The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-06-20


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Bes,oa CJuria.
1 W0MAN'S ERROR.
Early one duh October day a girl
came quickly along the farm lanes tow
ard Marldon. There had been much
rain and little fros3 that autumn, ~
that the country had not quite lost its
summer tinge of greene, but winds had
blown incessantly and given the foliage
a tattered, disconnected look Some
| thing of the same look, scared and un-
easy, was repeated i'm the girls face.
Every now and then glanced behind
her, ~ if she expected To hear footsteps
or call Nothing came. The popu-
lation i'll this country district was scan-
", and she only passed cart, driven
by man, and two or three children,
trIaIfs from school, who were climb
ing the hedges in search of the few re-
manning blackberrieS. As she saw them
i'm the distance the uneasy look in her
eyes became more marked, and she
seurried by them on the opposite side
Of the narrow, muddy lane without a
question, although she was sure they
could have told her what she wanted
To know.
Presently she came upon an outlying
whitewashed cottage, with a garden
still full of chTysanthemums and gera-
niwms and smoke flying lightly out OF
IA chimney. She paused, then closed
her rather tremulous mouth determin-
edly. mo" she said, 81 won't. I'll
find the house somehow.
AT last, seeing man working in
field, she called 10 him over the gate (:
"You needn't come no nearer, but |
wish you'd tell me where the minister
lives"
II amt coming no nearer" said the
man, surprised. 'See that little white
house by the big elm? Anybody'll
show YOU"
She went away in the direction he
pionted oat. As she came near she
heard the cry of child on the other
side Of the wall and slackened her pace.
"Well, it's his place, he's got 10 come,
and / was told to fetch him" She rang
the bell and asked for the minister.
~ don't know a. YOU can see Mr..
Wood" said the girl who appeared in
answer, ''but if you like to step in you
can leave u message with the misses
She hesitated. "rlI stop here" she
said.
In minute or two she heard light
football, and Mrs. Wood came into the
passage.
"You asked for my husband ~ she
said kindly. II don't know your face
| think YOU must be stranger?'
1--WE haven't been here long. We'm
over 10 Arlington"
"And you wish to speak to him -
Hes wanted to our house" the girl
answered in a dull tone, as if she were
repeating lesson. John and Toms
both dead, and mothers dying. Faith
er's down, too, she added
The curate's wife turned white and
stepped back.
"What is it - She said fiintly
"Diptheery. Everybody's that scared
of Us they won't come nigh the house
The baker puts the bread inside the
garden gate" She spoke stolidly, a if
already the cutting of from human fel-
lowship had become IA matter of course,
and she did not look up at the shrink
ing figure of the wife and mother, who
stood staring, but as no answer came
added, "The minister's wanted"
''Why did you come here? Airing
ton is not in this parish"
There's no Use going to Mr.. james" +"
"You must try. Go back and say
nay husband can't come.p
The girl glanced at her with dreary
acceptance before she made a final
attempt.
Mothers awful bad. The doctor
says her can't last the night"
The other stood stiiiiy, bracing her
self to her words.
cts terrible. Mr. Wood would be
very sorry if he knew, but he can't
come. He's away" she added. And
taking out purse as meager looking
as herself she dropped a few shillings
into the girls hand. ''There, go" she
said hurriedly, ''and mind YOU don't
speak to any one in the village"
II amt going to speak TO no one"
returned the girl, with a touch of in
dignation in her voice. She held the
money in her limp hand without look
ing at it or thanking the giver, her eyes
meditatively fixed upon the door, the
handle of which the minister's wife
was grasping as though fearful that she
might force AN entrance. Once more
she vaguely repeated, ''Her won't last
the night"
you'd better go back at once
They heard child at that moment
call Mother, mother 81 The girl lift
ed her heavy eyes and looked full in
the wife's face.
"Yes, I'll GO" she said briefly. Turn
ing away, she went along the road by
which she had come, and Mrs. Wood
stood rigidly watching her, still hold
ing the handle of the door. As the last
fiutter of the faded lilac print was lost
round corner the tension failed, and
she leaned against the door with all her
limbs trembling.
.What have done? What have
done ?" she murmured, Ii John
knew, he'd never forgive me. What
business had they 10 send for John
when they're none Of his?"
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