Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-15
CHAPTER XIV.
MOTHER MEAD.

CHAPTER XIV.
 MOTHER MEAD.
 It had been a sudden sickness and dread full giddiness that had caused Jenny to sink on the floor, from which she recovered soon after her father had quilted the house for his visit to Greystone school The wild distrac- tion in her eyes had repelled Mrs. Strang 6eld, and for mercy and dread the mother asked no questions, but sat, silent and signing, watching her daughter with piteous concern. Then her duties calling her, and thinking besides that solitude would be precious to such bitter grief as Jennys, Mrs. Strangfeld gently left the room.
 No sooner was she gone than Jenny started to her feet, and paced about though seized with madness, with a frown upon her forehead, and her hands pressing tightly be- low her hips. Full realization of what had befallen her had come to her heart, and she was driven by intolerable agony of spirit. That Cuthbert had left her 6 his own will did not come into her mind. Belief in love does not fall dead in this way. And no one had yet suggested to her, as kindly solution of the mystery of his disappearance, that it might be he had taken sudden shame of her as his wife and had left her, acting a sweet part up to the last hour-for men are shock ing deceivers.
 What, then, did she thinks Why, that some accident had befallen him; and the idea that he might be lying dead in some hidden place so frenzied her, that, without con- sideration of her purpose, she fled upstairs for her hat and left the house to seek him. She had wandered beyond the market place when her mind took a grasp of her in- 1 tention, and that brought her to a stand. | The midday sun beat fercely upon the road, I,a1I fho ,fS frlo h1D fU But there were people in the shops, and they | stared at her as she stood; perceiving which, she went down the street again, with her | heart beating furiously over a newborn resolution to call on Dr. Shaw, and begin | her inquiries after her husband at his own | home.
 But when she had got as far as the market place, the fame of Mother Mead as gossip and teller of fortunes occurred to her, and this because she saw the old woman's bent 1 figure going at hobble on the other side of the market place. So Jenny, passing quickly through the stalls, intercepted the dame as she was turning into the court in which she dwelt.
 Mrs. Mead was talking to herself in loud, | quavering voice, and so completely engrossed with witchlike thoughts-for what other thoughts coulG possibly visit such an ugly conformation?-that she did not observe Jenny unUll SQo IOuuQ neTSolL SCOppoO py Uuo girl standing in front of her.
 "Ah, Miss Jenny Strangfeld-if that be your rale name, my dearl A hot marning, isn't it? with power of dust for an old nose that finds snuff cruel, dear. Why, your | father is jest beyont-I am now from him and Lard! his eyes are in such blaze that my old skin cracked when he looked at me.
 "May I speak with you in your house, Mrs.
 Mead? I am in great trouble"
 At sight of the sad, sweet face Mrs. Mead's ugly countenance underwent a kind of trans
 formation. Her nose and chin did not, ln-
 deed, moderate their intimacy; but the blood shot old eye took a sudden light of compas- sion, and strange grin of good nature over
 spread her face
 "Come along, my dear," she exclaimed Eff ye're not above being seen with sitch g scarecrow as me. Stoop your head, for 'tis an old-fashioned door, built afore palaces
 was known. There's strong chair that1 t hold thee; and if I can comfort thee, my , pretty, I'll mop out my old heart to do it, I'll warrant"
 with a sitting room very abruptly entered
 from the street. This room and a bed cham Der adjacent composed Mrs. Mead's dwelling Taking a seat opposite the girl, she ran hel eyes over her from top to toe. "Now, my child" said she, "what can I do } Is it your fortune you want tolda Nay, nay there's no physic in such stuff for rale trouble
 It's good for foolish wenches whose brain 0 are made O ribbon, but not for the likes C t thee, dearie"
 a "I am in bitter trouble, indeed, Mrs. Mead r MT. Shaw, the son of the doctor, is missing > and am mad to know where he is," sai f Jenny, bending her pale face forward as sh o spoke
 "Likely enough, my dear-he had the mos :; noble face that iver I see on man. Wha 1, was he to thees Your answer shall be sacre = with me. Speak the worst, if harm hat = come to ye You'll find Judith Mead dunn i. e as your heart"
 Is ''He was my husband, replied Jenny, in . voice scarcely above whisper, for the score V was still so fresh that the revelation of
 startled her to hear, though spoken with he @ own voice.
 1t Mrs. Mead screwed up her eyes to look 6 g. the girl until the upper part of her face we t. mask of wrinkles.
 @ tYour husband" she exclaimed, in a tor B. and with manner that would have made rs impossible for a third person to know wheth'
 she believed the girl or not, for, as to Jenn. "a it could not occur to her that her word wou ra be doubted. "Why, then no wonder his goir "a troubles ye."
 ia "Oh, Mrs. Mead, why do you say his g se ingg He has not left his home, do you thinl 1- Is it not possible that he has somewhere m ,f with an accidents Or has his father force St him to leave? On Wednesday he promise me to call last night on father and break tf