Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-29

thoughts in the past. "Theym none 50
easy found"
"If jim thinks care. said Cass, in
consequently. but fercely, 81 don't.
Jim's took up with tn preachin' now -
jerk, aud bigger stitch than usual IN
the white calico" he'd hes marry one
o they"
Mrs. Brady was sewing. too, slowly
and monotonously, with an action as
unlike her daughters as was possible.
"There was yer father, she said ; "he'd
n,yer a good word for tn chapel folk (;
an as fur stiddiness. he drinked 'nself to
death, an that you know"
There was moral somewhere con-
nected with these "reminiscences, but
Mrs. Brady was too depressed to point
it clearly. Cass pursued her own line
of thought unchecked.
"There's Emily" she said. "If he
wants a saint he'd bes take up with
Emily. I'm willin'."
Conversation between Cass and her
mother tended to become soliloquy. Mrs.
Brady took up the thread OF her own
reflections. "The life ! led within !"
she said. eff til Lord d sin fit to take
n twenty years afore He did, twould
been all fur TIL best, an I'd been thank
full. But there | lived with n
nobody else knew n in same way. But
jim, he's n stiddy man"
Cass smiled little Involuntary and
drew out her cotton with more gentle
ness. 1t was not unpleasing to her to
hear Jim's praises sung.
"An serious thinkin'," added her
mother. "He was fond o 'ee-a while
back lie was Em1v's quieter spoken
an not so took up wi tn men,"
If there were gaps in her mothers
train OF reasoning Cass was quick-wltted
and filed them up. She vas seized with
a sudden restlessness and took her nee
dle-work to the door, where, however, it
was 100 dark to sew. The wind sweptin
coldly from the sea, and blew about her
hair and her dress, and increased her
restlessness. She put up her arms and
clasped her hands behind her head and
| looked up the street, where the lights
seemed brighter. Presently came step
she knew, and she turned quickly and
/ looked out Mt sea into the darkness.
The step was firm and heavy-not
slothful and not hurried step-the step
of a man with goodly length and
strength of limb. II stopped where Cass
was standing in the doorway.
ooh its YOU" she said, looking
round for q moment and looking away
again. Its dull to-night-not soul
| about"
/ The man before her was tall, broad
/ shouldered young fellow, who wore a
| blue darned fsherman's Jersey, and
whose face and throat and brawny hands
and wrists were tanned with sea, Dir,
and sun. His eyes were frank, straight
Qlancing, uncompromising. His lips
were firm and little stern. Both eyes
and lips looked as though they seldom
smiled.
"Come indoors. Cass," he said, and
he spoke authoritatively and little
YEARLY.
Arc you goin' in ? I shan't, then"
( said Cass " It's duller still indoors"
jim took of his woollen cap and shook
the rain from it, and did not speak.
/ "Emly's INDOORS" continued Cass
"you can 60 an sitwi' her. She's fitted
company n me. | amt no saint, an l
don set up to he, "
"There's nothin' to he proud of in that,
Cass," said the man with a grave, per-
haps irritating forbearance.
Il don know" said Cass. "They'm
n poor set, poor pasty-face' lot-if
Em'ly's q pattern. I'd he ashamed to
look on the men like that. as though [
was afeared on 'em--as though | expect
cd 'em TO make love TO me if I didn' turn
down me eyes an look ugly. I'd be
ashamed to look a man in tn face ii
couldn't have me laugh with n nat'rel,
an cheek'n back when he checked me.
The rain came down in thick, heavy
drizzle. The tide splasbed dismally
against the stones Of the Hard. Cass,
with her hands behind her head, stood
looking on. and humming as though a
cheerful sun were shining on merry
world. The song she hummed was bit
OF q vulgar little pautomime song which
the street boys had been whistiing ali the
winter. jim looked down on her, and
in his mind was the picture of a different
woman, gentler, sOfter-voiced, with
qUieter. more retiring ways, with graver
thoughts, and less worldly smiles and
laughter.
81 dom know bout all that, Cass. he
said, coldly; "but 1 know this-an'
say this-Pd like the girl Pm MARVIN
to be modest an good woman, who'd
mind her home an bide there, an bring
up her children TO think Of other things
than flirtin' an fnery an play-goin'.
An there's where man who married
Emily d be sure. Anti you, Cass'--
But Cass interrupted him. She
turned upon him suddenly, her face
crimson. her eyes flashing.
YOU'D hes I've off WI me now" she
said. "You'm tired OF it n'-an-lm
tired OF It. We'd best have done wi
one another"
"Mnybe we'd best" said jim slowly.
Cass laughed; but the laugh had in it
more Of bravado than of mlrth or indif
ference.
That's settled, them" she said.
"You'm free now TO take up wi Emily.
I'm willin' shan't grieve."
CHAPTER II.
II was q week or two later. March
- tho Dlo1Jo nut ~, 4l,e;.