The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-06-03
A BEGGAR WOMAN.
Tho Kind Deed That Crowned q
Broken Life.

Broken Life.
A strong breeze, sharp with the cold
suggestion of coming winter, swept up
from the bay and tossed the creaking
boughs of the old button woods that
stood along the roadside until they
labored in the wind like ships at sea.
The last of the fog was just disap-
pearing and curled ficrcely up from the
woods and waters, rolling away in
great, soddcn masses. In the north n
long line of snow clouds were sluggish
ly moving forward. There was some
thing peculiar-almost sinister-in their
slow, heavy formation, and the weather.
wise fisherman off shore watched them
uneasily and began to draw in tackle
and make preparations to seek harbor.
On the land the farmers shook their
heads and FASTENED to get the last Of
the pumpkins and apples under cover.
OF their own accord the cattle left off
grazing and sought the barnyards.
Now and then stragglers from some
frightened flock of wild geese flew
toward the south in anxious search of
tntlT ildteS.
Near the end of one street of the lit
tie fishing hamlet was weather beat
'en, wood colored homestead of one story
md loft, surrounded by fence al
most as old as the house itself; but as
one passed through the gateway and up
the grass-grown walk into the smoke
painted kitchen the poverty of the out
side surroundings was forgotten in con-
temptation of the profusion inside.
At least this seemed to be the case
with the little old woman who hobbled
painfully up the path to the half open
kitchen door There she stopped irreso-
lutely. but the savory smell of cooking
was Irresistible, and she pressed slowly
forward into the low doorway. The
kitchen was fragrant with the odors of
the Saturdays baking; from the stove
at the far end of the long room came a
cheerful sputtering and kissing and over
it women bent in impatient suspense.
Her back was toward the door, and she
did not notice the great hungry eyes
that were fastened on the loaves of
bread and the pies and cakes and
cookies that loaded the pine table.
Snch profusion made the wistful eyes
CLEAN and the withered form tremble
with eagcrncss. But she did not venture
to cross the threshold
On the floor two children were play
ing. They had watched the womans
approach with childish curiosity. The
youngest rose to his feet and toddled
toward her. After gazing at her few
moments with his big, wondering eyes
nc held up the cookie he had been nib
bling. She hcsitated, then took it and
ate it greedily.
The boy laughed and went to get an
other, but ut this moment Mrs. Barten
looked up. Her face was flushed with
heat and veXation. She was about to
speak sharply to the children when she
caught sight of the bent figure in the
doorway, and her wrath was turned.
Of all things she hated beggars the
most. During the summer months
many of them drifted up from the
ncighboring sc aports and proved con-
slant source of loss and vexation to the
fishermen and farmers Mrs, Barten
had suffered with the rest, and as She
turned from the stove her lips were
drawn sharply over her strong white
sceth. She did not see the wistful eyes
and patient smile. What she saw was
a covering beggar, with some outland-
ish kind of head covering and ragged
shawl closely drawn about the slight
form.
"Well?" She said, in sharp. inter
negative tone.
The old woman shivered rs though
something had struck her, but her face
remained perfectly blank.
"A furriner!"
Mrs. Barten sprang forward and
drew the children from SO dangerous a
presence. To her foreigner seemed
all that was dangerous and depraved.
A sudden Sputter recalled her to the
stove, and by the time she was again az
leisure trace of her natural kindly
disposition had come to the surface.
Taking a generous handful of cookies
and one of the loaves of bread, she re-
turned to the door. But the old woman
had already passed the rickety gate and
was hobbling slowly down the street.
Mrs. Barten looked after her regret
fully.
Il wish I'd a-give her suthin'," she
muttered, as she replaced the food on
the table. but lands sake alive" She
continued, briskly, after moment S
thought, why sh'd feel sorry? Like
rs not the old tramp was jest spying
round arter suthin' to steal Most like
ly she'll have a dozen snacks gin her
before night Here you, Rob m
Liza, come back to the house this min