Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-04-15

i
heeled shoes. Every step left the
impress of wealtlfs equality. All
her efforts, then, were directed to the
reduction of the insufferablc mortgage
that threatened her home.
She labored hard in every channel
known 10 her countrywomen. She
picked and sold berries. She gathered
and cured swect-fag. She had a
patch of garden with many herbs in
it, and others she gathered wild and
sold in lunches for the druggists and
medicine-makcrs She stitched boots
when that seldom work offered. She
knit and sewcd. She did not know
an idle moment tho year round.
BY years of patient toll Abby had
reduced the amount of the mortgage
to one hundred dollars. And one
night, when she looked at her bank
book and counted the days receipts,
she found enough to cancel the debt
1t was matter of verifcation only,
for she knew to a cent the state of her
finances.
Pardonably she wept little tina
her work was accomplished. The
goal was reached she had set, and be-
You'd which she had not before looked.
Now she was brought face to face
with blankness. Whittier should she
wander through it, and what should
she strive for? She asked herself
these questions, for it was borne in
uputs her tint the old desire was
thing Of the past, being graiified, and
that she must discover q new one
Through anticipation, her hope had
mirrored brightly, but now she found
its reverse side dnll; and with the dis
appointment mingled bitter surprise
that it was so.
The widow broke in upon this con-
jurcd-up sadness with real living sor-
row of her own. She was crying, and
all Abby's heart-tenderness went out
TO her at once, for the widow was
proud little woman, and had kept her
griefs at home untilnow, fairly driven
for consolation to Abby's kindly arms.
And there she lay and sobbod her
story-how jim had been placed
under bonds and had broken them,
and could not pay and must 60 away
20 some prison. Little by little she
laid bare the trial of desolate years,
and Abby listened sympaihetically.
''Jlm could get away" said the
widow, che would go into the navy,
as his father did, Jim always wanted
TO, but couldn't let him go; lie is all
have. He can do nothing else, and
| would not let him go. | was so
selfish-I kept him against his lean
ing-and now he must so to prison.
It's a judgment on me-"
And Abby conso.ed her distress and
lulled her 10 rest as gently as she
would a growing child.
The next day Abby strobe down the
white rode TO the village. and drew
all her money from the bank. The
cashier joked her upon extravaganza.
"Going to buy gold'hceled shoes
now, Abby?"
She looked up smiling. eyes, my
gold-heclcd shoes. Took long time
to pay for chem, didn't III"
~ wish We might all get them if it
would make US look as happy as you
do now" said he.
Abby maj ched from the bank into
the presence of the town tficials ST.
ting on Jim Barkcr's case. The con-
stable was there, ready to conduct him
to the state reformatory.
"Whst will it cost to get jim off P'
she demanded.
"0ne hundred dollars" said the
clerk.
Abby counted the amount on the
table, while all the room stared
"Conc, JIM" said she.
jim came from his constablo-guard-
ed corner, and followed her out. He
was amazed. His malodolus cereer
had not brought him many acts of
kindness at the towns-peoplc's hands.
"What docs this mean, Miss Abby9"
he said, huskily.
She smiled at him rcassuringly.
"Just this, Jim-gold-beeled shoes
And, Jim, go home now, and say
goodbye to your mother. Then be q
good sailor-and man."
Quickly he stood bareheadcd. abe
fore God, I'll try" he said.
That night the widow again lay in
Abby's arms. "Jim's gone; he told
me ALL" she whispered. "How could
You? Abby, Abby, here Pve lived be-
side YOU for years, aud l mover knew
you."