The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-01-09
Original STORY.
A YEAR AND A DAY.

BY |. &.
The bright July sun is shining with all
his Herculean strength on the many-win-
dowed cottage of Dudley Mayhugh, stand
ing at the corner of Main street and the
highroad which leads from Lindborough
to the large manufacturing town of C.
Lindborough itself is considerably up in
the art of converting raw material into
articles for home use, rs the geography
has it, and is some day likely to equal, if
pot exceed, its thriving neighbors. The
town is laid off into four principal squares,
by the main street and the road crossing
in the center Where these thoroughfares
intersect, and thus in the very heart of the
town, stands the cottage in which we are
interested. 1t, with its other humble
neighbors, faces the road, while the hand
some dwellings, confront the street. The
sun is streaming in at the open windows;
the light summer breeze stirs the plain but
neat white curtains; the sound of wagon,
which ever and anon breaks the silence,
which at this very early hour would other
wise be oppressive. Outside all is bright,
gay and happy; inside room, now lonely
and deserted, a womans never-ending labor
is manifest. The carpet, though worn, is
rich and well swept; various ercolor
sketches adorn the walls; the sofa in the
corner shows traces of once handsome
covering of rep; the vase of flowers on a
table under the window is fresh and fragrant;
the table in the center of the room is COW
cred with a spotless white cloth, and is
| filled with well cooked substantials.
The door opens and lady enters bear
ing a pot of steaming coffee in one hand
and dish of steak in the other. The
face that meets the eye is one not soon or
easily forgotten, but glance at it will not
suffice if the, observer is like him who
looks at the picture of "Geneva" will
pause and look again so as to recall it when
far away. The morning sun falls full on
a petite, though graceful figure of woman,
dressed in plain print wrapper, with a
neglige tie around the throat. 1t is not
the dress nor the graceful carriage of this
woman which arrests and holds the atten-
ton, nor the mere personal beauty which
is very great, but a nameless something
about her which cannot be described.
Imagine if you can clear white skin, a
small, red mouth, dark blue eyes, shaded
by long lashes, which have very pretty
trick of closing over the blue eyes at the
time when you are longing to have just
another peep; add to this small head,
running over with willful, curly, raven hair.
The strong light shows something besides
the perfections, it also shows a thin, white
face, made so by suffering, mouth, which
was meant to be tender, hard, with the lips
firmly closed. The dark circles under the
eyes tell of recent sleepless nights. Married
when only seventeen to handsome, coarse
man. whom she never loved; married for a
home Oh I! how many of the daughters
of this fair land do the same. Mabel May
hughs life has been one long sorrow, and
now at twenty she feels that she has no
hope or object in view.
The preparation of the meal is hardly
through when man makes his appearance
and seats himself opposite the lady and
begins his early morning meal Let us
take glance at him as he sits there
Dudley Mayhugh is handsome, with a
coarse kind of animal beauty, but hard
work, harder gambling and hardest drink
ing have done much to destroy the gifts
that God has bestowed upon him.
"Your dinner is packed, Dudley" says
the gentle voice of the woman.
81 am not going to work one lick today
| am tired of it and for good reason have
exchanged with Reed and am going to
work tonight
"Do not do so Dudley, l pray you.
Work in your own place today and give
this design of striking up. 1t is not only
against the rules to exchange but wrong"
"Will you please allow me to choose my
own work, madam Rules, what do l care
for them. | give my labor away anyway,
and by-before another sun sets they shall
raise wages or 1 strike, and with me some
hundred Others. 1t only needs word
from my lips"
The face Of Mable is as pale as DEATH
"Don't speak the word then, my hus-
band, y she says, laying her hand on his
shoulder
They have risen and confront each other
dudley, if you ever loved me give this
wicked design up" she says, placing her.
self in the doorway.
"Loved you l was fool enough one
day, but now | curse the day | saw you or
made you my wife. IF it had not been for
that precious aunt of yours you never
would have hooked me- Get away or I
will make you, and-as she moves slowly
aside-don't give me any more of your
fine speeches; save them for the one up
stairs, who only lives when you speak
Hal la you think have not seen it. I"