Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-04-02

| All tndC morning, Wnlle she got Tile
b eLkfast at five O'Clock, and washed
the dishes, swept the rooms, made the
beds, churned the bu ter, and prepared
| lunch for six men, her heart turned
| back to that other morning, two years
ago, when the bright-eyed country
maiden rose at four O'Clock to complete
her preparations for her wedding-day.
| How good, how kind, how handsome,
her George was theni How his eyes fol-
lowed her; how his love blessed ber!
Was 1t all her fault that the bloom and
beauty Of life had departed in those two
short years? Looking back she could
see no day in which she had not at least
tried TO do her duty.
Looking In the glass she saw how the
light and glow of youth had passed
from her face, while accomplishing the
task urcheered by the approval of the
man She loved
George las kept his color and his
good looks because his work lies out OF
DOORS she unused, but l have worked
in this kitchen until | look old enough
to be his mother. His mother She
paused with bitter laugh. L almost
wish | was his mother, then he would
be suited with what L did
Noon came. The twelve O'Clock
whistle sounded sharp and clear from
the factory in tie village a mile away;
and before the whistle ceased a little
figure stepped out on the side porch of
the Brewster farm and blew a horn.
There's woman for you'll said
Solomon Wyse, admiringly. Dinner
to the minute-and won't it be good
one?'
The dinner was indeed a success;
every dainty of the season and farm
WAS there, skilfully cooked and neatly
served on table in the cool dining
room-a table covered with snowy
cloth fresh from its fold, and glass and
china.
In the centre of the table stood a
great china bowl full of red roses that
perfumed the ROOM Letty's cheeks
were red, her eyes shone dark and
bright, and her words and smiles were
rea iy for every one save George.
As she sat grave and silent at the
foot OF the table, he looked at her won
deringly. She wore dress of silver
gray alpaca that had been her travelling
dress when they were MARI Ell. j large
white apron, with a bib, shielded the
glo les of the costume.
But why did she put 1t on? Surely
she could not think of going visiting
that afternoon, with six haynakers to
get tea for, and the milk of eight COWS
which must be afterward attended to.
But he finally went out without ask
ing it, The wife, who was afraid she
hated him, seemed almost like stran-
ger, although she looked on this occa-
sion like the girl he had married Just
two Years before.
As George neared the door of the
wood-shed, where the men were loung-
ing away the rest of their noon ng, lie
heard his own name uttered by Solo
mon Wyse, IN tones Of anger.
Yes, | knew George from baby up,
and l always said he'd make a lively
man But 1 VOW it Is a shame to see
how he treats that pretty little creature,
such a lunch this morning, and such q
dinner this noon, in such nice. cool
room, with the red roses and the rest OF
1t; and she looked just as pretty as a
picture, with her Ied cheeks and bright
eyes and her wavy hair, and dressed as
neat as a pink, too! And he sitting
there as glum as a cross old man OF
ninety. l was ashamed of him.
I've heard he does nothing but find
iault with her all day long, said a sec
Ond voice. My wife says that if
threw my mother into her teeth, as
George does his into Letty's, she'd run
/ away NUN AL4C DtAOAC oAAC W. Slo ia
Older.'
And serve you right chimed in a
third. IN tell you what my wife says.
She says it is confounded mean and
small of George not to keep woman
here to help his wife. And when | saw
the dinner to-day, the pretty little
thing had got for us all alone, ] thought
50 too. Hang me, if L hadn't half a
mind to stop here this afternoon and
help her wash up that great pile OF
dishes, and let the haying go to thun-
der. 1t is enough to kill that woman
to nave all that work to do. And
George Is rich. What can lie be think.
ing about? But he'll be sorry for this
in year or two hence, when we have
To come here on different errand.
To carry her out in coflin,' said
Solomon Wyse. Yes, | suppose It will
come TO that If some of US don't talk
serio- sly to George. She don't look at
all strong now, and her hand tremDled
when she changed my plate. 1t Is a
Turning shame and ii none of you
will talk TO George about 1t, L will
But when George Brewster Joined
them solomon Wyse deemed 1t prudent
To defer the proposed talking to, for his
brow was as black as night, and he had
no more TO say to his neighbOrs now
than to his wife at the dinner table.
This, then, was the way they spoke
of him behind his back, these men who
lab Ted beside him, and took theiT
wages from his hand, and pretended TO
he his friends.
And his wife WAS afraid she hated
him. To whom could he turn for con-
fort; from whom could be expect true
friendship. if she, who should have
been nearest and dearest, was only an
enemy in disguise?
Lost in moody revery, he paid little
attention to his work. And at last, at
three O'Clock in the afternoon, there
WAS a sudden uproar in the hay-Ield--a
tratnp!ng of hoofs, rush OF terrified
mem, a confusion of voices, and among
Them all George Brewster lying on the
ground beneath the moving machine,
his right arm and leg broken by the
wl Is, his head cut and bleeding with
his heavy fall.
Meanwhile. Lefty, in the cream-col-
ortd house. had no been idle. Tying
Oh great calico apron in place of her
W ite one, she had quietly washed and
put away the dinner dishes, and re-
uuced the dining room 10 order.
Tea was easily arranged, since 1t was
TO consist of cold dishes, with glasses of
milk for the men. She threw clean
table-cloth over the whole as soon as it
was finished, aud weht up stairs into
the spare chamber to pack her trunk.
Yes. Lefty had made up her mind
at last. She was gong away. Life
had drgenel ated into slavery, unbright-
ened, as she fancied, by ray of love.
And slavery will support me any
where Lefty thought, as with tremb-
ling hands she strapped her trunk and
fastened her few lines to George upol!
the Id.