Evening journal., 1892-09-24

~ " Ui 0WAtf NIlU NANiAAf AAINNaA ANA
-inchcd teeth, aud then her face grew
gid and gray. If she was going 70
se her sleep and go Off in her looks Ike
nat what was the use of livingg
Sho went down the back stairs 10
INNS kitchen with tho crumpled invita-
los in her hand and carefully deposited
on big bed of Goals in the stove. Ann
at with her back turned, a pan Of
pples in her lap she was pairing for pies.
81 may pack W and go home 10y the
.fternoon train. Ann. she said abruptly,
but dont mention it TO her quite yet
or may conclude to stay"
Ann turned her whole person slowly
round toward Sister Martha. her neck
oint being somewhat stir.
Il Thought Miss Warren had asked
on TO tea for Sattday, and that's this
venin."
80 she did. Ann, but may have to
md n regret. Pm beginning to get kind
I Uneasy about things at home on the
arm"
Ann gave an incredulous grunt. She
sas ccnsnsutionally incapable Of bo-
ewing all that Mrs Martha Whitcumb
Lid The appearance Of the red artih-
ials and tho kid gloves so early in the
lorning seemed rather suspicious. Mrs.
Yhitcumb won't out tho back way aware
hat Ann was watching her from tho
window. She made the circuit Of a
arge square and then darted down
spring street until she came to Captain
}hgh's door. whore she stopped. painting,
md fuTtively looked up and down with
nervous culver in her legs she had
fever experienced until within fow
months past. when broken nights had
Iegun to DO the torment OF her life
Now she glanced mp at Captain Bligh's
louse rs she stood there hesitating and
Ifraid, It was a hong, low, uuadorned
louse dingy white in color, much
trealIed by weathering, with high
pitched, shingled roof Of old style, door
IN the middle and two windows on each
side. The front yard was bare Of flow
srs, though in the time Of Mary Bligh It
had blazed with beauty.
She looked up at the windows that
seemed 70 gaze out Of forlorn, woman
less eyes Tho yellow curtains hung
limp and stringy, and one rebellious
shade had come down bodily and ex-
posed the interior nakedness. The shut
,ers were thick with dust and tho panes
larkened with ly specks. She knocked
iiscreetly, for the bell was broken, and
to the first summons there came no re
lpouse She knocked again. more en-
ghatically, and footsteps began to draw
lear, as II from an immense distance
-choing along uncarpeted floors and
Imply passages 1t was Captain Bligl
n person who flung the door opon Wild
NTH jerk and stood there on tn
threshold In his shirt sleeves, q tail
lark bearded man, with tanned fac
,nd hands and singularly bright eyes
I he was little taken aback Mt seeing
CONAN on his threshold, a woman, too
% handsomely dressed, for he was &C
'ustomed to tramps and beggars. bu
rot 20 visitors Of this finished descriT
ion. The morning sun, too. was In hi
yes aud made him blink.
Whats wanted. he asked in the ton
f command natural To- aiman who f.
reaTs has walked the quarter deck wit
indisputed sway,
I why. don't you know me Cap
( nigh he scowled blackly as h
dooppd little % peer under tha yei
hat covered the.lady'e face, is IL tn
woman who applied FIR a,hoasekeeper
place.
Ia. Cap'n Bligh, as If would as
-uch a thing. a person Of my means.
am Martha Whitcumb. Martha Al
lrows that was
Tho cloud darkened on the captain
trong face. and there were running rui
over the eyebrows that betokened storm
4 "Oh, your he said, drawing in h
breath with a sharp sound
4 "Won't you let me darlen your doc
Cap'n Bligh" she said. not without
tremor. "You Econed my invitation,
know, but l have something to say
YOU"
The captain still stood darlSling an
looming over her, piercing her with h
wary eyes, as If trying TO probe the m
tive of her visit AT last he pulled hin
eelf together, having suddenly remen
bered his manners.
you can walk Mt, if you don't mind
said he in a softer tone. 1.-THE decl
haven't been swabbed Of late; hay
been too busy about other things
.hink Of them."
Mrs. Whitcumb, Quivering more tina
over, did step aft through an unca
/ peted passage to what had been the di
Eng room Of the Bligh homestead. ~
room was flooded with sunshine. The
wero three large, high windows fro
which tho captain, in his manly il
l patience of swathinss that shut ont t
light. had torn down the curtains.
'ook stove had sbeen set up near &
Kinney, and Mrs. Marthas sharp no
Vt once detected the odor Of burnii
I ealettle. Sho stepped straight TO q
love and deftly lifted it off the fiji
The breakfast table, still uncleared, q
upied the middle Of the large room.
vas the captains practice 60 use all q
fishes in the house successfully and
tack them in what he called the locke
Dreaming the cupboard. TO await the a
wal of his old woman helper who car
,ver once a week 90 wash up and tidy
iouse A pile Of rcd and yellow squash
d.