Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-07-10

her needle in the stuff, while her chin sank
into the hollow Of her hand, and her dreamy
eyes looked out through the open window
upon the people in the market place.
There was trouble enough to sadden her.
First of all, her father had not spoken to
her that morning; with a sullen aversion Of
head he had declined her kiss, and with an
iron manner turned from her.
Then her mother was peevish and short,
irritated by the alarmed curiosity which
Jenny refused to crafty, and wagging her
head at her for an obstinate wench.
In pensive posture was she musing when
her mother came actively into the room,
with skirt tucked up for kitchen work, and
face red with scolding and serious cooking.
To milder natures than Mrs. Strangield's
and truly mild was hers-has the general
servant" or maid Of all work, as that age
termed the Thing, proved a steady vexation;
and there was no more obliging, idle, willing,
neglectful, fearful and ignorant slut in Grey
stone than the Polly Baggs who did" in
several senses for the strangfelda
"There's no trusting the creature a mo-
mentl" cried Mrs. %Strangheld, leaving the
door open that her voice might carry to the
kitchen, and making Jenny a mere excuse
for a parenthetical attack on Polly. ''Vil
you believe iti-the knives are not vet
cleaned; the slattern hath left your fathers
new boots all night in the scullery; and not q
bedroom touched"
"Still a dreaming7' she exclaimed to
Jenny. "What with Polly's sinful idleness
and thy moping face and dreadful swoonine,
I scarce know which end of me is upright.
Tell me now, Jenny, if-well, well, say yes If
I am right, then. Was it not Mr.. Shaw
whom you cried out about in the bedroomT'
The girl turned her pretty eyes upon her
mother, and answered under her breath,
"Why should it be Mr.. Shaw, motherr
may, nay, it was-I see it in your facew
called Mrs. %strangdeld, with a little burst of
triumph. Jenny was silent. 'Tell me it
was-tell me it was. l shall not be angry,
Jenny" ..., -
field, leaning forward in her eagerness, "tell
me in two little words, what is there between
thee and him2"
and he shall be answered, but not by meT'
"By whom, then, Jenny7' said Mrs. Strane-
field, coaxingly. "See, my dear, I am not
angry; 1 do but want the truth. Your father
is in O bad way because Of your stubborn
ness. Mr.. Shaw is pleasing young gentle
man, and the Lord forbid that I should
quarrel with a man of his quality for-for-n
Here was a long pause, and then i~nsinuat-
ingly, "Now wilt thou not help me, JennyT
Another, mother, is it fair to press me in
this ways" responded Jenny, with a bewild-
cred look, yet with something like spirit
quivering in her mouth. "Neither you nor
father will bide. He has not heard me, and
yet he judges. How cold and hard was he
to me this morning! Oh, mother, I have a
secret-it will make him angry, and I fear
himl Ihave not courage to tell it myself,
but it shall he told you. Oh, be sure, mother,
you shall know it."
And now speaking thus, more fully than
mere thinking could realize for her, did she
feel the secret SILVER and bitter fear that
made her crave for Cuthbert's presence and
support when the moment of disclosure or
discovery should arrive.
Somehow, it had become a habit with her
10 believe that when the secret was told to
her father, he, in his deep wrath, would
turn her from the house-a notion built by
her terror on the fierce severity of his judg-
ments OF human weaknesses.
And of this conviction, intolerable to her
when seized with sense of loneliness. the
pain and shame and misery were only to be
mitigated to her imagination by her resolve
to hold her tongue until Cuthbert was beside
her; that, should her father drive her from
his roof, her husbands hand would he in
hers.
Mrs. S%trangield stared at her as a stranger
might.
OF this lovable child of hers-this sweet
and placid girl, whose pure soul workings
had been heretofore as plainly figured in her
lovely face US clock work shows in q crystal
box-she on a sudden could make neither
head nor tail; for a ~virtuous and holy reason,
indeed! that no question Of her child's honor
could arise.
1ne ran or uue lnoon Or inc urylng up OF
the sea sooner than such a thing.
And not hitting upon a secret marriage,
what, then, could remain but love7 which,
to be Rugged as a mystery, to hold the
tongue obstinate, to set a body swooning,
altogether passed her simple understanding.
No wonder, therefore, was she puzzled and
stared with perplexity.
hand at a solution.
"If you are in love with Mr.. Shaw, and
letting him court you slyly, your father will
certainly be angry when he hears of it; be.
cause he does not like under dealing in man
or woman, and would think It objectionable
in thee, who shouldst know better. But this
l may say, child, that though l should agree
with your father in thinking ill of a secret
love, l would not allow him to say toe
much to you, nor set his face against the
young man. You are fit to be a gentleman's
wife, as I lave told him over and over, and
if you will just own all to me, Jenny, I'll
break it to him Us his wife should know how,
and the rest will be easy, my dear. lam moi
averse to Mr.. Shaw-quite the contrary
though what his father will say is another
matter. But, then, It's no business of ours
Young Mr. Shaw is a handsome youth, and
not accountable for his father. Indeed, il
he truly loves you, he will attend chapel
which would win thy fathers heart You
needn't smile. I have heard Of a man turn
ing Hebrew Jew to marry, and II a nan car
deny the Lord for love of a wench, surely
Mr.. Shaw may easily become a Baptist"
Jenny's smile quickly faded. It seemed
easy to say the few words, and If their effec
could begin and end in the kind-eyed mother
who watched her, long ago would they hav,
been said. But when she thought Of bel
father, her throat grew dry.
III une mluSC OF Cuo silence between them
both actively thinking in wide-parted ways
there fell a substantial knocking on tn
house door; whereat up jumped Mrs. Strang
field, to see to her cap and gown, and squar'
up all dishevelment, whilst Jenny's hear
thumped wildly, and the work fell from hel
lap to the ground unheeded.
"Now, surely" exclaimed Mrs. Strang
field, "this cannot be Mr.. Shaw who SHOULD
have como last night" and she looked a
Jenny's white face with an air of comica
fright, for, loudly as she talked, she was sin
ccrelv afraid of Michael