The Irish standard., 1894-04-28
CHAPTER XIV.

sons who visited at the house of Mrs.
Carruthers was Rachels. Yet he sell
dom went there except when Owen was
down with his rheumatic spells, that
had become more frequent lately be-
cause he had been in possession of more
pocket money than was usual, and SO
was in condition to resort to drinking
places other than the "Big Indian -
Suspecting where such supplies came
from, Rachels ruminated upon them.
His untiring kindness to the hayward
cripple, not counting those of other
kinds, had given rise to much gratitude
in the mother. Her chief income was
from two-thousand-dollar state bond
bearing eight per cent. interest. Her
black woman, Sally, besides home
work, did washing and other outside
jobs, for which the neighbors paid
more than liberal prices. Then she
raised more vegetables and got from
the cow more milk than the family
needed, and the surplus was easily dis
posed Of The cottage was on the
street south of the Capitol square. 1t
had a ground floor, on which were
the kitchen and Sally's bedchamber.
Above this were two rooms, a small
parlor and another serving for both
eating and sleeping. TO these one as
cended by steps leading from and
along the street, fronting on narrow
portico, on which mother and son
sometimes sat of summer evenings.
From a corner of the rear room a flight
of winding stairs led up to the attic
where Owen slept. The place was
kept scrupulously neat. even the back
yard and the garden, wherein, besides
vegetables, were fruit-trees and grape
vines. Last of the few slaves once be-
longing there, Sally was devoted to her
mistress and alwaysready to apologize
for Owens shortcomings Whenever
he was late returning home at night.
she persuaded his mother to bed,
and, comfortably nodding the while,
awaited him. On his return, she let
him in softly, had something hot in the
kitchen ready if he desired it, cautioned
him against disturbing the sleeper,
and, after he had been disposed Of,
went to bed and slept like a baby.
Awakened at cock-crowing, she rose
with alacrity, made her fire, and had
breakfast ready the minute it was
wanted.
When Owens rheumatism was upon
him a couch in his mothers chamber
was laid, which he accepted with more
or less complaining during his confne-
1nent. Between mother and son had
grown at last an understanding that
prevented domestic strife. The latter's
Irregularities were never commented
upon there, except between Mrs. Car
ruthers and Sally, whose excuses and
palliations were, under Heaven, the
best consolation to the mother.
Mistress" Sally said, many, many
times. ''when Marse Owen come home,
er he are fotch home top-heavy by
Marse Gus Rachels, it amt bercause he
des wanted to git so; it's bercause he's
'Aicted and can't hep it. en- dat ain SO
mighty of'n. Now, you know yourself
It aim, en- you earn deny it. It mostly
when he git money from dat Mis- Vile
Am'son; dat when it mostly air.
Eyes, and I wish the poor boy had
never seen him.
: ..Ah, well, my miss, de Lord'n per-
wide; de Scriptur say dat
One night, after Owen had been in
bed near week, Rachels came in. A
visit from him always. gratiied the
widow and was Aattering to Owen. He
demanded and got q fresh coverlet, and
so disposed himself as to appear q be-