Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-09-11
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the sofa, DuJ lie was now conscious OF
the changes that had taken place dur.
/ ing the weeks of his illness. Mrs.
JakeS was housekeeper, Lucy was
nurse, an active, neat-handed maid had
taken Peggy's place. Mr.. Rogers often
came, but Walter rarely showed him.
/ self indoors.
! To-day S0mery had received his SEN
/ tence from the doctor.
He was partly paralyzed, and there
was little hope that he would regain
the use Of his limbs. but his power of
| speech was not aft .cted. and he might
live for years TO come. Lucy had been
In the room during the doctors visit,
and there had been silence snce-
She sat beside the invalid's sofa,
thinking. She had been devoted to her
father through this long illness, and
had resisted Walters entreaties TO come
out and have talk. She could not
see her way. Walter could not man.
age the farm without help, and how
| could they pay for help till the expenses
of this illness were met? She wondered
If her father had laid by money. Wal
| ter had not spoken openly, but she
knew that he loved her, ana she-well,
| she had not known what happiness
meant before Walter came To Low
! Edge. Yet, now, in considering the
position, Lucy thought of her father,
and tried TO put Walter and her feeling
I for him aside
Lucy She turned 10 the sofa, her
father looked very grave.
Yes, father
DO you mind the day was took i'll.
asked If you could spare Peggy?'
Yes, father
i ought to have told you then.
! ought TO have said, Look here, lass.
! I'm going TO sign away every stick
| belonging to me, SO as To StaYe of my
/ creditors
Did you sign?' Lucy looked dazed.
Yes. Well, my lass, even that cup
and spoon belongs to John Rogers.
! What can We do, Lucy?'
LucY's hands trembled so that she
! turned away from the gaze he fixed ON
I her
i must look to you now for help, he
| went on. L can't renew the lease of
| tins place; likely as not a new tenant
/ has offered himself. Rogers got TIE
/ agent TO waive the customary notice
Lucy rose as she turned round. Her
arms hung straight beside her, bul
/ there was a determined look on her
| face
Mr.. Rogers can advise you better
/ than | can. / should have said, Stay
/ on here;' but, then, L don't understand
| business
He looked very sad, and she could
/ hear sound of reproach IN his voice.
There's no money to pay men OF
rent either. L owe still a few sums
! which l did not care to trouble Rogers
with. L thought his face flushed.
! this Michaelmas, when you come OF
/ age, you'd maybe lend me the cash.
/ You know there's a hundred coming
to you then. L won't take it all. child,
lie said, pleadingly.
She gave him a cordial smile.
Il wish it had been more, father.
then you might have done without SC
/ much help from Others
There was a pause. Lucy stared into
! the opposite wall, with her hands
! clasped behind her.
You have not told me what we are
10 do Her father spoke fretfully.
Must we decide at oncel' She had
been thinking, but sine could not find d
way
! We ought not to lose time Then
lie closed his eyes with look of relief,
As II he had shifted his burden onto
competent shoulders.
Lucy began To walk up and down the
/ long room. Her youth seemed to have
ended. The bright happiness Of those
| past six months had been, Then, only an
unsubstantial dream. She must rouse
| herself and set TO work. For almost
I the first time the girl realized her own
! strength aud energy. Yes, she must
! work 10 support her father and pay his
! debts.
At last she came back to the sofa.
! She bent over her sleeping father, lis
| tened, and then she went softly out al
the further end of tie long room.
Walter Player was standing near the
! cartshed. His face was full of discon-
/ tent. 1t did not brighten when Lucy
cane up to him.
'GOod-day.' She had not seen him
/ for some time. He now took his meals
/ in the kitchen with Mrs. Jakes. Have
| you heard that We are TO leave Low
| Edge?'
He put up one shoulder and looked
uneasy.
It's bad enough as 1t is. Why do
you come and tell meI Heard, dye
sayI or course, everyone has heard
your fathers bankrupt
Lucy bowed her head, and a red flush
came in her cheeks
What are you going to dOY she
| asked. we must both work hard;
shall Try and get place as lady's
maid
You'll go TO service-youl' He
looked disg listed. Presently he took
her hand and clasped it between his.
Look here, he said hoarsely; L meant
To have asked you to marry me; | was
going 10 do lt-what was enough to
keep you and your father would keep
me-aud then l got this news. l call
1t "A burning shame for man to 20 on
keeping everything dark. and letting
! others take fancies in their heads If
III known the truth I'd not have stayed
a week IN the place, and then L should
have been spared this
She looked up in surprise and vet
| timidly; every word stabbed her, but As
she met his eyes the keenest wound of
all was his uncOnsclousnesS of her suf-
fer ng. His eyes We're full of passionate
love. but Lucy felt a want of something
il their expression
Goodbye she said, we had better
part now. You viii find friends
wherever you co. She could not
speak, she felt chnked.
Il suppose l shall, but I shall find
nothing like you-you darling' He
suddenly tried TO put his arms around
her, but she drew herself away.
4 must see father first now, she said;
but if he had not had This illness, it
might have been, Walter
No. he said, angrily. 'Confound
him, that's the worst of it. 1t seems
he's been in debt for years He used
TO bet at the races, you see. No. L
could never have married you, my girl.
I | We got to make a living Gonna