Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-05
1alfs aud Sketfhss.
RUTH'S SfEPFATHER.
CONTINUED from Yesterday
An ENGLISH STORY.

which / always have after tea. She did
what she so well knew how to do-hlled
nv pipe. forced it in my hand. and Just as
| was going to dash it to pieces in the
ashes. she gave me one OF her old looks.
kissed me on the forehead, as with one
hand she pressed me back into the chair,
and then with the other she lit split and
held it to my tobacco.
| Twas done. She always gets over me
like that; and after smoking in silence for
half an hour, was lying back, with my
ewes closed, dropping off to sleep, when
the wife said (what had gone before | had
not heard:)
| Yes, he's asleep now"
That woke me up of course, and II
didn't lie there shamming, and hear all
they said in whisper.
How came you to make MN more
yexed than ne was, Luke?' says the wife,
and he told her.
| Il couldn't do it, mother" he said ex-
ci,edly. 1T was heart-breaking She
living in a wretched room there with her
daughter; and mother, when | saw her, |
ielt as if-there can't tell you"
Go on, Luke" she said.
THEY'RE half starved" he said in a
| husky way. "Oh, mother! it's horrible.
such sweet beautiful GIRL and the poor
woman herself almost dying with some
terrible disease"
The wife sighed.
They told me-" he went on, chow
hard they had tried ID live by ordinary
needlework, and failed, and that as a last
resource they had tried to get machine. u
Poor things" said the wife; ''but are
you sure the mother was lady?''
"A clergyman's widow" says Luke,
| hastily There isn't doubt about it. Poor
girl! and they've got to learn to use it be-
fore it ran be OF any use"
Poor girl. Luke?' said the wife softly
and saw through my eyelashes that she
laid a hand upon his arm, and was looking
curiouslv at him, when il he didn't cover
his face with his hands, rest his elbows on
the table, and give low groan! Then
| he old woman got up. stood behind his
chair, and began playing with and caress-
inc his hair ike the foolish old mother
would.
Mother" he said, suddenly, will you
20 and see themP'
She didn't answer for minute, only
stood looking at him, and then said softly
They paid you the first money!"
NO" he said hotly, 81 hadn't the hear
to take it,"
Then that money you paid was yours
Luke?"
Yes, mother" he says, simply; and
those two stopped looking at each other
the wife bent down and kissed him. hold
ING his head afterwards, for few mo-
ments, between her hands, tor she always
did worship that chap, our only one; and
then closed my eyes tight, and went or
breathing heavy and thinking.
For something like new revelation hac
come upon me. | knew that Luke Wa:
TWENTY-FIVE and that | was tiftyfcur, bu
he always seemed like boy to me, anc
here was waking up to the fact that ht
was "A grown man, and that he was think
ing and feeling as first thought and tel
when | saw his mother, nigh upon twenty
and eight years ago.
lay back, thinking and telling myself
| was very savage with him for deceivin2
me. and that wouldn't have him and hi:
mother plotting against me, and that
wouldn't stand by and see him make 6
fool of himself with the first pretty cir
he set eyes on, when he might marry
Maria Turner. the engineers daughter
and have a nice bit of money with her tt
put into the business, and then be my
partner.
No. | says, "If You plot together
I'll plot Alone then pretended to wake
up. took no notice, and had my supper
kept rather gruff the next morning
and made myself very busy about TIT
place, and daresay spoke more sharply
than usual. but the wife and Luke were a
quiet as could be; and about II | wen
out. with little oilcan and two or three
tools in my pocket.
1t was not tar to Bennet's place, and or
getting to the right house asked TOR Mrs
Murray. and was directed to the secont
floor, where. as reached the door, coulC
hear the clicking of my sewing machine
and whoever was there was so busy over
il that she did not hear me knock so
opened the door softly, and looked in upor
as sad scene as shall ever, | dare say
see.
There in the bare room, sat, asleep ii
her chair the widow lady who came about
the machine and | could see that in hel
face which told plainly enough that the
pain and suffering she must have been
going through for years would soon bt
over; and. situated as she was, it gave me
a kind OF turn.
It's no business of yours" | said to my.
self roughly, and turned then to see
who it was that was bending over my
machine.
| could see no face. only slight figure
in rusty black; and pair of busy white
hands were trying hard to govern the
thing and to learn to use it well.
J so that's the gal, is it?" said to my,
self. "Ah. Luke, my boy, you've got to
the silly calf age. aud dare say"
| got no further. for at that moment
the girl started and turned round. and
turned upon me timid, wondering face
that made my heart give queer throb.
and couldn't take my eyes off her.
flush !" she said shortly. holding up
her hand; and saw that it was as thin
and transparent as if she had been i'll.
"My names Smith," said, taking out
a ew-driver. MY machine how does
it go? Thought I'd come and see."
Her face lit up in moment, and she
came forward eagerly.
I'm so glad you've come" she SAID,
Il can't quite manage this"
! She pointed to the Neutrality-suspicious.,
and the next minute was showing her
how ii was too tight, and somehow. in a
gentle timid way, the little witch quite
got over me. and | stopped there two
hours helping her, till her eyes sparkled
E~N,x- ,l,- I.