Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-18
FORCED APART
By W. CLARK RUSSELL.

By ". CLARK RUSSELL.
 Author Of the ssWreck or the Gro.u.no, .
 "A Sailors S,ceetheart," Etc
 .eNow. mistress" said she, There be a dish of tea which all Chaney, where the herh prows. as I've heard, couldn't match. Jnst . shred of bread, with this fine new butter. ,N give that egg relish as yeM niver cease to remember. Come, comet sin we nun both keep awake, there's naught like tea-or tay, as my mother used to call it; and that's the right word, though In these queer times . body hath no liberty. We'll, will ye not MT. Shaw I'll make ye see a joke in 1t. for I niver knew blue eye like his that didn't mean merry heart; and this will say of your husband. mistress, that since the days when poor Will Racket coorted me F silk stockings, I've niver seen prettier lad than MT. Cuthbert Shaw. Crack the egg. my dear, an if ye shall tell the inside of it from cream, I'll swallow the shell It's middl np late for supper, but as thy father once said to me fifteen years ago, when loved a bit O riband as has no relish now, we're all arti- ficial crea Sures-which is the Lords truth. Why shouldn't Aody eat I the middle O the night as well as the morn? Come, come, make beginning, or I'll not go along wi ye"
 aBut do not want you to come along with me, Mrs. Mead. Indeed, should not allow you to leave your house after keeping you from your bed-no, truly, though love you dearly for your kindness" exclaimed Jenny.
 "Do you think should let pretty young woman walk alone to Winston at this time O morn, with her box and her sweet face to court ivery smock she may come across" cried Mrs. Mead, poising saucer on a level with her nose, and stralning her eyes at Jenny over it, "What is summers morn- ing walk to mel If I can't hinder thee from leaving home, I'll see thee safe in t coach any ways, and that'n be something for me to tell thy mother"
 The need of companionship was strong in Jenny. All the way to Winston, with . long waiting for the coach, was a weary under taking, and what society should she have but bitter thoughts? Besides, little touch of comfort there was in the feeling that her mother would know that no harm had be- fallen her, if Nrs. Mead gave the story so far as her promise of secrecy permitted But there was that in the old woman's face which helped Jenny to prompter acceptance of the offer than otherwise her sweetness would have sanctioned. Mrs. Mead was clearly determined, and ready to quarrel, that her will should have its way. So the lonely hearted girl with the saddest smile on her white face. went up to the dame and thanked her with kiss upon the nipples of her forehead; and had she been a man, a favor more delightful the old woman could not have made it seem. But oh, what con- lrkot when the faces were togetherl
 Now slowly, as they sat in these small hours outside, the solemn stiffness of tho night, and within, no sound but the hum- ming of the kettle to thread the melodious complaining notes of the girl and the creak- ing tones of her sympathetic istener-the faint and mystical light of the new day, creeping from the infinite abysm into the towering chambers of the western heavens, stood palely on the window glass, and little twitter of birds broke abruptly from invisi- ble places.
 Until the light had broadened, Mrs. Mead refused to heed it; and Jenny, with her back to the window, and telling the long story of her love and marriage and sorrow to her companion, did not see it. Then the girl, pausing with feverish eyes, after words of bitter wonder that Cuthbert should have left her, and wild c5y that he might not be dead, Mrs. Mead held up her finger.
 Mistress" said she, "before it is too late, think well of what you are about to do. Hushl If ye were my own child I should not say more to thee" f s.4ssss .-
 "I have thought have thought!" moaned Jenny, rocking herself to and fro. My cousin Bridget will give me a home; and she and her husband only shall know my story. But what will the talk be here, whether stay or go7 Never could stir abroad, and at home my father could not bear to look at me. Should God send my husband back, then father will hang his head to think of the wrong he has done his girl And thou shalt tell mother where I am. But until Cuthberr comes. I will keep hidden. I have sworn it to myself; and if should be forced to stay here would kill myself indeed l wouldl"
 "Well, trulyl" muttered the old woman. "To see your beauty, like kittens, and such soft smiles as ye greet with, who'd think ye had so much spirita don't say ye aren't right. You're taching some folks a lesson as'n profit lem; and when you're righted, the people hereu make queen of ye-see, now Doth not the Lord say, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs? Yet his own child's bread hath your father taken, and niver are dogs wanting when there is a crust to gnaw. Turn your head now, my pretty. Do ye see it's daya"
 With sharp glance at the window, Jenny jumped from her chair.
 "I must go quickly" she cried. "There will be people abroad, and if am seen they will run to father"
 "There'n be no one abroad for another ho11 yet-not even the market folk, replied Mrs. Mead. "But I'll not keep ye scared"
 She fetched her shawl and bonnet from the bedroom, and while she put them on she said:
 @There's Sallie Walker, as kapes the Grey hound at Winston. I nursed her mother, and was at her funeral; and niver doth Sal come to Greystone without droppin' in to see il Mother Mead be still alive. We'll have he, up, mistress, though she be snoring, and she shall give thee couch for two hours rest For dye think you're made O wire and parchment like me, that you can set through whole night without @ napa At sever there'n be summat to break thy fast wi, rss warrant-if kill one O Sally's pigs myself for the daintiness O chitterlings Then intt the coach yell get, and may the Lord senc Ye happiness"
 So saying, she laid hold of Jenny's box and with untitled tread and without speecl they both of them went into the gray morn ing light.
 CHAPTER XIX. THE EMPTY BEDROOM little hefore six in the morning a rav O