Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-03-17

. XSsS4Ss9 q gled orchard on the
=; Is; e: !: ]: IS: &: e;
which ran to the bank
of a placidly flowing river; a rail-
road in front which wound along in
a shining, serpentine fashion, until
it was lost in the forest, a quarter of
a mile away and dilapidated barn
behind the house, surrounded by a
tumbledown fence-such was the
home of John Milo, the village milk
man.
In the barn several cows chewed
their cuds contentedly. 10 the house
half dozen ILL bred children were
constantly trying the patience of a
wornout woman.
People shook their beads wisely.
and said that things we're not in such
shape when Johns first wife lived !;
that this second wife worried the am.
bition out of che man, with the con-
tinual fretting that she was hard
and cold, and had little enough love
for her own brood, to say nothing Of
the scanty share which fell to JAMES
lot, but then step mothers seldom
please gossips, you know, and jamie
was the first wife's child.
On this particular morning when
my story opens, everything seemed
to 60 wrong in the low, unpainted
house. There were the clothes to
wash, the morning work to be done,
the baby to tend, and a churning
waiting in the stone churn-and all
for one pair of hands to do.
1t is small wonder that Mrs. Milo
looked often and fretfully toward
the open door, expecting every mo-
ment that jamie would come to share
the burden of work.
But jamie did not come. She was
up in the fragrant hayloft over the
cattle, hidden from view, although
she could see the house-door plainly
through the cracks, and heard every
word that was spoken.
jamie"
The impatient call echoed loudly,
but the girl only raised tear stain
ed face defiantly, and shook one
clinched fist towards the door where
her step-mother was standing, witha
child cllnging to each side Of her
faded gown.
Jane! Oh, where is the jade 2"
Still no answer, but the hay rustled
slightly, as if it shared the girls tri.
umph
Jane Milol Out of the way you
Tom /! QUIT fighting, Joe and Jim,
and play with the baby. Bill, you
and Jack go straight to the wocdpile
and fetch me some wood-plenty of
it, mindl Pm glad my young ones
are boys. They're enough sightless
trouble than girls-always under
foot 'cept when you want 'em. Dear
me, where can that child beY Jane
e,e-e-e !"
Still no answer from the hayloft.
John Milo came rafting into the
yard with old Kate and the express
wagon filled with empty m,lk-cans.
-" What We want, Sa-y Ann ~ be
asked. gruffiy.
John always spoke gruffly nova.
days, although people said he never
did while his first wife lived.
81 want Jane" she replied tartly,
administering smart cuff to Bill.
She's run off again and it's Mon
day morning, too! She's never here
when I want her, the lazy, good for
nothing
Hold up, Sary Ami You can't
expect colt to do a horses work.
Let her go; times is hard enough
for her, reckon" said John, more
grufiy than ever.
"That's it-that's always the
way !" she answered holly, her face
flushed with anger. - can work,
and she can run. John Milo, did
you know that girl was going on
fourteen years old?"
John made no answer-he seldom
did make an answer now-but un-
hitched old Kate and followed her
into the barn, while his wife went to
her work again, with much grumbling
and many cuffs for the children that
happened to get in her way.
+" What it dad comes mp here after
hay ~ thought jamie, burrowing
deeper into the NOW and thereby
causing a hayslide from the loft to
the floor.