Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-27
THE DEACON'S CHARITY.


Mr. Strangti Id went straight to his house,
and Stooi moment under th' shelter of the
leaves To wiI,, his forehead before entering.
His wife. hearing his step, came out of the
parlor and looked at hm in silence. too
frightened to offer him any kind of saluta
ton
"Is dinner ready, jane" h asked, thrash
ing the dust from his Shoes with n
pocket handkerchief and assuming an OFF
hand tone Of voice which was a lie in his
wife ear
More than ready. Michael The bit of
beef is baked TO a chip by this time. | doubt
but if We eat it quickly, it may still ba worth
asking a blessing over. As to Jenny, now
thou'rt in, I'll not wait for her"
Where is she" inquired Mr.. Strangfield,
hooking at his wife with frown
Why, she went out soon after you left
the hou>,', and Polly SAYS she walked up the
High strrrt She's gone to get the news
about her husband, dare say Dear. dear!
70 hear me talk Of 1t in this easy way! But
that must be bccause | have cried my heart
dry"
Mr. Stran-field walked into tn, parlor
where the table yves prepared for dinner, he
held his face toward the window for a while
and then turuiny round to his wife, who
gazd at him froS the doorway, not daring
to ask questions, lat too eager to hear the
result o; his quest after CUthbcrt t. divert
him by calling to the servant, he said
why do you speak OF her husblndf Do
YOU knOtc that she is married.
Do | knowt 1t was She who said so.
Oh Michael, why do you look at NE 50
wildly"
You do not ak me where have been"
he exclaimed, with grim, feeting smile
That Is strange IN one 50 curious will
tell thee, Jane-i have been TO sec DR.
: aw'
Michael, what hath DR. Shaw to say
about hi son"
Ask me if he knows that he Is married
Then. relrntiug under the twitch of pain in
MS wIfrS mid face. he cried out in a quiver-
ing VOICE: Oh, Jane this man Swears that
his son is not married-thGt neither by word
nor look has be given him cause to suspect
such thing And lie asked me: Would my
son. if your daughter was his wife, leave her
mys eriously, and without message or rea-
'Oni Such words he said And he hinted at
sin and conscience hurrying the scOundrcl
from the town"
Michael" said his wife in hoarse whis-
per, going up to him and putting her hand
on his arm, "dost thee mean TO say that
that"
He looked down upon her with stony eyes
whereupon she half shricked. No no.
Michael, Michael, our girl is honest Great
Lord, did the vile schoOlmaster charge my
pure child with such sin before her father,
and incidental made him Michacl, didst thee
let the foul old man say that Of herr Oh,
NV pretty one Oh, my Jenny! how can
they think it of thee! how can they think 1t"
DO You call her puret-she who by her
own confession, has deceived those who love
her. he exclaimed, in a slow, bitter voice
"SinCe she has confessed to one sin, why shall
not you believe in her deeper guilt, until she
shall prove that she hath wrCn-ei us by de-
CeltfUlnesS OnlVi II i good reasoning to de
clare that, if this man were her husband he
would not have left her without token Of his
going, and truthful conclusion to come at.
that having wronged her, AMI dreading my
wrath and his fathers. be has fed from the
place. and, like a sneaking coward, left her to
bear her sin alone"
Dumbtounded, the mother listened; then,
plucking up heart, replied, why DO you
doubt that she has spoken the truthi If
she Ike married. she has not sinnel as YOU say;
and yet, though you know not for sure
whether she be married or not you condemn
her as if she Were single woman that had
fallen Oh, Michael! thy heart is too hard.
Though She Ike not MARI. II, yet why do you
say that she hath sim Il: Poor little one!
must her heart be broke by her father"
So,