Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-01
CHAPTER xxi.


counteuance into an expression for whicl
lslman knowledge has no definition With
out q stir in her she lay, and the mysteriou
sweetness of her face was. a sight for love {.
look upon with fear.
Suddenly she started and awoke with on,
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 10 tell the hour, but upon tht
carpet lay a 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 a splendor rs 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 behel
was the big Dutch clock just beside tho door:
the hands of Il pointed 70 the quarter past
ten, 50 that Marples 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 baffied intentions plainly showed in the
wonder and embarrassment OF her face
until Mrs Walker threw open the glass door
of the 'buIkhead 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 have missed the coach, fear" said
Jenny. If that clock be right"
| at is right enough, maam But Mrs
Mead Is in the parlor, and win tell thee how
this happ'd, il she be not sleeping" replied
Mrs Walker, with something like a look Of
contrition on her face, II It were not nervous
! ness.
| Wfthp,f f,,r4har
the parlor door, and there, sure enough, at
fun length upon the sofa. was Mrs Mead
sslsep
But Jenny was In straits which would not
permi: of tender thoughtfuinesS She wanted
to know why she had been allowed TO mis-
the coach, and what she was now TO do. And
so gave Mrs MCa a pu h, which set the old
woman talking in her sleep "Ay, ay, thee
need'st not bother-Ihe Lord love can it's
as true as this hand-yawl"
MRS Mead! NJ s. Meadl-
The old woman opened her eyes stared A.
Jenny, lifted her head, gave a terrific yawn.
and, planting her loose knuckles into the net
work about hcr eyes, exclaimed in a smoth-
ering voice, 1--WE bin asleep. | do believed"
Mrs Mead, its quarter past ten, and
the coach has been gone this long while. Oh,
why wa / allowed to sleepl shall not get
away this FAY; and here must stop, for |
have not mo ley enough to hire a post chaS.!"
cried Jenny.
@Sit down, mistress, and think bit before
We quarrel For maybe Pil be showing We
that its no fault o mine we've mi sell the
coach, and then how sorruwful would your
heart lie for being angry with Mother Mead,
who loves You, said the Old woman, continu-
ing 10 rub her eyes until all The sleep was
squeezed out Of them. "Sally, Sally she
squeaked; and on Mrs Walker running in,
Mrs Mead exhorted her to procure breakfast
at once for Jenny, and to look in upon them
again presently, which was as good as say
ing Don't listen now, at all eventsn
~You must not think could be angry with
you, said the girl mournfu!ly, "but it is
a sad thing for me 10 lose the coach; for |
hoped to he with Bridget this day. and in a
quiet place, where l could think how am to
act in the future"
"And what's to stop you thinking here"
exclaimed Mrs. Mead "Isn't il quiet
enoughf-for hours together ye shall hear no
sound but the hens talking and scraping in
the road Besides its nearer thy home nor
Msrples. And Jenny, Mrs JENNY I'll own
to thee it's my fault ye missed t coach; and it
were WISH lt SllOull w nat uAl NdN 70 |
'ee last nightl Dreadful scandal will follow |
you when folks hear you have room away, |
and l will not help thee to be foolish
Jenny looked at her with astonishment ami |
fear. Whatever force the objection might |
still pcssesS, sha thought thai Mrs Mead had |
put it aside for good and all when she offered |
TO walk with her to Winston
"tGive yourself time b think" continued |
the old woman "lf We should have a mini |
to return TO your mother, It's an easy walk |
from here; if you will ttirl go forward, then
the coach will be at this door tomorrow
morn But We be taking mighty step in |
qu tting home without liver letting cratur
but me know where you've gone It's be
cause I love you that I've let you miss the
coach, and given you a whole day for re6ec
ton wi thy home close at hand"
my mind is quite made up" said Jenny.
moving restlessly about the room Il will
not return home"
well, that you say now, but by and by
you will be thinking another way"
Il am grieved to have missed the coach,
but | am not angry she went on, in a sub
dued but firm tone at will be dull work |
for me here all day; for l suppose you will
return to Greystoner
The old woman nodded Jenny looked at
her hard
mrs Mead, be frank with me- What do
you mean to doi Shall you tell mother
where / aml'
I'll not answer ye," replied the old
woman rather sulkily, not liking Jenny's
sharpness
"You have sworn 20 keep my secret, said
tine girl reproachfully.
Suppose the first man met in the street
should be Mr. Shawl cried the old woman
IN a shrill voice
Jenny turned to the window and looked
through it in silence.
SEQ now, my dearie," said Mrs Mead
mildly; will ye let me judge how to act for
youi II you were my child could not wish
you better than do; and thy fame, which
must be the dearest thing q woman hath, is
my reason for hindering your journey this
day. Neither you nor Inc knows what is
being said Greystone and things may hap
to-day 10 make ee thankful you had not all
the way from MARBLES TO come, Bidc here
while go to Greystone I'll find out about
thy mother, and how she bears thy going,
and what is said Of thee, and all that should
he known. And tonight will return with
what news there is; and it shall either be
that YOU return 10 thy home again, or 90
straight on into the world. as shall seem best
on what report bring you"
II Mrs. Mead had said this at first, Jenny
would have understood her motives But,
says an ancient adage: when you hear an
old woman talk straight you shall see your
COW walk on its hind legs"
There may be good sense in what YOU
say" replied Jenny. who had turned from
the window and stood with her fine eyes
fixed on Mrs Mead; "and here will | stop