, and a more vulgar one.
But Mrs. fancy led her TO the porch.
"You must welcome them, Lefty, she said
The bride watched them, from the carriage
window, with keen, jealous eyes. Her father
had given her hint, as to her future course.
you've made a good match, Sophy," he
said. "Bill Taney's got as long purse as
any man in the county, and the farms COM
Portable. But the old woman an her da-a-
ter'll be drawback. They'll try to ride
over you rough-shod, likely. Just take your
stand at once. Let 'em see you'll be mistress
in your own house"
''Trust me for that, pappY," said Miss So
ply.
The whole Crawford family had accompanied
her, 10 see how she would hold her ground.
When poor Mrs. Taney stepped forword,
therefore, her thin face reddening, and her
hands held out, the bride received her wei
come with a careless nod.
81 hope you will be happy in your new
home, my dear" said the gentle lady.
"Oh, no doubt, ma'am generally hold
my own pretty well. Come in, pappy. Come,
Sue. want you to see my house, before il is
dark. Here's the living-room. Bill must &,
that up into parlor-double-quick, too.
Dye hear, Mr. Tancy?" laughing loudly
"You needn't trouble yourself. ma am, To
show the way. Come along, all Of you"
William stopped, and looked with sudden
pity at his mother; aud then followed his wife,
who went talking loudly, up the stairs.
Mrs. fancy and Lefty placed the supper on
the table. The bride came in, the noisiest OF
the noisy party. She went hastily to the
head Of the table, saying This is my place,
believe"
William graveIy motioned his mother to a
seat among the strangers. His wife bore her.
self as though she had besn mistress for years,
and found fault freely when the humor seized
her. The bread was dry as chaf the ham
was bitter with salt, she said.
''Thats your idea Of cooking, mother Ia.
ney, eh7 IN give you hint or two. to-mor-
row. We young people have progressed, you
know"
''Not that ] mean TO take the work out oi
their hands," she said TO her sister, aside.
"NO. mol five feed 'em, they've got To earn
their bread.n
Lefty overheard the whisper, and her scared
face grew a shade paler.
''VsrT nice old silver, William !" ssid the
bride, directly, weighing the spoons on heE
a - ~