Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-08-19
CHAPTER XXI.


Upstairs lay Jenny, in the deep slumber
which profound WEAKNESS in youth begets;
the solemn sleep that, like death, smooths the
countenance into an expression for which
human knowledge has no definition. With
out a stir in her she lay, and the mysterious
sweetness of her face was a sight for love TO
look upon with fear.
Suddenly she started, and awoke with one
of those quick leapings from sleep which the
sleepless soul will force the body into, and
sat erect, with frown of bewilderment, and
her beautiful eyes alarmed and eager. She
had no watch to tell the hour, but upon the
carpet lay streak of sunshine, and the mel
low glory of it was a hint to draw her
quickly to the window.
The sun was high, and splendor as Of
noontide upon the land In sure belief that
she had oversight the hour for the passing of
the coach, she took her hat in her hand and
went downstairs. The first thing she beheld
was the big Dutch clock just beside the door;
the hands of it pointed to the quarter past
| ten, SO that MARBLES was not to be reached
that day without posting.
! With her eyes fixed upon the clock, she
stood on the last step of the staircase, and
her bafiied intentions plainly showed in the
wonder and embarrassment of her face
until Mrs. Walker threw open the glass door
Of the bulkhead dividing the passage from
what would now be termed the bar and,
dropping her a little courtesy, hoped that she
was the better for her rest
"But l have missed the coach, l fear,n said
Jenny, 'if that clock be right"
at is right enough, ma'am. But Mrs.
Mead is in the parlor, and viii tell thee how
this happd, if she be not sleeping" replied
Mrs. Walker, with something like a look of
contritien on her face, if it were not nervous
ness.
Without further words Jenny pushed open
the parlor door, and there, sure enough, at
full length upon the sofa, was Mrs Mead
asleep
/ But Jenny was in straits which would not
permit OF tender thoughtfuness. She wanted
to know why she had been allowed to miss
the coach, and what she was now to do. And
go gave Mrs. Meal push, which set the old
woman talking in her sleep "Ay, ay, thee
needst not bother-the Lord love 'ee-an' it's
/ Is true as this hand-yawl'
HAirs. Meadl Mrs. Mead'
! The old woman opened her eyes, stared at
Jenny, lifted her head, gave q terrific yawn,
| and, planting her loose knuckles into the net
work about her eyes, exclaimed in a smoth-
sring voice, I've bin asleep, do believer
/ Mrs Mead, it's a quarter past ten, and
the coach has been gone this long while. oh,
why was allowed 70 sleepl / shall not get
I away this day, and here must | stop, for
have not money enough to hire a post chaser
I cried Jenny.
! 'Sit down, mistress, and think bit before
4 ye quarrel For maybe I'll be showing we
that It's no fault o mine we've missed the
4 coach, and then how sorrowful would your
I beart be for being angry with Mother Mead,
I who loves You. said the Old woman, continu-
\ ing to rub her eyes until all the sleep was
| squeezed out OF them. @Sally, SaIly,n she
I squeaked; and on AIRS. Walker running in,
Mrs Mead exhorted her to procure breakfast
at opce for Jenny, and to look in upon them
/ again presently, whichswas as good as say
I ing, ~Doat listen now, at all events"
"You must not think could be angry with
+ you, said the girl, nlonrnfully, "but it Is
a sad thing for me to lose the coach; for |
4 hoped to be with Bridget this day, and in a
4 qniet place. where ] could think how / am to
/ act in the future
"And what's to stop you thinking here!s
/ exclaimed Mrs Mead. ISN'T it quiet
I enoughs-for hours together ye shall hear no
sound but the hens talking and scraping in
the road Besides, its nearer thy home nor
4 MARBLES. And Jenny, Mrs. Jenny I'll own
to thee its my fault ye missed coach; and it
were my wish We should What did / say to
I Zee last nightl Dreadful scandal will follow
you when folks hear you have room away,
ard will not heln thee to be foolish