The Washington critic., 1885-05-16

"Ah, how pretty sho is q" he aid was
there ever such pretty lass, dye think
.Icang"
Perhaps not" said Jean aud she toof
her milking pals, aud followed Hulda
going on before with light step aud o
gay song toward the meadow where the
COWS btowscd But when she was quite
cut Of hearing Of Ned Wolion, Sitting
perched upon the stilc, she muttorci To- her
self. pretty pretty pretty an. they Rug
the changes upon that, these men as the
old bcli-ringer that knew but one tune
used TO-, down in the church tower
Pretty pretty pretty It's never good
it's never honest it's never true les
always pretty Then she stopped aud
looked up aud said With 2 culver OF pas.
sionatc grief in her voice. ooh. ia give
the worldl'd give half the shortest life
/ could have-l'd give half au hour. NJ
that was all ] had to live, last to hear Ned
Welton call me pretty What fool am
what a fool am what fool am 90 aud
She went on with her pals toward the
COWS Brown Bess and Lille White aud
Pretty Polly.
Certainly she was not pretty, and what
there was in her face the man on the stilo
would have been the last to see. Had she
been queen many would have seen some.
thing strangely fair aud regular In her face
Had she been only a rich gcntleman's
daughter some one might have dreamed OF
those deep eyes and that pure brow of hers
but red and white and fat and dimples
were the recognized beauties there, as u-
deed they ate all over the world, 10 such
folks rs her lot was cast among and she was
spoken of as plain" Two years before she
had taken into her foolish head to like Ned
Welton very much, and he, the farmers
son, had thought we'll enough of the dairy
maid to say some very pleasant things to
her. She had had a sweet dream, but
Hulda lirtton's coming broke it. Her
beauty was very bright and rare, and Nod
forgot the nice girl he had been so fond of
chatting with for the pretty one who
smiled and glanced at him.
She was not so good as Jean she had not
half her earnestness and constancy but
the face was all to Ned. SO Hulda Brit
ton wore little plain gold ring that he
had given her, and had promised to be
his wife in midsummer and Jean knew
it, and outwardly gave no sign that she
sufered-only now and then, rs at this
moment when Ned babe her notice Hulda S
boauty-as at the moment when she
paused meadow midst, and said to herself
that she would give half of her life, were
it but an hour, to hear Ned Welton call
her pretty.
They lived upon the coast of Lincoln
shire, and it was years ago. None of them
knew how to write more than their names.
The farmers deepest lore was the market
price of gain. outside of them the great
world of lettors-great, at that day, as per.
haps 1t never has been at any other time
rolled on without giving them any sign OF
its existence. And mono of them had ever
read novel or a poem or seen play. But
they acted out the drama Just as well, aud
Ned loved Hulda and cared nothing for
Jean. and Jean loved Ned and hated Hulda
And Hulda knew the whole and triumphed
over Jean, and cared little for Ned be.
cause of his broad shoulders and bronze
curls, but not over-much; and many a novel.
st would have given much to have had the
| little plot of their daily lives, to touch W
| and make pretty with bis pen.
The girls slept together in an upper room
| of the house, and on her wedding eve
| Hulda spread out gown and shoes ant
| cheap white veil, and dancing about them
bcasted that when the morrow's sun sol
| she would be mistress of the house, ant
Jean her servant. And Jean, thinking o
the old grandmother who had Begged hei
not to lose so good place said nothing
but stood silent, white faced and wan, ant
felt bitter hate rising in her heart. NeC
| was away mt the town.. and would not bt
back until next morning the morning o
his wedding. The old folks were asleeI
below. How easy it would be, in the deat
of night, to do this beautiful Boosting
creature some harm--to mar her beauty, o
even end her life.
The thoughts grew so, and were so hor
rible, that she could not be sure of relief
Hulda, watching her, saw only dead,
whiteness creep over her lips, and with tn
! first touch of pity in her heart, folded he
ell away and said, uuwisely enough, bu
meaning it kindly;
mo doubt, the next wedding will b
| yours, Jean"
Then Jean, without look turned from
her and left the room. She sought TO b
safe from herself, for fendish thoughts pos
sessed her: and longing for solitude ant
quiet, she climbed ladder that led to tn
tiled roof, and seeking the shelter of tn
| great chimney, sat down in its SHADOW
and looked up at the sky. IL was calm au
full Of stars. Its peaCefulness had an in
slant influence upon her, Repentent tear
began TO flow. She prayed as simple chill
dren pray "Please make me good An,
all the hate for IIulda left her breast, an
her love for Ned-her yearnng, aching low
for him-softened into sort of tende
memory. She was still sad. A painful
humility crushed her heart; longing fo
love oppressed her; but when she ha
prayed for herself when she had strive
with herself, the evil spirit had departed
Soon, with her white, ell-developed milk
maids arms under her head, she slept upo
the messy roof, under the canopy of tn
stars.
At last she began to dream They wer
going to church-Hulda and Nedaud sh
heard the wedding bells but going in g
the door she saw instead OF gayly dresse
guests, mourners all in black and cofli
before the altar and gave scream an
awakened, Bells were ringing, but NJ
wedding bells--the bells that tolled ifthel
were any need Of che men Of the place
fire broke out or robbers were heard of, {
there were any rioting in the town, VIII;
could it mean
Jean listened. strange sobbing, surl
ing sound fell upon her cars. I.igh
cleaned in all the houses Of the tow
The truth flashed upon her Years befor
her old grandmother had told her how ii
old sea wall had been washed away, and
tide had risen aud swept in upon them @
that wild coast of Lincolnshire, carryir
with it, as it went out, kline and aoclis an
little dwellings and even land itsoli; au
how there was mourning throughout 81
land for those that IL had done TO death
men and women and children, Young .ar
old-so that many a household long T
membercd 1t with woe. This had ha
pened again, The sea wall was down, Il
Hoods were sweeping In. The bells we
ringing as they had rung before IN the ca
OF those vino lay in their graves -ringiI
to tell the same tale to those who were the
unborn.
1