The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-08-19

with their haying The weather was
hot and dryl little swarms Of flies
danced up and down Ia the airi the
sides Of the road we're lively with grass
hoppers; the bees buzzed about the
marigolds.
James face looked wicked as she sat
musing, and she felt wicked. The
longer she unused the hotter burned
the fire In her heart She was aston
ished at herself, at this rush Of bitter
ness which was sweeping over her, for
she had a soft, warm side to her ma
ture, but now she felt as much of an
ger and hate toward the girl who was
to take her sisters place as ever filed
the adamantine organ Of Mary of
England when planning the fate OF
her Protestant subjects; and her
thought progressed like a virulent
acid, eating its rapid way through all
the tissues Of sentiment 1t Is proba-
bic that she had never heard Of the
Greek proverb which teaches' '1n the
morning Of life, work. in the midday,
give counseli IN the evening, prayi'
and IL she had she would have felt that
she had not yet reached that helpless
evening. She must work now for an
object, and when, after two hours of
solitary communion, sho came out into
the kitchen where her sister was sit
ting by the window trying to crochet,
in spite Of red, smarting eyelids, her
mouth was set hard and firm. She
seldom referred to the contemplated
change In the choir, to the surprise of
everyone; for what had been dreaded
above everything else by Squire Pages
immediate supporters was the tongue
of Jane Prescott "You might as we'll
try to race with a locomotive" said
one Of the deacons, "as TO attempt TO
reason with her or explain anything"
Edith Wayne, as / have said, had no
conception of the feeling against her.
She knew nothing of the ohoir's history
and regarded the matter of her engage
meHt In the light only of business
transaction. 1t had been arranged that
she should come TO Pagetown each Sat
urday - remaining at the house of
Squire Page until the Monday follow
ing.
She was In splendid voice on this first
Sunday Of her appearance in the choir
her full, round tones had a charming
ly sympathetic quality-and those even
who could not say word on the sub
| iect of music felt that such voice had
never before been heard In Pagetown.
The following Wednesday was the
day for the monthly meeting of the
sewing circle, wh.sh was to meet on
this occasion at the house of Deacon
PerlSins.
There was a much larger attendance
than usual-for all felt that it would
be an opportunity to get together, and
| talk over the affair which was In the
mind of every one in the parish. There
was considerable curiosity as to whether
the Prescott sisters would be present.
II was soon satisfied. Jane entered
alone. She took piece Of work and
seated herself, saying but little to any
one for awhile.
When asked why her sister had not
come, she replied that she had gone
away for few weeks TO pay visit to
friend,
''She has pretty well lost her inter
est in the church work, and reason
enough, too"
"Now," said Mr.. Fairchild, plunging
at once in medias res, 81 don't think
Matilda ought to feel just so, Jane.
don't like changes, myself, and
thought we were getting along well
enough when the old choir-but we
can't all view things alike, you know
"If they'd only got good, respect
able girl, l wouldn't have said word.
.""Why, you don't know anything
i against Miss Wayne, do you2 though
she seemed a sweet, innocent little
thing as ever was, myself"
well, if you call ShoplJter an limo
cent little thing, I've no more to say.
"a what?" shuddered Mrs Fairchild
IN a stiAed, husky whisper her very
lmazement sitting her power to articu-
late audibly.
That's what she is" said Jane, nip
ping her lips together 81 saw her in a
store in Boston one day last spring, as
plain as see you now. She was stand,
ing right by me at the ribbon counter
and she deliberately took up a roll OF
pink ribbon and put 1t under her cape.
But the floor walker happened to be
close by, and saw what she had done
and he took her by the arm and
marched her off,"
Where top faltered Mrs. Fairchild
in another frightened whisper.
u can't tell you that never saw
her afterwards, until she walked into
church last Sunday, But I wouldn't
have her in my house, that's all"
Can it be, as George Eliot asserts
with the terrible psychological analy'
sis, that there are moments when oul
passions speak and decide for us, ant
we seem to stand by and wonder2"
Certain it was that TO Jane Prescott
had come an inspiration of crime.
She had not premeditated this, but she
had given the demon within her the
heartiest welcome, and had hidden hin
crush this young interloper by any
means in his power, and now she wa
hurried along to this definite charge II
spite OF herself She was not cognl
zant Of much that passed around he
{ the rest of that afternoon. She wa
one Of the 6rst to leave, and reached
her home dizzy and sick, and in a com
plete palsy of terror.
The poisoned arrow did its work. Be
r fore the evening of the next day thu
charge against Edith Wayne was know
all over the village.
Squire Page himself, enthusiastic a
he had been in favor Of the young sing
er, began to feel that perhaps he ha,
e been too hasty In selecting a person o
{ whom he knew absolutely nothing
The girl was oharminfly modest Il
manner, 1t was true, iana seemed hon
est and sincere-but II was so easy 70
o imposters to assuuie such ways. IL
J. had known Jane Prescott all his life
d so had many others OF the townspeopl
and theHhe thing that never once oC
CURED tIfany of them was to doubt thi
e woman's word.
g Friday had come, the girl must b
y notifedi It would never do to have he
G come again among them.
S 1t was a cloudy day and nearin
i dusk. Jane had been informed ths
the squire intended going up to tow
e in the early evening, and for what pui
r pose.
S he must pass her house on the way (
T the station, Already had Jane Pre-
n cotA returned to- her normal condition
e Already was she repenting what sh
a had done with bitterness of miser
+ and remorse she had never dreame
could exist In the soul of mortal.
e The day had been passed in uttS
d wretchedness and despair. A wor
from her would undo this entanglemen
G and 1t must be said-it should be sal,
n but somehow she was not ready vet.
For what would her future be, aftt
e this baseness TO which she had bee
Il tempted-what her position In the ey,