Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-06-25
WHEELING REGISTER. SUNDAY

not stir, she began to fldget In her chair,
and at last glanced round at her visitor.
His head was bowed; Mrs. Dell fancied
for a moment that be had fallen asleep.
"WelI, Jacob Laur, there's no call, rs
I can see, for you TO sit there on other
folks chairs as II you was q log O. wood
shaped summat like o mani" she said
sharply.
He raised his hand TO his head; he
appeared to be giddy, or to have forgot
ten where he was.
LAY, it's great wickedness," he said.
But his voice was free from reproach.
Ii was as though he had meant to say:
There's been great wickedness--great
wrong-poor Maggie! poor Maggle!
swell, you needn't preach. SAID MRS;
Dell. ITS not your place, an II that's all
you've come for, then you're not well
come to stay" m
"I'I not trouble you long, Mrs. Dell.
Have you been to Coroor'
ough to see Maggie since this happen
ed?"
mo, / ev'nt been to Corborough to
see her, il you'd like to be inc ulsltlve
TO know! She's no more child o. mine:
she's made her bed wi her own sin1ul-
ness, an she'll ha' to lie on't!"
can has she not writ to you, Mrs.
DellP"
"Oh, YES, she's writ often enough.
Shes writ too often; she sent q letter
on'y this very mornin'. l expec' she's
pothin' else to do but waste stamps
and writin' paper-for she'll never get
no letters ans wered from me-"
"WouId you mind lettin' me see one O
her letters-maybe the one she "rlt
this merning?" Jacob said.
'Id be clever if 1 did! It's + the
fre-it's dust and ashes by this time,
Pm thinkin'. l put 1t i the fire wi out
readin' it; an that's how I've served all
the letters she's took the pains to send
sim she brought this disgrace upon me
and herself"
chow old Is the child?" Jacob asked.
NEAR three months, l suppose. It's
no matter o. mine; don't care how old
or how young it may be! 1t was born
afore | know'd. Her sister, Mrs. Nor
ris, as she's disgraced wi the rest o. US.
saw her in Corberough this week-l'
was Monday afternoon-in the High
Street, an she said as she was comm
homs, as she couldn't stay 4 her place;
but she's thought better on't-she
knows, for I've sent her message that
I'll never hev' her wi that nameless
child i my house; never, never shall she
darken my doors again!"
"But is that behavin' as mother
~ hlnnd Mrs
Dell?"
She turned upon him Indignantly.
"Wel, whether IL Is or whether 1t isn't,
I'm not goln' TO argy the point VII you,
Jacob Laurl I'm recoollectin' as you
used to come about Maggie when she
was at home"
"Ah, she was too young to leave
home!" he broke in with kind sob.
can that's my business, IL you don't
mind! But though you tried to court
her, she gave you small announcement,
as far as could see-so you've no call
to feel grieved at what's happened"
"It's for Maggie's sake" he said.
Think o. her future, Mrs. Dell
think o. the awful shadow on her life
forever ay, forever
il this world *r the next u
eve notion as you'd be wise = let
the next world take care O. itself, jacob
Laur." Maggie's mother said. Its
profanity as you're speaktn', an I'll not
hev' the Lords name taken l. vain L my
house."
"But what's to become o. her, Mrs.
Dell? an You her mother!
"She'll hev to shift for herself. I'm
not responsible for her sin; an I'm not
goin' to bear the consequences OF it
couldn't il l would; the Scripture says
plain, as them as commits sin must sur
fer for their SIM"
LAY, I've read that + the Scriptur',"
Jacob said In a tone OF piteous resigna-
ton. "But I've also read that we
should bear one anether's burdens, as
that's the law o. Christ"
81 tell you I'm not gein' to argy,"
Mrs. Dell replied, and looking down to
see II the child were asleep, she stop.
ped rocking the cradle, drew 1t eau
tiously into the middle of the hearth,
and rose from her chair. IF you've
no objections, Jacob Laur, I'd take Ii
as a favor If you'd keep your eye on
the child here while run aloug TO its
mother for some lamp oil. It's only
fair as she should let me hev' some, for
it's unnatural T. expec' as l should pro-
vide her childer VII everything. You
know the distances; an I'll not stay
when get therein be back as soon's
my legs'll carry me. I'd ask you to go
for me, but l want to speak to Mary"
She took a shawl from drawer In an
ancient piece OF furniture in one corner
OF the room: the fire had burned so low
that when she was STOPPING down to the
drawer Jacob could not see her at all.
IF the child should happen to wake
Just tilt your toe to the cradle and give
il rock; it's easy quieted by them as
has some patience 10 show" She drew
the shawl over her head and shoulders,
holding 1t under her chin with both
hands, and left the house. The room
was momentarily darkened still more,
this was when Mrs. Dell was passing
the swindow. Then Jacob heard the
click OF the iron catch on the gate, and
after that the silence was profound.
He would have waited there passive
ly, submissively, for hours. He had