Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-15
"But the rings orly auorth ,0hat tt '.sd
 fetch US 0oLd"

And then recalling her fathers iron na- ture, and his hard rejection of unsupported words, and his evil, unsparing habit of think ing the worst, her heart seemed to stand still, and she remained motionless and frozen, with her hands locked and her teeth clinched
 "Sit down, my dear, sit down, and do not run clane daft, for there's nothing heavy the matter yet" creaked the old woman, again inspecting Jenny closely, motioning her the while to be seated by arching her hands out of her shoulders like rabbits paws. "f he's your sweetheart, ye must have some faith in him, and maybe he'll be turning up in day or two, and then the laugh'n be on thy side Do ye heary'
 "He is my husband" said Jenny, in a sob ping whisper, breathing quickly.
 "Well, well, husband or sweetheart, if he comes he'll be welcome, won't he now, dearieg'
 My husbandr" shrieked the girl, with wild stamp of the foot. "Will it not be be- lieved?"
 "Why, to be sure it will But see. I'm an old, lorn woman, who knows the world as thy father knows the Bible-an the harm of it, my dear; and if you was my child, this would say-hold thy peace about your mar riage until you can show proof, that Satan himself wouldn't doubt, that young MT. Shaw is thy husband Whatl will you make envi- ous wenches and their fabbergoon mothers believe ye by saying, T do not know the name of the church where was married, and have no bit O paper (the Lard knows what them things are called) to prove that MT. Shaw is my husband, and 'tis the truth itself that ne'er living cratur', my own father not excepting, knew that was Shaw's wife until this blessed day, when my husband hath left me to give the news O my marriage alonep"
 She ceased, leering shrewdly, with fore l finger against her nose.
 The stunned look that had settled upon Jenny's face while the old woman was speak ing passed a moment or two after she ceased, and strange and striking character was given to her beauty by an expression which it seems absurd to describe as mingling of despair and determination, yet which as- suredly suggested both these qualities.
 "I see that a great trouble has come upon me; but in the sight of God my heart is pure," she said in @ low but steady voice. "Mrs. Mead speak to me honestly and tell me what you think has become of my hus- band"
 "My honesty won't ease you, my dear, and the Lard knows Imay be wrong, though folks think that it's the devil as gives me wisdom, said the old woman, showing her fangs with a grin of ill-dissembled triumph; for in her own mind she had no doubt of the motive oi Cuthberts disappearance, and was fattered with the facile mastery that put her faI ahead of the towns surmises
 "Pray answer me. Ihave the heart to lis ten to anything now, Mrs. Mead"
 aWen," exclaimed Mrs. Mead, speaking slowly, intermitting her words for the sake of filling the spaces between with deliberate mods and shakes of the head, "theyl bt thinking this of thee-that you are not mar ried and that MT. Shaw hath left you t. bear your shame alone. They'll argey tha the son of tn old popinjay up at the schoo house ud never match with Mike Strang fields darter, and that he hath ruined 'e' ] with promises. And maybe they'll say tha ; tn old doctors in the secret, and hath go his son away slyly to save him from the dea l con, unless you shall defeat the liars b,
 sure proof of thy marriage. and that yo'