The Republican journal., 1886-04-08
Eliza"
BN HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

smart girl, and don't lose any time looking at
herself in the class, like some I've had
"Whcrc did you pick her up?'' asked the
Young clcrgyman carelcs>ly drawing the news
paper from hi~ pocket t> he sat down on the
carpet of pine needles under the hg evergreen
tree
"Dan't pick her up anywhere said Mrs.
Leeds, tartly (for thi, was part Of the tran>ac-
lion that had never been quite satisfactory to
her bu>nc>>ik, >oul). ''>he came along"
II anne along" with Slight accent OF sur
pri>c).
'-lcs looking for work"
Mr.. ilIar~ lifted hi, eyebrows
Then how do you know who She is:'' he
asked.
II don't know" rctortcd Mrs. Leeds, I'M
consciously bctraying her weak point by this
lrritablitN Of manner; ''hut know What She
i, ald that's more 10 the purpose. Shes the
best washer thai ever crossed my threshold: a>
loce kitten and IL smart as cricket :;
docs twice the work of anyone else that ever
had: and if shes ever tired. She doesn't say So.
Mrs. Leeds hustled of to interview Farmer
Parks for more -tldcrney cream for the sum-
ncr boardels now that the house was begin
nng 10 ill up.
coat, folding it cl liudrrWi>c and placed it under
hi> head. and closed hi~ eyes in Il sort Of SUM
nlrT dream among tht Plhc h"ll@li> ana butter
lIlr>.
Ana i-ilHa, spreading out hiackherlle> I" dF\
On the board platform that had been erected
along The garden fence, began TO sing softly to
herself. She WAS Very silent ordinarily. hut
somehow II seemed a. y | ne sunshine h'd 'liaW-
"a out her very heart to-day.
Mr. lIar> had been right: There War some
tlilhg "i the atmosphere OF ltaiN about EIl|a
her eye were 50 deep and dark, her bar :"
2lo>NliN black her checks stained with such a
flrh ollNc.
Moreover. >he Id not move Ike the 4lII> Of
fHrh-h"llhd New England. mere was a subtle
@ihilii2 motion Il Al@H"f "i @fafrlllihcNe III
nor gall Willrh was foftl9n 10 AIi hrl SUI
fpinuiil4>.
II" GifIN ~ 'l' Nhll'A III" n"i iFilethtA
WIN r''iId Niloh' III rare lht'FNWN, 'h' ACCOM-
panied Af>' l'r"> L" 'h'lffE' S''WilG 'lfrio or
village -dthrflliG; l"f IN Nial,i"Nliie employer
amt GmPI"lee or"uPlrd one AL comprehensive
S%"riai % Pii'loiIh
h'\ N;id >i!t was ""Hd' lhc\ looked at iirt
a>kah''' ana iIlIa' always very guiet m llrf
way hlI' u" 'il"ft 1" lhNihtli'' hFf>rl 'lt"
'htli @o"H 2fH'rS'
"hH ShoHIn sue; " hll 'lld u H'@hliH one
way OF me o'htf' W Mht'i'f i''porah smart; ana
h'|dh lIaNrN' dhu -Ahhy Jan" Elfh liked titf
on not A. I"ti@ IL Mf,. Lr'''> Na> Pi"a>ft WIN
"r;
t'ti lle NitIa4G @ifl> l'ia"r one error IN 'hGif
cal'"latlon>. hel had MOI intended as the
TIME rr'li oll; f. emphasize Their ailIpathN to
MIS-: L'ra> fI!|a 80 strongly a> t. aWAk" a
ii4itloHil lelil9 IA MI' liI"r> breast but lhrl
'1d 80 nnron~ri"uSIH to themselves.
w ny 1t" iheA h'@irtl lhll @lfl 50: the
young clergyman asked himself Can they
not sec now !nfnitety superior she Is TO them:
ii " shame
-Ahu 80 lhhy Jane iHlk ahd Deborah smart
ht'NlttH
laI a. Mt. MARS was c"ncrrhrd.
mere Nt> moi one ol mem hiit "otild nave
"erh d'h-iiieh 70 WIN a Smlr' Il glance Il pleas
am word from lht Ho'lh9 man VINO WAS SUM
lhcrlllg Ill 1hr Leeds FARMHOUSE.
But, alas like THE priest and the l-rVite. he
passed hN on the other >d"; and When The VII
la@c girls m their afternoon mu~llnN and RIB
b0llN' >a' At Their windows ANA wondered WHY
hr came not ne wa NJ llnt ca>tN ON on Zen.
helping Eliza 10 Gather peaches for tea; -hld-
in4 beside the brook, While >he spread out tow
els and pocket hahdkrlrLitt> 10 bleach, or even
explaining to her the difference between the
hVlrs 81 tir thrush ahd the Wopdlark, iilc
>P"rkIed e@-N of he ROBIN ana the pearl gray
treasure OF me Whlpp0"rWIil.
''lle seems 70 be taking notion TO her" said
Mrs. Leeds 10 herself, as she eyed the pair
>IrcW'lly trom her ni!k-Ioonl window. Nv ell,
why shouldn't he: It's true he's minister,
and my own nephew; but in my mind Eliza is
good enough for amy man. My >akc> wont
-AHbH zane ldl 't llldV: II tNtTd Gll1 Nillt-
cd 10 be Il parsons Wife, ABBY Jane does"
Thus things were progressing, when one day
a smart Young tratlc>man from an adjoining
town came to board ont his fortni4ht'> vacation
| al Deacon tlark>.
| The tlark~ were 4 WeIl-o-do family: but the
| deacon was 4 lltI" close i'll his financial admin
| l>tration, and Mrs. lark and Abby Jane Were
moi aFeI>e to earning a new dress now and then
| ont Of the rent Of their BIZ spare room. And
| Mr.. TrtdkinS brought a letter OF recommends
| ton frona friend IN Packcrton and he dressed
in the latest fashion. and had a biz black mus
achc that oNcr>hadoWed hi- upper lip like Il
penthouse.
"oh, ma. how very gcntecl he is. :" said Abby
| Jane all in a llutlcr of admiration.
"A very nice Young man. indeed responded
the deacon'> wife.
| And the very next week ABBY Jane cam,
| down to the Leeds farmhouse.
''IIaNc you heard the news about your EliIa:
| She asked of the farmers wife in mysterious
| whisper.
''Eh:" said Mrs. Leeds.
''Nhe'> nothing but play actress. :" said Abby
| Jane. noddmg her head until the stuffed blue
| bird on her hat IuiNcred aS if il We're alive
| "Mr. Alph0>o TrUdkinS saw her in the Great
| New York Combination Troupe She was act
| ing Il woman who was married to Cuban, and
| lost her pocket handkerchief. and was after
| ward rhokcd with the pillows on the best bed
| Dc>lemonia her name was. | think"
"Well, and suppose She wa~:' said Mrs
! Leeds who was too good Il general to let the
| enemy see what havoc had been carried int,
| her camp. 'What them"
| hn1 4 Ia, ..N