Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-19

had brought her certain solace Sophia
mother had been niggardly even with herself.
When Sophia held the purse she was not mig
gardly with herself; the neghbors said she was
extravagant. They watched some rolls Of tap
estry carpet, a new stove. new lamp, a new
chamber set and spring bed go into the house
with wonder and doubtful appreciation. "Well,
! hope the money'l hold out, they said.
But Sophia was shrewd enough; she knew
that the money would hold out and there was
although there were no opening mouths in IL,
if she enjoyed il. And enjoy it she did. She
rocked easily in her new stuffed chair over her
new carpet. and she slept comfortably on her
new spring bed, with the carved headboard Of
the bedstead overshadowing her. She thought
honestly in her Utmost soul that she hap
pier than many women she knew who had large
families and little money, and were worried
and Overworked. Sitting early in church on a
Sunday. with her nice black skirt falling daint
lily over her knees, her cashmere shawl arranged
in studied folds around her unbending shout
ders. her thin light hair in two carefully
crimped scallops over her temples and her bon
net strings tied in unhurried bow, she
watched the women who had risen early. got
ten breakfast for large family, put the house
in order. washed and dressed the children and
laid ont the husbands clean clothes for him.
toll anxiously up the aisle. and felt peace in
which she realized no SAVIOR of regret. Sophia
Hurd had never had love affair in her whole
life; when she girl the young men were
all afraid of her.
She had always had ready incisiveness Of
manner and never any prettiuess to soften il.
She had always been daintily appointed; there
had never been an untidy lock nor gaping
seam but that had served only to intensity ap-
parently the severity.
When she had been a Young girl. very Young
still going to the academy with her hair crossed
III two tidy braids at the back of her head. her
l. III
and youth giving its feeting charm to her
clean. sharp blonde face, this very sam Bright
man. whom she and Mrs. Packer had discussed,
had gone home with her once from the singing
school, had kissed her at the gate and she had
vicIously slapped his face in return. That one
kiss of bOyish admiration had been her last.
and. IT was strange. but she had never forgotten
it. She thought OF it when poor Sam Bright
man. bent and hagGard with his long toll in his
fruitless vineyard of life. had stood by her
woodpile asking leave to cut il and SO earn a
few cents for himself and his half-starved de-
pendents. All the boyish spirit and prettiness
had gone on, of him, and he had been brave.
pretty boy. Sophia, elderly and env-loped in a
hard and regretiess maidenhood. had stood in
the doorway holding a shawl well over her face
that she might rot catch cold, trying to drive a
sharp bargain, and vet had thought Of that old
childish kiss She was conscious of no senti-
ment regarding it; it simply as the one
rhyme in the prose of her life and kept sing
ing itself in her ears. foolish as it was. That
night before Thanksgiving. when she lay drow-
silly in her Gambler. she thought of it again, and
n vague and half-reluctant fancy came into her
mind of what her life might have been had she
not repulsed that first kiss.
"There'd been turkey 'nough to 60 round
and pies anyhow" she said to herself Il
spose he d have lifted the turkey in an out of
the ovea an he d split the gravy, likely as not.
Men folks are dreadfully unhandy. guess he'd
Sophia pressed her lips contemptuously in the
dark she thought of sam Brightmans gentle.
passive wife. IL was dark night, the wind still
blew, the sky overcast and the moon would
not rise till midnight.
Sophia fell asleep and slept SO soundly that
when she awoke with great start she thought
she had not slept at all. But the moon was an
hour high. the clouds had cleared before it and
il was so light that she could see everything
quite plainly.
She sat up in bed and listened She had
confused idea that she had heard window
opened somewhere in the house Presently
there came sharp clatter from below 1t
sounded as if somebody had let dish fall.
Sophia got out Of bed, slipped on her shoes and
stockings. put on her dress skirt and shawl
then she went out boldly to the head of the back
stairs which were nearly opposite her door,
She listened; there was certainly some one
moving about below. She clutched the stair
post. Who's there?" she called out in a bold
voice.
There was no reply; the noise ceased.
Who's mOvin round down stairs?' she
called out again. and the silence continued.
There's somebody down there, said Sophia,
and her voice sounded still firmer and bolder
Il heard you and m going to find out who
You are. You can't git on. of that winder
again. nor out no door without my hearin O.
yoG. and then | shall look out an see who you
are It's bright moonlight. You'd ought to
II L
You come thievin'. You've got yourself into q
pretty scrape, guess you'll find out. Now,
/ m goin' TO set right here an bark You can't
sur without nv hearin o you, and you needn't
think Won can"
Sophia sat down on the top stair and waited
and listened. There was no sound from below
Suddenly the parrot futtered and screeched his
whole vocabulary in an sgitated medley:
"Hullo, Sophi, Clear out. Want cracker?
How's your healthl" Sophia knew that the
unknown person below had moved.
You're movin'.'' she called out when the
parrots clamor bad lulled little. Il heard
you. lou needn { think you can cheat me"
There silence again. Sophia listened.
She sat there until the clock struck two and
card nothing more She was trying to per-
suads herself that she had imagined the terrify-
ing sounds and might safely return to bed
when there came sudden choking cough from
below.
She arose and leaned far over the stair rail.
''Sam Brightman." she called, you're down
there. Io1 can't cheat me. know your cough.
Now YOU just tell me what you're prowlin'
round my house in the middle of the night for.
j should call II pretty work"
There WIS no answer. ''Sam Brightman,"
she said again. and her tone quite fierce
YOU speak this minute. What are you dom
down there! You can't cheat me. I've heard
YOU cough IN meetin for ten years. It's you,
sam Brightman. YOU that's a church member,
with wife that's a church member, prowln'
round Womens houses in the middle of the
night l 'spose you think mebbe you've got a
faculty for stealin if You amt got none for
work What you after down there? You speak
or ! rhall get dressed and come down"
There was silence still
''iou, Sam Brightman," said Sophia, '.jest as
sure a. YOU don't speak and tell me what YOU re
after III have the sheriff come in the mornin'
an take you to the lookup. Now, what are
after;'
There was another cough, and it sounded I'M
expectedly from Just below her. I'm after
something to eat for my wife and daughter and
grandchildren" answer a mans voice with q
gruff defiance in il.
''Somethin' 10 eat? l should think you'd took
pretty way to get it. Amt you ashamed o.
yourself. Why don't you go TO work?''
"Mebbe you can tell. replied the voice from
below.
Well, said Sophia. and her tone was little
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