Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-03-21

III OOulluS dS QuICh dS CALL
The door at the foot OF the stairs
closed with light bang, and Ben
discOntentedly stretched himself
"Pm sick of that old mill. DrOn
Ing and drOning there day after
day, never seeing anything, and
tgettlng such miserable pay"
Ben forgot to think, as he slow
ly dressed himself, that no very
long time had elapsed since
he had thought himself a very
lucky fellow IN getting a situation
at the mill with a prospect of bet
ter wages if he proved himself
faithful and capable.
"Hurry, now, you've no time to
iOse,1 and Susan, following bin to
the gate after he had finished his
breakfast. "wOIk begins pretty
prompt, doesn't itY"
"PrOWpt? Yes, l guess it does
and keeps un pretty prompt all
day. Work, work, work all the
time. jim Slade says a smart
fellow can get twice as much pas
for half as much work in the city
and have chance of seeing some
thing little lively, too.'
"But you wouldn't think of 90.
Ing anywhere to leave mother aud
me, Benz"
"P'raps would for a while, Sue,
if l could make lots of money for
you. And then you and mother'd
come to where | was. Wouldn't
that be fine? But l must 60 now.
Susan stood for a few moments
at the gate with heavy misgivlng
at her heart. Ben had seemed un.
settled ever since Jim Slade had
come home from the city, taxing
less interest in his work, and ap
pearing less anxious than formerly
to do his best. She did not know
| that Jim's reason for coming home
to take little rest just nov, as be
| had given out, had been a dismis
sal from his situation under cir
cumStances which be was
anxious to keep hidden from his
country friends; and that his
strong interest in her brother Ben
arose from the fact of his guessing
that he had little money laid by,
and feeling desirOus of sharing II
with him through coaxing him tC
return to the city with him. But
| Susan had an instructive distrust
of Jim, ana had not liked to see
| his intimacy with Ben.
| She looked anxiously after her
brother as he took his way along
the pretty mountain road. "I'd
like to work in that mill myself
such a nice one," she said, half
laughing at the idea. She had a
bOyish taste for strong, large
things, and had been greatly in
terested in improvements which
Mr.. Graves had made in his saw.
mill, new machinery and cOnven.
fences which were novelties to
the country folks.
At dinner time Ben seemed rest
less and uneasy, avoiding her eye
she fancled, and talking in quick,
excited tones about matters of no
Importance to their mother, who was
an invalid. aud had drifted into q
way of leaving everything tt
Susan'S capable ordering ana per
forming.
"Pm in dreadful hurry" sale
| Ben, at length, springlng from
his chair. "GOodbye, mother
He kissed her, and then with an
awkward laugh and a heightened
color hurried out of the house.
"YOu've forgot your handker
chlef," said Susan, making a pre-
text OF 1t again to follow him a
be was Fastening away.
"YOd're ever so good to me, Sue,
> he said, making a snatch at it a
she held out to him. You'v
always been good to me, and III
gong to be good TO yOu-youy
see."
He was off without a look at he
and Susan went back to the hous
feeling more and more perPlexe,
and uneasy. AS she resumed he
work terrible suggestion fashe,
upon her miGd, Could Ben be II
tending to leave hone withou
letting her and his mother know
1t would be unlike him 10 10 any
thing which be must realize wonl
be sGch sorrow to them, but sh
] knew that JIm's influence ove
bun bad been growing stroDgt
and stronger, ana he had succeeG
ed in 6lIing the mind OF the FOOLS
country boy with the idea tbs
he could do far better for himse
aud for these two who were partl