Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-07-26


'tAnd then, In the real refinement Of
her Heaven-taught compassion, tho old
woman moved softly about the room, as
II busy for herself, talking of other
things, and drawing the girls thoughts
to feel that her presence In the cottage
was Frightening and cheering. And
when the tired look would creep back
into the worn face, and the feverish
light to the wild eyes, she would feel it
necessary to go into the other room, and
leave the girl to rest alone. But what
was this resting alone to Lima? With
her face hidden, and her thin fingers
clasped, she only moaned to Heaven for
pardon, because she must deceive anoth-
or who had been kind and good and pitt
full to her, and because she must abuse
the simple trust which had been reposed
in her and had saved her.
1t was Saturday morning. and by the
light of Pickering candle Lina's kind old
nurse was preparing for her long walk
into Churchill. Lima had risen as early
as She had, and was helping her deity
| In this preparation, lowering about her
with prompt and dainty little attentions
such as the old woman had never re-
ceiyed before through all her 20 years.
ST wish you'd Just lain still, my DEAR"
she said, Watching the girls anxious face
(which was pale to-day, she fancied,
with evea q new pallOr); "1'd rather
here after me-I'm used to wait on my
self. Why, bless mel 1 haven't had
euch q breakfast set and made for me I
don't know when, if ever nor am used
| TO having everything prepared to my
hand in fhis way. But I can't bear to
see you do Il"
81 like to do it-so much, whispered
Lima; So couldn't lie in bed tO-dAy-I'm
20 strong now. I like to do this best Of
all. shall like to remember it"
at suppose I'm ready now, my DEAR"
said the old woman, laying clean, white
cloth to cover the bottom of her basket,
and wondering when Lima would turn
her eyes fully to hers again land all
I've got to ask is this is there any
body in Churchill that will want to
message to send by meP I'll take and
it 10 me"
The dark, sad eyes met hers at last,
yet still with shrinking in their
depths that almost looked like shame.
III know you would" the girl said,
gently "but, kind nurse, have no
message to send. no one to send a mes
sage to-"
Wistfully, almost humbly, as she
spoke, Lima put her arms about the neck
Of the old woman who had SO pitifully
tended and sheltered her. and left o
gentla, lingering kiss upon the with
cred cheek.
"My DEAR" the woman whispered, in
her astonishment, "take care of your
self to-day; I don't like to leave You, but
there's no help for it. I'll be as quick
| M avap nan Whv opo Won droaaa5 2o
Elm coming with you little way"
said Lima, turning the key in the door
a. they left the cottage. ST dare say
you never lock the door and take the key
With you when you go away for few
minutes, but I'm not so brave as you
are, and I shall feel more comfortable. !"
Again, upon the hillside path, ont of
sight of the cottage, Lima kissed her
kind old friend and said good-by; and
then she stood and watched her until o
turn in the rugged way hid them from
each other.
Thanking me so makes a perfect
baby Of me, muttered the old woman,
rubbing her dim eyes, "kissing me and
it's no use thinking of it and making
myself look foolish all day. It will be
pleasant to have her waiting there for me
tonight. How many years it is since I
had any one to welcome me at my home
coming All. I could hardly count the
years. Perhaps she'll even come little
way to meet me In the cleaning"
This thought kept recurring to her
happily all through her nine-mile walk
but she uttered no word of it when she
reached her sons house, and met his
questions. Lettering beside her and
jestingly discussing her probable pur-
chases, he moved the cloth which COW
ered the bottom of her basket.
} "Why, mother 4" he exclaimed, as he
did 30, "it isn't like you to have the
key of your house loose here Where's
your safe under-pocket?
"The what-the what, ladP" she
cried, q sick faintness seeming to seize
her. (The lad to her was o wrinkled,
gray-haired man to others.)
1.-THE key Of your cottage, generally
80 snugly packed in an outoEthe-waJ
pocket" ne said; you must have beer
very careless this morning."
The marketing that day was done al
random. Even the little present fol
Lima (about which SO much kind anxi
ETY. had been felt) was forgotten. Nc
thought had the kind old woman thai
was half 80 urgent one as the thought
that she must hasten home and oper
, INC CotIaSe oOOr 1or the gr1 Wnom Snt
had nursed back to health, and who
weak and delicate still, was locked ou
Of the house now, with no chance O
warmth, or food, or resting place. How
came the key to have dropped from hel
hand into the basket?
= The long walk was over at last; thu
locked-ap cottage was within sight, anG
, now the dim eyes looked around, eager
ly searching among the shadows. All
/ this was to have been such pleasant
> homecoming. No young figure dis
7 turbed the solitude of the old familiar
. scene. No voice answered to her faint
: troubled call. The rooms, when shG
I entered them, had become the solitary,
empty rooms of old times; the solitary
/ empty rooms which-she said to hersel
with tired glance around-of course
they always would be.