The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-01-26


woman She tired Of the struggle and WOW.
back to her friends. had hoped She ro;ebt
hold out on account of the boy"
THE boyl Then you had a childm
Grosvenor assented with mute gesture
Ruth Stanhope," repeated the doctor,s
wife, slowly, looking steadily at her hue.
band, who sent her back a Significant
glance; ,and the boy-how old would vonr
little son be now, Mr.. Grosvenorr'
"A little more than seven years.
Robert, have an errand that mnst be
attended to at once. You and Mr. Gros.
venor will excuse me. will not be limo u
Mrs Belden had snatched up a broad
brimmed hat and was tying it under her
chin as she spoke, her eyes kindled with
excitement, her cheeks lit with a Sudden
flame. Jack Grosvenor, aroused from his
apathy, looked curiously after her AZ abe
sped down the street, her head in a wbirI.
AS she few along the sidewalk she tried to
balance and arrange the queer facts and
stranger memories that were fitting through
her brain. She remembered something of
the splendor Of Jack Grosvenor's Wedding.
and the contrast it had presented To their
own modest nuptials. She recalled an nc.
count she had read of the marriage banquet
and the list of the notable guests who were
in attendance. She saw in anticipation the
bare room she was about to enter, with its
beggarly strip of rag carpeting along the
center, the pine bedstead with It's worn
coverlet, the wooden chairs, the woman
bent over her ironing board, contrasting 1t
with the Astounding comforts and generous
hospitality of that Southern home.
hiuh Iripd Hyoc h1Nxuipo, opd a.. -
dust darkened the air about hes~S aef
with miniature sirocco, she yettouha time
to marvel at the strength of extractor that
had enabled the petted Southern girl, born
and Graded in the lap of luxury,i deliberately
to renounce the life of ease ope to her, and
condemn herself and her caildyo the life of
toll and hardship that had restted so disas
trously. The gentle woman heart filled
with love and sympathy, audSne was ready
to take Jack Grosvenor's wiftinto her arms
and cry over her sorrows an humillations,
Her heart was chilled at tt sight of the
cold, proud face, whose sverity was in
creased by the piece of sti, white muslin
bound about the head as aprotection from
the smoke and coal dustof the ironing
stove. Mrs. Belden locke in momemtary
adherence at the massbf lace and en-
broidery lying upon tb ironing board,
guessing only too well tie owners of that
tlwdry splendor.
WHAT do you work fc them?"
For moment the woman gaZed calmly
upon her questioner, thin turned with an
expressive glance to the low pallet where
her boy lay sleeping, by lis side the crutch
that must be his lifelong companion.
Notwithstanding the nother's impassive
demeanor, the eyes Of tie visitor filled with
sudden tears. She twfled her hatstrings
and searched the cold fee, wondering how
she had best communicate the tidings OF
which she was the belrer. She observed
the digniticd movement of the tall figure
across the room, the shapely hand that
changed the cool iron for fresh one, and
she remembered how the same hand had
held light without fliDching, while the lit
tic boys limb was being taken off. With
what disdainful front she had faced
poverty, and how stemly she had repealed
thsse who offered sympathy and help! Such
woman would have nerve for any thing.
Why should she plan to spare her what
would at most be little more than slight
surprise.
Mrs Belden ended by fiaging her scru-
pies to the wind.
''My husbands old friend, Jack Gros-
venor, is at our house."
"Alive!" 49,.
The word spoke volumes. The pam and
agony of years were concentrated id the
cry. The hot iron she was holding dropped
upon the lace draperies and burned is way
through them, as she clutched at The table
to steady herself, while her brown eyes
sought her VISITORS with look of iteous
entreaty.
"Is-it-true?" she pleaded.
There was no need of answer. A mans
step sounded outside, the door was flung
open, and Jac. Grosvenor, returned to
something like his old, impetuous self,
strobe across the room and caught the faint
ing woman in his arms. The white turban
fell back from the pale face, its rigid fea-
lures relaxed into a happy SMILE and the
DOCTORS wife, struck by the Transformation,
was startled with sudden recognition. and
murmured softly:
''Sister Veronicar'
Flora Haines Loughead, in Argonaut.