New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-05
NEMESIS IN A VILLAGE.

II was Tuesday, Of course or she "ould hou ""'
been ironing, and though the month was 'u'S
she was not much 10 be ptied on account Vi Nv,
warm occupation, for Tier stove had oeeh 'c""Ne"
TO the summer kitchen, shed conveniently a"I',"-
ING the room in which she worked, ana hS"o
breeze was playing over her ironinS-taDe. 'c''c'
on the doorstep between the two kl'ch'hS WAC
her half-grown daughter Lodllla, sHei"hc ""'
The only sounds in the room were the occasional
thump of the iron as 1t was Seo uo"h Va 10
stand. or the hiss of fresh one as Mrs. Gay
applied her wet finger to its SHINING sui''0o ~
sec if it were hot enough for use.
Irndor most circumstances LOdilla would have
been singing at the top of her voice, but this
afternoon she had been kept in TO smell peas
when she had wanted 10 90 berrying' ana sun"
rebellion is not mood in which one sings sac
f1icked the pea pods over the edge OF the pan sev
IN receive them. enjoying this little breach OF
order though she herself, having to pick them up
sfterward, would be the only sufferer
Mrs. Clay herself, though she had vlndi'ated
her authority was not in humor for ccnverSa-
ton Her triumph was mingled with resent
ment that a struggle should have been necessary,
and she set her lips firmly together ana salI
nothing when she saw the scattered pods, taking
care only not TO step on them as she passed As she
went and came i'm her exchange of irons. she took
accession 10 glance through the window before her
ut a charming prospect which. lacking the human
element, had no charm for her.
Her house was at the end of the village, an
from the north windows no other house was
v;s;h,e eycent the corner Of old Martin l'anEss
cottage up the lane TO the right and nearly
hidden by willows.
The village road dipped into hollow not 'ar
Beyond her house, and the presence OF ciu'hp
If willows on each side tie hollow was far owl
-, ,opfh lbs
this the road mounted again IN curves, only here
and there visible through the trees. until II rc2c"'d
at last a far-on summit which was to the village
children the end OF the world, except. of course.
IN those who had bcea 10 SHnbury-thcy knew
better.
Fields Of grain, alternating with pasture ana
bits of woo lland iorlercd The read harDon2ing
with perfect blending anG contrasting OF color
20 Natures combinations always do. lut Mrs
Clay had no eye for Nature or Natures colGrS,
though she said she knew better than 10 trim
blue dress with red, which was more thaA
some of the summer boardcrs dii. ABOUT d"
o'clock, however, this Gcspised prospect took on a
human interest for Martin Banl;s's daughter
Sarah, tho divorced wife Of jim Wingford, came
running down the lane from her fathers house.
first looking from side to side under her flapping
sunbonnet and finally catching it oil her head
in order to see better. either wringing her hands
or wiping them on her apron, Mrs. Clay could
not tell which, though she had seized and mounted
her spectaclcs at the first glimpse OF human
being, and was now giving her whole attention to
the sight When Sarah Wingford, or Sarah
Banks as she insisted now on being called, reached
the road she turned back first to the hollow, from
which she soon emerged and came on swiftly and
distractedly toward the village. As soon as she
was within hearing Mrs. Clay made out that
sho was calling, Mart "Mart,' Humph
she said. with q measure of disgust, Might a
knowed that was it, Perfectly crazy if that
younaun gets out of her sight minute" Then,
her voice softcning a little, Il don't wonder,
though. Jim Wingford's desprate 'nough for any
thing, and he was set on havin' the child. Lodila,
you run out an meet her, an tell her Mart's
gone berryin' with the other children. Do you
hear ?' stopping with suspended iron, for Lodilla
had not moved.
yes ma am" Lodilla answered, slowly finish
ing the last pod and beginning deliberately to
nick I'D from the floor the scattered evidences of
her rebellion
Mrs. Clay turned back to the window. Sarah
was evidently In great distress, for she was run
ming faster, wiping her hot face while her hair
was blowing down around her shoulders. Its
all right Sarah" called Mrs. Clay rcassuringly
and again turning TO Lodia, Are you going
Y,
"Pm Qon' Loda arose and shook her
skirts over the pan of pods, picked up first tho
dish of peas and then the pan and put them
away went to the hook and got her bonnet and
nut it on carefully and took the longer way
around the house TO the road.
By the time she reached it she heard her
mother calling out TO Sarah Banks. who was now
quite near, Are you lookn' for Mart, Sarah
Hes all right. The Crawford boys and girls come
past here and they had him goin' berryin'.
e'posed they'd asst YOU
Sarah Banks had been pretty girl once and a
girl of spirit, but the terror in which she had
lived by day and that was reflected in her dreams
BY night had taken away from her both goot
looks and high spirit, and it was trembling
stricken, ncrve-shaken creature that sank down
on Mrs Claws doorstep and burst into hystefical
tears.
Mrs. Clay stood STILL embarrassed, after she
had taken Sarah's bonnet and laid it on the table
and put a glass Of water 10 the woman's lips
She wac not by nature CONSIDER. and she seldom
attempted part in which she felt herself SC
awkward Lodilla had come back and stood in
the shed-door looking on with unsympathetiC
curiosity Mrs. Clay vented her feelings angrily
upon the girl. You can go now, Lodi!ia Clay
berryin' or anywhere you please. I've seen enough
o. your peskiness for one aftnoon DO you
hear me? Start," And she made a swift
motion forward, Lodilla thought best TO start
though her pace sackened once over the door
step. always the way she muttcred to herself
ss she went. won't let me go when the's any
thing roin' on outside and sends me away whcr
tho's anything goin on at home
Sarah's first and hardest burst OF tears beini
over. Mrs. Clay thought it time to use reasoning
"Sarah," she said testify. you're silly abou
that child. Why, il you keep on this way
you'll be in sylum before he's old 'nougl
70 take care Of himself, an what good'd tina
do? You know we'll 'nough that the amt
man or woman in the village but what look
out for him, an you'd hear fast 'noush i
the wns any danger We're all on your side