The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-02-18

they bad tried 10 live by ordinary needle
work. and failed. and that ~ : lest rs
source had tried 10 get machine.
Poor things, said the wife; but are 20,
sure the mother ~As lAdys
A clergyman's widow, says Like. hAsti'
ly; there isn't doubt abont it. Poo
girl and they We eoi 10 learn 10 use Il b.
fore il can be Of any use,
Poor girl, Luke, said the wife softly
and | saw through my eyelashes that shs
laid hand upon his arm. and vas look
ing curiously st him, when IL be didn'l
cover his face With bis hands. rest his el-
bows on the table and give low grosn.
Then the old woman got up. stood behind
bis chair. aud began playing with and
caressing his hair like the foolish old
mother would.
Mother, ho said. suddenly, will you GO
aud see themY
She didn't answer for o minute. only
stood looking at him, and then said
softly.
They paid you the hrst money?
No, he said hotly, l hadn't the heart Ia
take it.
Then the money you paid was yours,
Luke?
Yes, mother, he says. simply; and those
two stopped locking at the other, the wife
bent down and kissed him. holding his
head aiterward, for . few moments. be.
tween her hands, for she always did wor-
ship that chap, our only one; and then
closed my eyes tight, and went on breath.
ing heavy and thinking.
For something like q new revelation
had come upon me. \ knew that Luke
was % and that was "a, but he always
seemed like boy to me, and here l was
waking up to the fact that he was grown
man, and that he was thinking and feel
ing as | first thought and felt when / saw
his mother, nigh upon twenty and eight
years ago.
/ lay back thinking and telling myself
l was very savage with him fo.' deceiving
me, and that wouldn't have him and his
mother plotting against me, aud that
wouldn't stand by and see him make o
fool Of himself with the first pretty girl
he set eyes on, when he might marry
Maria Turner, the engineers daughter,
and have nice bit of money with her to
put into the business, and then be my
partner.
No, l says, il you plot together, I'll plo
all alone; then l pretended TO wake up,
took no notice, and had my supper.
kept rather gruff the next morning,
and made myself very busy about the
place, and ! daresay spoke more sharply
than usual, but the wife and Luke were
as quiet as could be; and about IL went
out. with little oil can and two or three
tools in my pocket.
1t was not far to Dennett's place, and on
getting to t4e right house l asked for
Mrs Murray, and was directed to the
second floor, where, as reached the door.
/ could hear the clicking OF my sewing
machine, and whoever was there was so
busy over it that she did not bear me
knock; SO opened the door softly, and
looked 10 upon as sad o scene ss l shall
ever, daresay. see.
There, 10 the bare room, sat asleep in
her chair the widow lady who came about
the machine, and could see that in her
face which told plainly enough that the
pain and suffering she must have been 60
ing through for years would soon be over;
and situated as she was it gave me kind
OF turn.
It's no business Of yours, said to
myself roughly, and turned then to see
who 1t was that was bending over my
machine.
l could see no face only slight figure
in rusty black; aud pair Of busy white
hands were trying hard TO govern the
thing and learn to use it WE'LL
So that's the gal. is it? l said to myself.
Ahl Luke, my boy, you've got to the sill
ly calf age, and dare say
1 got no further, for at that moment the
girl started aud turned around. and turned
upon me timid and wondering face that
made my heart give queer throb. aud !
couldn't take my eyes off her.
Hush! she said shortly, holding up her
hand; and saw it was as thin and trans
parent as IL sbc had been i'll.
My names Smith, said. taking out
. screw driver Ny machine; how does
IL go? Thought I'd come and see
Her face lit up In moment aud she
came forward eagerly.
I'm so glad you've come, said she,
cant quite manage this
She pointed to tho thread.regulator, and
the next minute was showing her how
ii was too tight, aud somehow, in gentle
timid way the little witch quite got over
me. and stopped there two hours help.
ing her, till her eyes sparkled with de-
light, as she found how easily she could
make the needle go 10 and out Of hard
DO You think you can do il now? !
said.
Oh, yes, think so; am so glad you
came
So am I, says grufliy. II will make 1t
oil the easier for you 10 make the money
to pay for H.
And will work so hard, she said ear
nestly.
That you will. my dear. said In spite
OF myself. for felt sure il wasn't me
sptsking, bnt something 10 me. She
been III long? | said, nodding toward her