Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-23
CHAPTER XXIIL.
MRS. MEAD RETURNS TO eREYsror

MRS. MEAD RETURNS TO BIRTHSTONE.
 "I know I'm doin' right Niver could l hold up my head if they got saying it were Judith Mead as helped Michaeps girl to roop away and leave her character behind her. > said Mrs. Mead to herself as tue wagon sat, right in sine osatsr q the v1hicle, staring out of the shaaov ct the p1Ssty little inn that was dropping behind.
 lv was e1evsn G oc-; w..en they arrived at the top of the High street of Greystone.
 "Thisll do, mister," exclaimed Mrs. Mead, who had no opinion of Johnny as driver, and was weary of the jolting inflicted on her, and the miserably slow way they made; Eye needn't go no further"
 Johnny, however, refused to take any notice of her request. There was an ale house some distance down the street, and not until the wagon was abreast of it did he cry, "Whoa!" Then dropping from his perch, with trife of briskness in the action, he came round to the back of the cart, and said, "Ye can get down here if ye loike."
 The old woman scrambled down as best she could, and Johnny looked on with grin at her boots Then correcting his smile as she faced round upon him, he said:
 "This here's the Wheatsheaf, and the favey in the liquor is as foine as though 'twar all room stoof."
 10T0 W0lCO1u0 to Orluk aS uuCu aS 1VOr they'll trust ye with" replied Mrs. Mead tartly.
 Aren't ye goin' to stand summat?" cried the man.
 "Yes, half pint O vinegar, if ye're good to drink it." answered the old woman.
 "Go along, or I'll get ye drownt for a witch," shouted the disappointed Johnny; and off he went, chuckling audibly.
 Not ten yards, however, could she go with out meeting an acquaintance. Who should this be but old Mrs. Bruff. going to her snuff shop in George street, with her dinner in a paper parcel. ..-:.e
 Good mornin', Mrs. Mead. How are youa Iris an age sin I seen ye my way"
 "I'm middlin' well, thank Zee, Mrs. Bruff As to comin' your way, what hath snuff to say to lone old cratur' that lnts her val ley in fardensa The flies, they do tickle, truly. Them and the dogs knows what's good," exclaimed Mrs. Mead, with glance at the paper parcel "And doth not the par son say that prosperity draws strange things to it?"
 "Ye're alters quizzing, Mrs. Mead. Pros perity, indeed! Five and fourpence was my airnings last week; scarce three loaves in it. thanks to them wagabone French, as it's a mussy for them I ain't man."
 "Well, and ye give me no news? That two gossips should roast f this heat with nothing to sayl But they're wonderful liars Grey stone," said Mrs Mead.
 "News-to theew cried Mrs. Bruff, with a ludicrous toss of the head. "Why, here I stand for truth; for, as you say, they're dreadful liars f Greystone"
 "The truth O what|
 "But you knowp exclaimed Mrs. Bruff, looking at her old companion with absurd Sro ,,1;% ;,, harf foo
 q do not know," replied Mrs. Mead, with the eagerness of a born gossip. q am this minute arrived from Winston, and if any thing hath happ'd I'm as strange to it as a unborn infant"
 "Why, then," said Mrs. Bruff, speaking slowly. and with evident sense of superiority, fits everywheres towd that Mike Strang- feld's wench hath run away for shame O the wrong done her by Dr. Shaw's son. But that's not it. neither. Not twenty minutes since met Deacon Skelton, who says to me, Is it true, Mrs. Bruff, that my brother Stranpfield is deadg The Lord forbid says. q hope not MT. Skelton.' 'pm afeard he is, then.' he says. Jim Mason he says, him as keeps the Blue Posteses, had the news from Tom Rallies. as is cousin to the Strangfelds servint; Polly her name is. She wns sent for the doctor, but came fust in fripht to her mother-who's kept her bed sin, Anril. poor wretch-an' says that Strangfeld's fell down in 2 dh and's dead man. Lord bleax me. sirv sayl 2"