The Arkansaw traveler., 1886-05-01

| stand up to him, and tell him wha. knew aRd what thought, but shane for her and for myself. and cowari'v feeling of his being my betters, kept n,- back and shut my mouth. and Oh l5a45 l used to wonder when he came on a the works, or 1 had to go the otf s. whether he'd seen her and kissed h., that day or if he was going to meet i.r until l could bear it no longer, but w,r, to the little cottage to see her for ,s.{. self, for 1t seemed aS if she must Sot;-. how know of my sorrow and pity me
 But when l got there the cottage Na> shut up, and so it was the next day. a,.d the next and all could find out wh-n l asked questions was that the Welsi,, had gone up country haymaking
 Perhaps, then, when found she L Il gone clean out of my Sight-for l. " long or if for always, l knew not ought to have left off thinking of h.. and have done my best to feel was L,,. ter out of her way, Instead of whieA never passed q day without taking stroll past their cottage to see II v chance the door at last stood open. at#t each time sighted the chimney frass my work, it was in hopes | should f last see the blue smoke curlin. IT. against the elms that stood between and the river The haymaking tina. passed and the corn was gathered is the end of September had come: al= the cutting below St Martins Hill W, all but ready for the permanent Wa Our engineers. especially Mir Arthur thought no small beer of this cuttin. which can be seen for miles across tl.,. country-a great white cliff of cha, capped with a band of green down ai4i tutt of Scotch frs top of all
 Three or four times already the dire. tors and the company people had been to see what a grand piece of work it VA. and ln the evenings the townsfolk wou,i come out from Carche>ter. and say. a> they walked by the river
 Goodness gracious how this horrid railway has spoilt St Martins Hilll
 All this time had no news of Hester so that began to think she was gone for good and all. Vet would not leay, my habit of walking past her door every day, rain or shine
 1t last one Sunday, about the time when the leaves began to turn all colorS. as took my usual stroll past the empty house, saw coming down thc lane two womenkind and lad. They were walking wrarily aS if they Were al the end of long tramp Oh. how my heart bounded to see that il was Hester and then how it sunk down like bird wounded on the wing to remember where and how had seen her last They came on, and when We met they l,.., .,tx been chatting to them overnight. + seemed as if they made no account of the time they had lost sight of he. al though to me II had been d tarnal long time
 l turned round and walked bv Hes ter and as l looked at her saw that her face was worn and pale, and her eyes were heavy and very weary
 ! ou seem to have had long march. Hester, said l.
 cure about right there she an Swerrd in a tired voice
 How far have you comc2
 don't know, and whats more don care. l only know I'm dead beat and glad it's all over
 We'll, l said it don't seem to me as Ii tine change of air had been much good to you.
 No more it has I've many a time wished myself back again
 What do you mean? asked Mrs. Welsh, turning round short and sharp, as her manner was, from unlocking the door. She hadnt altered, anyways
 We'll missis ventured to say she looks thin and ill, as you can see for yourself and them symptoms generally leads to downheartednesS
 Cmph,' returned Mrs Welsh; you may be surprised to hear that she s had to do some hard work-hav- making, and onion-peeling and hop picking It's taken the shine out of her tell c", for she ain't fond of hard work she likes play pretty sight bet ter
 She spoke so unkind and cross that said
 We'll, no offence, missiS, now that you've got back at last, for m sure I'm very glad to see you.
 Then if you re glad to see Us just take Us as you find Us, and don't get remarks on peoples looks, as are great deal too much wrapped up in such nonsense already Here, Jackv, go and fetch some water in the kettle while light the fire. You and me have got to buckle to and do the work, though perhaps We re every bit as tired as other folk
 Hester didn't offer to move from the chair she had dropped into, nor did she make any saucy answer to her mothers which was more sign than how much out of sorts she was.
 We'll. missis, l said, '" if you're tired perhaps can be of use. Suppose you let me stoke that fire for you You aint goin' the way to get it alight this side Christmas
 Oh, yes, she said without sign of thank you, you're quite welcome to job to keep you from getting in the way, as you think yourself so clever at tiremaking, and you seem to have made up your mind to stop
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