Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-03-27
ONE DAYS WORK.


There is bol coffee waiting for you in the
library sir, said the man. Mrs. Fer.u-
son begged yon would drink it at once. the
morning Is 50 raw
Very well, Thomas" He turned into
the dining-Toom Margaret never forgot TO
care for hInl But in old times she would
have brought the coffee herself, and put
the sugar ia. sitting on the arm OF his
chair. Now she sent il by Thomas.
There was nothing morbid about John
Ferguson. But. like many another strong,
practical man, he needed, as much as
child, to be loved and petted and made
much OF IN his home. For five years he
had gone without it all because his wife
was tire OF his boyish undigniiied WAYS.
as he thought. What if she knew of Mat
thew Hale
The Judge would have been glad that
morning to lie dead there in the library. if
he could only go down to the grave win
the respect of Margaret and his children.
Bnt now
He Went out of the house and walked for
hours, out through The busy streets to the
park, into the long stretches of leatiess trees
and dead grass.
Now the fact was that the Judge, as
Matthew Hale. had not been a criminal.
He had sowed his wild oats at eighteen, BY
running away from home and Joining a
troupe Of barn stormers under an assumed
name. In Norfolk he fell in love with a
biacksnith'S daughter and married her.
She was silly and vulgar, and when she
and her child both died within the year, he
bore the blow philosophically When ten
years had passed, and he asked Margaret
Fleming 10 be his wife, this stormy episode
of his voath seemed so like q disgraceful,
long-forgotten dream that he resolved to
keep IL a secret from her.
He knew her well enough now to know
she never would forgive the blot on his
life, and suli less the secrecy.
About clock he came back to the CITY
aud took a train for Nicetown. He was
quite resolved now on his course. The
negro could not be trusted in anv Aged
Womens Home within reach of eossIpy
Mrs. Luray. A line from him to couple
of young physicians that he knew, would
find place for her in the insane asylum at
Norristown, which harbored so MANY
crazy pauperS If she told her story there
it would be reckoned part of her mad
ness. As for her husband, he should not
want. He felt that at last he saw way
out Of his trouble.
He found Sarah's house easily IL was
miserable Shanty, even worse than he ex-
pected TO see. The nipping wind drove
through the wide cracks in the wall. But
it was not squalid. The floor and door
steps We're white with much scrubbing,
and the woman's old calico dress. though
patched with twenty colors, was clean. The
Judge entered the hut in a strained state of
u~ff IA Tho IL -,
ed him but the chill poverty of the place
touched him, and for the moment took his
thoughts from himself. A little fire burned
on the hearth the Old man was placed
directly in front of it, wrapped in all the
coats and blankets in the house, and his
wife's shawl She, i'll her thin gown and
bare feet worked outside, shivering with
the cold. She gave the Judge an eager wei
come, and even the old man looked up
with a twinkle in his bleared eyes, putting
mis- paisied hand up to his forehead, num-
bling.
Sarah stopped to listen, anxiouslv. He
says its a great honah, sub Iii George
was himself, sub, nobody kin spress him
self inore perspicuitly. | tole him you was
a-comin' l knowed you'd be shuah to
come. ! fought you'd like to talk with
some as had knowed Nuhgin-yoh good
lady. She brought forward rickety
chair, and the Judge sank into it. He
stared Al the woman TO whom he was ex-
pected to talk OF Virginia and her child.
But il fact he aud his concerns did not
much interest Sarah. Like the rest of the
world, she much preferred to talk of her
own affairs and lost no time in beginning
It's long way out hyah. cunnel and
IL was mons Gus syind of you to come. I'll
tell yoh g9oi lady so when | 90 to see her.
Mis- L2nly GID me her dress. Yes. It's
n long way il Ollie lonesome hvah.
doan mind IL: but it's tahble lonesome fob
poer Gorge when I'm gone, doan spec
/ mentioned 10 yoh bout George He's an
othe sufferer. Jes show de gemmen yoh
legs Look OAR. sub. clicking her tongue
with pity beyond words. "Swelled up to
dat, and when he was young de fohmost
'oStler at Majoh B;ckfords. Sprys year
lin colt n he got a head ON him, too
When de teacheth come, after de wah,
George was fus' on dc spellin book, sub
Me, a was nowhahs y laughing. \ now
he's wreck, mine'n body. Nobody to keer
for him but deole oman
Well, you take good care of him, sup
pose said the Judge, for lack of some
thing 10 say.
Old George mumbled again. and Sarah
eagerly bent to listen; but When She heard
did not speak.
What does he say p
She hesiiated. Twas kind of private
tween HMM me," she said, abruptly. Gle
said as 9 d been mortal good 10 him She
adjusted the old rags about his shoulders
ienderly Some expression which glowed
through her withered face as she did If
moved the Judge.
Old and black and a slave-a woman's
a woman still, he thought, and, STOPPING,
began to slowly fling some chips of wood
on the fire, while he looked tbonghtfully al
the old couple. Nothing could be easier
than to dispose of them before nightfaIl.
There was the almshouse for this old man
twhere really he belongedl. and once at
Noiristown Sarah's tongue was silent for
ever.
Il could live out the few years left me
with al least the respect OF my wife them
he thought
Sarah, with the hospitality of Virgin
ian. brought out a big, red apple, washed
1t, and put it, wet and shining, on clean
plate, with a knife, before the Judge.
smiling and bobbing while the old man,
peering from out his wraps, blinked and |
nodded with pleasure.
John Ferguson pushed the plate away. |
A plotter for the first time in his clean. |
downright life, he tried to scowl malig- |
nanily a; the old creatures, tried to force a |
malignant scowl into his heart.