The Press., 1891-11-26

. wicked, cruel woman she must be. And so you have run away from her and come to me for protection.
 "Dunno,r said the girl with dropped jaw and half stupid look coming into her eyes. Miss Blodgett said she was goin to have them papers made out whe'r no to bind me, so planned to light out for the poor farm and show the poormaster them welts on my back. 1 slipped of with my bundle when the folks was at supper, and l'se tramped five miles, runnin part of the way till stopped to ketch breath. and all things turned black and swum before my eyes, for seemed to hear Miss Blodgett right behind me swingin theswitch. But meant to stop and see you, miss, if 1t was the last thing ever did, for Miss Blodgett had been a-goin on about you like Sam Hill-
 "About me?" exclaimed Agnes in sur prise. "What could Mrs. Blodgett have to say about nef never even saw her"
 ''Oh, peck Of things" said the girl, eagerly. Her second cousin. Luella Speer, worked in the kitchen at your house two or three years ago, and she told Miss Blodgett how you wore dresses all sating and silk, and sheeny stuff as dragged yard on the ground and was cut way down here," Phemy went on, indicating very low water mark on her own bony chest. land had strings of diamonds as big as pigeons eggs. And how you ct of gold plates and had gold kerridges for what know, and houses full of the most beautiful flowers, and young men walters. miss, in tail coats as just made your eyes water to look at; and there was dancin and music, and the ladies switchin round their long tails; and, golly, such good things to eat, and the ladies and gentlemens she acted out their bowin and scrapin and their firth as natural as life.
 "And what else did Mrs. Blodgett say?" asked Agnes, her face quite crim- son with suppressed laughter,
 "Oh. miss," said Phemy, waking up and growing impressive. ''she told packs of lies, know she did, now I've had a good look at you She said you was en- gagged to young man. a dandy kind of a feller, that all the girls wanted to catch, and when your father failed up he just turned his back on you and walked out as if he wanted you most ways for your money. and then you was disap- pointed because he had shipped you, and come up here to the farm to get your grief drownded and to live on Scrabble Hill. But l guess you don't know that folks do talk about each other most aw- full, so that you can't keep no kerrackter in these parts no ways. wanted to see you," Phemy resumed after taking breath, "because thought you was diff ferent from the folks I've seen, but you ain't, only purifier and pleasanter spoken, and with nicer ways" 7
 .'What did you expect to see9" said Agnes, curiously-
 Dunno" returned Phemy, looking down at her ragged gloves, "unless it was like one of them succus ladies, all spangles and gilt, that jumps through hoops. never see one. but I've heard tell of 'em."
 Agnes gave little convulsive peal of laughter, but it was suddenly checked as she looked at Phemy's downcast face, and feared she had proved sad disap- pointment to the child, who now got up and began to move awkwardly toward the door.
 "I must be trudgin," said she, eff Tow to reach the poor farm tonight, and hope you won't get mad at me bout that stuff Miss Blodgett told"
 "Oh," cried Agnes, starting up, ''you can't go out again tonight It's dark and rainy and you must stay here"
 The girl cast at her pathetic glance, like hungry, neglected dog looking uI in kind face. "I don't Tow Miss Burns would like it. " said she. Miss Blodgett has told all the neighbors that am g no account, worthless, poor creatur that don't earn my salt.
 "And you can work" said Agnes, musing a moment. Fl want hand to weed in the garden, and pick fruit, and feed poultry. Do you think you can do such things?'
 Fl can work like house afre when want to-" said she, a sudden flush strik- ing up her sallow cheeks, ''but when I'm cuffed and kicked and cussed all udy HI puIty COuScu dUlo AuilSu.
 "Well, said Agnes impulsively, after musing for moment, "I'll take you on trial, and if we get on well together you shall have home here with me. I'm sure shall like you better than boy if you are willing and obedient."
 "rd work my hands off for you," and then great sob filled Phemy's throat.
 Mrs. Burns suddenly opened the door. She had heard voices in Agnes part of the house and made an excuse to come in and wind the clock.
 "Well," said she when she returned to the kitchen, where John was drawing off his boots preparatory to bed. What do you think is the last wrinkle? She's gone and took on that shiftless Phemy Spence, the poorhouse girl, that has run away from Miss Blodgett, and is goin to keep her to weed and do chores in place of boy, and everybody knows she's poor addlepated creature and as big liar as ever stepped"
 "Never mind" said John, grimly. give her all the rope she wants.
 (To be continued.)