Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-08-11
CHAPTER VII.
And all fanCies yearn to cover
The hard earth on which she passes
With the thymy scented grasses

The hdrd earth on which she passes
With the thymy scented grasses
The Shifting Pool lay at the end of a
lane, close to the great gates of the
Towers, and here, early on the morrow
of Mr.. Eyre'S departure, a woman came
with faltering step, and stood beside it,
her shrinking gaze peering over into
the now dried-up pit below.
''She might have gone in after it," she
mutJered in hard, bitter tone; 1T was
not deep enough TO drown her"-then,
with a low, strangled CRY, fell down on
her knees, andrOcked herself to and fro,
utterlng broken words Of passionate
endearment, as though what she held
In her arms were a living thing, and
could hear her.
Though close to the village, the spot
was rarely frequented, save by a labOrer
or two going to or returning from their
work, and Hester remained undiSturbed
for more than an hour, at the end Of
which time W0od-Cutter, Fastening to
the feast OF gossip then going forward
up at the village, spied her, and rushed,
red-hot with his information, into the
midst Of the crowd, which thereupOn
set off running as though possessed to-
ward the pool. Such Saturnalia of
scandal had never been known within
the memory Of the Oldest inhabtant,
and the farmer had left his fields, the
hind hisploW, the Wheelwrigh this shop,
and the Smithy his forge, the sexton his
spade beside half-dug grave, and the
housewife her bread with the yeast ris-
ing, to stand i'll the village street, and
talk one against another of the event of
the past few days.
And now to hear that she-the inev-
liable she to whom the whole tragedy
might be set dOWn-WaS actually sitting
by the pool. to be stared at and cross
questioned to their hearts content. gave
wings to the slow and strength to the
feeble, while all such party distinctions
as church and chapel, purse and stock
ing, being forgot in the general SdacU8
q1j peW that ensued The most envied
of the company was jim the Fool, who
arrived first, but was able to make no
further use of his advantages than to
make such q face as transformed him
from the harmless babOOn to the malig-
nant Satyr.
"There she be, Screamed Sally Genge,
who arrived second, 'a-Sitin' there as
comfortable as you please, an her up
yon to be hanged o. Saturday. IT'S well
to make other folks die for sins as we've
drove 'em to, amt it?' and she turned,
with a ieering laugh, to the crowd that
followed at her heels.
though fat and scant of breath, had
contrived to outstep most of his neigh
bOrS. Young WOman"-and he turn
ed, starting with surprise at the beauty
of the face that met his gaze-'may be
the BARN was drowned against your
will"
"A cuckoo mother" cried Sally fierce
ly, "Who left her young in a strangers
nest! How were she to 'Spect other
folk to do that for her child as she
wouldn't herself?"
Hester had started to her feet, and
stood trembling, and looking from one
to another of the crowd, finding in the
mems faces only stupid, reluctant adj
miration, in the wOmen's cruel con-
domination that, whether expressed by
word or look, was Identical.
WAS your baby so little to We that We
didn't even miss it, or think it worth
seeking till nOW?" said the blacksmith's
wife, usually a gentle soul enough, but
to-day made fierce by that which puts
the heart of lion into the timidest wO-
mantle thought of helpless child
abandoned to its death through the
carelessness of its mother.
Cant zee speak," cried another, that
impulse of SaYagery which ever turks
in crowd, and is prepared to break out
SO soon as its own fatal STRENGTH of
numbers is made known to it, giving
tongue in her voice. "CouIdn't zee ha
come atore and spoke up a word for the
poor soul what's to be hanged o Satur-
day for thy SIM"
Hester'S lips moved, but she did not
speak; above their harsh voices she
heard her baby crying. and only a vague
regret passed through her mind that
the pool was empty. else she might have
plunged into its waters, and so hidden
herself from the eyes Of those who
gathered round her.
AN so nothin' but a young lord 'ull
content 'ee.n said Sally, standing with
arms a-llimb0; AN you must wear your
silk goNnd out O his pocket, and come
arter un' to disgrace I'M tn very day he
comes whoam. Couldn't zee he Dided
a bit till he was minded to go to thee?"
LET abe" said tho farmer. thrusJing
Sally aside. who had stopped to PICK up
a stone and made as If she would throw
it; ibid ,ee knew tn woman up yon had
droWn8ed it, my lass?"
"Ye could speak UP fast eno' last
night" said the seXton'S wife with a
sneer, "When you ruined up to my
lord am pulled at his hand, am called
him by name as pat as you please, an
stood talking to him, jest as if them as
stood by hadn't got no more eyes, nor
ears. than th' stones in tn street!i'
An you so much older than he, an
should ha' kno wed better" said one Of
the women. in a gentler tone. He
couldn't ha' been much more than bow
at his farming; an now there's that
brought to his door as II cling to un all
his days"
'.M'appen that's why he's bided away
SO long," said farmer whose wife was
present, and whose hard eye stifed his
own relentings; ''an' the property 60
ing to wrack an ruin; though if bein'
sorry for sin 'ud mend an estate.
there's few in England as wouldn't be
well MANFRED from top to bottom"
''Have you got another baby there as
you've mind to drown?" cried Sally,
pushing forward. you're hidin' some
thin under your shawl"-and before
the farmer, could stop her, she had
roughly pulled it aside, and, dragging
Hester's arms asnnder. caused shape