Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-22
1our shoes hinder ye from running, toss lem

your shoes hinder ye from running. toss lem offin
 She looked back into the room with a merry 1aueh. which died away on her catch ing sight of Jenny's face. for the girl had lifted her veil. Observing the chance of er. pression in her friends face, Mrs Mead drowned knowingly upon her, with an er. tremely suggestive shake of the head and then begged for the loan of pair of slin- pers, which Mrs Walker Immediately went to procure
 aNow. mistress" said the old woman in her kindest manner, and hobblinp over to Jenny. Eye must make yourself comfortable here, and there's no reason agin' it. A bet ter hearted young woman than Sally there is not in this world Niver you heed her if she looks at thee It will be your beantv that fetches her eyes and nothing else: for this is a house of call, and them who kapes such houses soon loses all curiosity. Ton shall breakfast and then lie down for a mos sel O sleep. Why, my dear, what beautiful hair is yours 'Tis like putting ones hand on feathers, and just the color O the hair O some of them drawings ye see on church windows when the sun shines through them"
 This bit of praise was provoked by her gentle removal of Jenny's hat; then she
 
 and knelt down to take off her shoes and chafe the little feet
 Grief and fatigue are by no means such conditions as beauty covets for their physi- cal gifts; yet it was a question if Jenny's loveliness was impaired by the whiteness of her face and the languid droop of her eye lids, and the mournful set and curve into which sorrow had twitched the sweetness of her mouth Her hands were folded wearily on her lap and her wedding ring glistened.
 "How kind and good you are to me, Mrs. Meadl" she said. If ever my darling comes back to me, how will he love and bless you for your goodness to his wife If could get little rest first, could eat some breakfast; but, indeed, do not think I could swallow food now"
 "Well, perhaps ye are right" replied Mrs. Mead, thoughtfully.
 Anyways, they'll fit thee, Mrs Mead, ex- claimed Sally, with her merry laugh, drop ping the slippers on the floor; "and slippers a poor job if it don't fit loose"
 "Now, see here, Sally" continued Mrs. Mead, rising off her knees with one of those involuntary groans which old folks like her will send up over any harsh exercise of their bones "this lady wants some sleep, and I'll thank ye, my dear, for the loan of quiet room for her, where the drawn blinds'u make her poor eyes think it night"
 "If yell come with me, 'am, I'll lead you stra ight to such room as Mrs Mead asks for," said Sally, with courtesy, giving Jenny the "na'am" on account of her we'd ding ring, which the quick eye of the woman spied instantly.
 With a feeble smile of thanks. Jenny slipped her feet into her shoes and, taking up her hat and shawl, followed Mrs Walker of fbo ing after them
 Now, though Mrs Mead had represented Mrs. Walker as hardened into incuriosity by her calling as hostess, the truth was Mrs. Walker was still, and was ever likely to re- main, thorough woman in respect of in- quisitiveness when any real object of curiosi- ty came under her attention. To this quality, which after all is harmless enough when it prompts honest and kindly hearts, Jenny was indebted for the promptness with which she was conducted to a bedroom and made com fortable in it; for Mrs. Walker was very anxious to have Mrs. Mead alone, that she might hear all that was to be told about this beautiful young girl with the wedding ring on her finger, and what part in the mysteri- ous little play Judith herself was taking.
 "There," said the old woman, when Jenny had stretched her length upon the bed and her hot forehead pressed the snow of the pill " said she, pinning the curtains so as to effectually darken the room. "now yell think its night; and good
 wo hours you've got. and every incl, of Il must be sleep wi ye." -
 "Give me kiss before you go," whispered Jenny, putting up her lips.
 The old woman bent her furrowed face over the girl, and as she turned away the notion struck Sally that all three of them were in a very fit state to cry.
 Gently they quilted the room and closed the door upon the girl.
 "Niver was creature born more sweetly lovable than that dear heart," exclaimed the old woman as she hobbled downstairs, holding on to the banister. "Do ye know, Sally, that she is Mike Strangfelds darter, the Baptist deacon-him as talks O hellfire as coolly as thee ta.kest of thy big gooseberries!"
 "Ye dunno say so! We'll, now, thought l whin l see her, Missy, know thy face' What, in the name O goodness and mussy. brings her to Winston this time O morn- and she a wife, as any creature might see with one eye by her ring, not to speak of her pale face, poor thiny."
 "Is this the room came out ofs Yes, there's my bonnet Now, Sally, no word dost thee get from me till my breakfast is gotten" said Mrs. Mead, sitting herself down; "and then maybe I'll make your eyes big, and give ye secret worth all that iver you did hear sin ye left your mammys breast"
 Such promis, was sufficient to put alacrity into doll Off went Sally. and in ten minutes time good repast was smok- ing under Mrs Meads appreciative nose Yet, though the old woman did good justice to the sweet country food, there was contemplative manner about her, @ thoughtful hesitancy, an absent glaring at nothing in particular, the while her old jaws kept her temples leaping, that indicated a mind in labor.
 Mrs. Walker, who breakfasted with her for companys sake-for her husband had gone to Marples and was there stopping watched her anxiously and spoke seldom, until brr rakfast was done; and then Mrs. Meal, with little thanksgiving to the Lord for her meal folded her hands and told Sally all about the cause that had brought Jenny to Winston.
 Her story took an hour to relate by the clock; and when she had made an end, what had been hot on the table was cold; the sun had come round into the window to look at the prater, and the cool breeze of the dawn had been smothered in the sultry arms of q burning morning.
 "Now, my dear," said she, '1 want you to go upstairs and look at the girl to see if she sleeps-for how it may be with the wenches of this age know not, but whenever I was