The Press., 1891-11-26

the Tight of kerosene lamp "donf you keep a-hectorin. ainf much sur prised she wouldn't low to take that Crab girl to board, for she's one of the biggest gossips and little tattles in the township.
 ..Oh, knew you'd take up for her, snapped Mrs. Burns; 'sbnt she needn't expect me to tend that imcumbater. l hate the very sight of the thing. She's put in two dozen aigs, and has hung thermometer and fixed the hot water pipes, and she thinks I'll fuss with the thing and coax them chicks out of the she'll
 Let her go her length, returned John. with his mouth full of cold potato. Bingham Is comin tomorrer to build a chicken house. It's all dumb goldarn nonsense and useless squanderin of money. but if she wants 1t she'll have it sure if 1t breaks her neck Faint we that shall suffer. Mahaly, keep your eye peeled. Mebbe she'll git sick of the whole business before long and conclude to get married.
 As Agnes sat by the fire in the keeping room, where the embers had grown glowing red and the shadows deep rich brown, there came tinid knock on the panel of the outer door that opened directly to the free air and little foot path trickling down through the grass to the lonely highway When Agnes opened the door enough daylight still fingered to show the form of young girl who stood on the door stone with small bundle in her hand tied up in yellow cotton handkerchief. She was an over grown child of twelve or fourteen, with reddish locks. thin, freckled face, nose painfully inclined to tilt heaven ward, broad mouth full of irregular teeth, and small, pointed chin. She was dressed in an old ragged straw hat and faded pink calico gown, with bit of soiled blue ribbon tied round the waist fin what was intended for coquettish bow. Her flat chest was adorned with green glass breastpin; her thin. scrawny brown arms protruded from elbow sleeves, and her hands were covered with dirty cotton gloves three sizes too large and ont at the fingers.
 ...What do you wish?' said Agnes. as she stood there in the glimmering, un- certain light eying the strange figure on the doorstep before her.
 .'I want to see Miss Ransom"
 Fl am she
 'sWell. Inever did, The girl drew in her breath sharply and let her promi- nent light blue eyes roam all over Miss Ransom's face and figure. as fashiona- ble woman eyes new costume on the form of rival
 "Come in." said Agnes gently, '.and tell me why you wished to speak with me-
 Agnes closed the door and lighted lamp at the chimney. Her visitor sat down on the nearest chair. tucked her feet as far under 1t as she could. protruded her bony knees and with her mouth open followed with kind of feline at- tentiveness every movement the young lady made. Agnes came and sat down near her. The girl was still painfully abashed. but she warmed under an en- couraging smile.
 Well, now. why did you come here. and what Is your name7"
 "They call me Phemy Spence, but ] don't know bout it's bein my real name guess hain't got none. was raised on the poor farm. and Miss Blodgett took me to mind baby and do chorin. She agreed to give me three months schoolin every year and to keep me clothed up decent, and hain't been to school day nor had a new rag, only her old duds made over. and the baby was an awful heavy load. and hurt my back a-car- ryin him. and she slapped me if l made complaint, and sometimes she took 8 big stick to me, and had mostly pork scraps and mush to eat. so thought I'd light out of there
 This narrative was given in 8 monot- onous. dull tone, without stop or accent, the words running together in com pact mass.
 ''So you have run away" said Agnes, eying the little bundle which she was still feyerishly clutching in her hand
 "I don't low as I've run away" said Phemy, shuff1ing her feet uneasily under the chair. "for the poormaster when was leavin. sez he: 'Pheme, if you don't like to live with Miss Blodgett, you needn't be bound. You kin go on pro- bashum for six months. But Miss Blodgett nearly scart the life out on me when said the work was too heavy and the feedin too light, and yesterday she give me hckin with stick big's my thumb, out in the woodshed. should just like to show you the welts she raised on my back" and to Miss Ran gsom's horror tho girl unfastened her gown. pulled down the sleeve, showing that she was entirely devoid of under wear. and revealed three or four great red ridges furrowing her meager. bony shoulders.
 stGood heavensr cried Agnes, "what
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