Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-09-15

still. Aunt Nan can find me some.
thing to do, and--I don't want to go a
all the women of the family have
done"
And here a sob choked her words.
"Its shamel" said the CHEEKY
voice of Alice Wickham. "But what
does Will Norris say to it?"
''He don't know" Jenny answered.
"Do you think would complain OF
my own father?'
"Will would give you a home fast
enough"
81 wouldn't accept it of him if l
were to go to him penniless and
friendless. No, I'll work out my own
destiny, Alice, as best as L can. Oh,
haven't decided on this in a hurry I!
I've seen it coming this long time
like some terrible shadow, nearer and
nearer all the while. 1 love father-I
do love him--but 1 cant endure this
life. No woman could J"
Silent and stoical, Elnathan Hale
stood there as the voices died away
stood there with his hand resting on
the tombstone of Jennie's mother.
''Be 1 such a tyrant as this?' he
asked himself. "Am I driving my
own away from me? Have l made
such mistake of my life? Then I'll
do it no more!"
He stooped-this hard-handed, prac.
tical son of the soil-and pressed his
lips first to one cold stone moulding,
then to the other.
'Ill do it no more!" he repeated.
He went home and called his sister.
'Nan-Nancyl Where are you?
Come here-I want to speak to yonl
Nancy came-tall. straight and un-
compromising.
".See here' said Elnathan, eff you
was goin' to live here in this house all
your life, what would you do to fix 1t
up-to make it real handy and con
venient, you know?'
"What I"
'Tm in real earnest, you know.
Tell me, Nancy" pleaded Hale. "And
I want you to give up that business in
New York, and come here and live
with us. Come to think of it, there
is a good deal of work to be done in n
house like this, and Jenny's slim
piece arter ali. SO if you've a mind
to speak to Juliann lodgings to come
here by the year"
Nancys hard visage softeDed.
"Elnathan," said she, 81 do b'lieve
there's some common sense left III you'
arter ALL Yes, I'd ruther live here in
the old homestead than anywhere else,
and Juliana's a real good worker. "
Jenny came in presently, and Nancy
loudly proclaimed the new orde- ol
things.
The girl gave startled LOOK at her
father, but Elnathan patted her head.
"I,e been sort O thinkIn' things
over, my dear" said he. 'Jone Nail
head shall come here and do what.
ever You and Aunt Nancy choose, and
and you may not know it, Jenny,
but your old father thinks a good deal
of you
He kissedher, and stalked awkwardly
ont of the room.
Jenny looked at Nancy with eyes
brimming full of tears.
"I-I never thought father cared 50
much for me - said she.
The nelghbOrs were much surprised
at the radical reforms which took place
in the Hale househould.
"Miss Nancy settled down for good,
said they, "and hired girl. and new
buttery shelves, and brass water faucets
in the kitchen and an iron sink, Sid
VIII Norris goin' there reg'lar ev'ry
Saturday night! Is the millennium
comin'?"
"Jest what I've always been a-sayin' =
sagely observed Peter Pinkcroft.
Squire Hale he sets lots Of store by
that slim gal O. his'n." ."
"He'n lose her pretty soon, said
old Aunt Sandifeld. "Will Norris is
dead in earnest.
"Ain't that what I've said all along?'
protested Peter Pinkcroft. Saturday
Night.