Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-07-18
CHAPTER XIX.

THE EMPTY REDROOM
A little l"for,. six in the morning n raw q
bright warm sunshine like a golden wan
! projected from the window. having crep
/ gradually along the wall smote Mr. Strang
field between tn eyes rs he lay asleep in hi
h,d, and awokc him
Looking upon his watch, which hung a
the side Of the bod. he rose without disturb
ing his wife from the deep sleep into which
she had fallen scarce an hour before, after
long and weary wakofulnoss
He had almost finished dressing himself
when his wife awoke. and, aft.r the first be
wiiderment, asked him the TINA
There is an hour before the coach start,
he said Sec about getting the breakfls;
ready. | shall hc in the yard until the half
hour, AMI get you to Jenny, that she may
not keep me waiting
Saying which h left the room. wearing his
Yesterday, bitter face. which had come 70
him with the first words OF his wife
No sooner was he gone than Mrs. Strang.
field qulttel her bed and went to the door d
call Jenny. The room used by the girl was
Ia the right of the room occupied by ths hus-
hand and wife; the door of it stood open. an /
that was something to wonder at if Jenny
We're not downstairs. Into the room walk Il
the mother, and all she saw was a bed that
had never been slept in.
Now for som" moments this was a sight
with a significance not to be realized
She went 10 tho BEDSIDE and stared at it.
and then round her. with a slow slipping OF
her head on her neck, like ball on pivot
with all the blankness of the frost-white
counterpane reflected in them
What trick i, She playing me" she cried
to herself, but in clear, strong voice.
Jenny
And all about the room she went, probing
and peering like a faithful dog shifting for Its
hidden Young. Until it came into her head
that her child had run away; on which she
flti from the room with a shrek.
That shrick brought forth the trollop Polly
who beheld her mistress clingtng to the toI
rail Of the hanister. motioning with her hand
"Lor, missus, what is it, For mussy's sake
mum. don't look 50 scarifylng, mum! Oh
miSsus. what ha' yees seanT
Tell YOUR master 10 come to me-" eN
claimed Mrs. Strangfeld in a choking voice
and she went reeling into her bedroom an'
sank upon chair But up again she mus
Jump in moment and run into Jenny
room. and in tn, center of it she stool looking
/ around neT WIN TdtlllllE tNtN A'lit vas ~
/ frirhtcnei for deliberate Search-tven
I direct clew she would not have needed Wit
! both hands pressed upon her heart she stool
/ Was it that the sorrOw!ul girl, mourning he
( cruel bereavement, and the dishOnor don
her bv her faith r, and dreading the journey
and the object Of the journey that morning
! had not chosen to rest; that all night ion
she had kept her vigil, and now was gon
forth to cool her burning eyes against th
soft wind blowing from the sea: Was II sc
/ Alb, pray GDi. And the mother, with NOV
/ ing lips, drew 10 the window and sent h.
startled gaze over the summer scene OF swell
ing cliff and folds of houses Standing wit
shine OF gold under the meek sweetness OF th
morning blue.
Mr.. Stransfield came urstafrS and froi
the landing callei to her. She ran u h II
CRYING Michael, see here. Our child hat
not slept in her bed, Where is she do yo
thinki Oh, if you love your wife, run
YOUR men and hid them SEX har. For God
sake do this MIchael-nOw"
H., went past her without answer and eI
tered Jenny's room If amaz,mcnt or pal
were in him, 1t WAS velled by heav
fruwn.
sneak. Before we judge her, let us kno
what she has done. II is no sign that she hi
run away from us because she has not sIei
, in her bed Has she not acted more craZL
than to stay awake in her clothes all nigh
Look about you and tell me what things "
ind missing.
"Nothing. Michael Oh, nv heart, ye
p Where be the little trunk packed for h
b last night"
r With wonderful quickness, she flung oP'
: tbe door of a closet, and then searched b
o meath the bed Next she uttered a shal
L crv. and leaned against her husband /
u led her not untcnderly to her room, but /
= own stems were weak and shaky, and his IA
s. as white rs a diving mans, which made b
Is froyn a black shadow upon his forehead.
|, I'VE must have patience yet" he cxclaime
e drawing forth his watch and speaking wi
n his ewes bent down upon it. "She knows
Il wbot hour the coach starts. and if she he n
II unity she will he here. Get thyself dresSt
u and let the breakfast be ready by the ha
ID bour She NAV return, and then what "
n il be that her box is gone! Bear up, for
half an hour great changes come, l "
:, wait for thee and her in the parlor
J." He went slowly and painfully downstai
y ond stood at the window whispering to hi
s..If which was IA strange trick for an obs
nnte, hard-headed man to fall into on
. sudden
II In a short while Mrs Strangtield ca
y from her room and stood at the door"
watching him in silence She sighed heaVl
> but as though he heard neither her step
~ J.; her sigh he did not turn his head; and W
u a fear of his stern, unbending silence on h
, she went away to the kitchen to help 20
~ to get breakfast ready.
Polly" she whispered, "didst thee see N
VI Jenny leave the house this morningF
:, 81 III No, indeed, missus! Be she gone the
H. said the girl, with her hair all feathery
Ht st lack of brushing, and the end Of her II
~ black from frequent strokes of her bare al
"o blush siuIv ~snnai "k5 - -t- a.