The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1894-01-12

When Hannah. the hours passing
without sound from above. crept fear
fully up the stairs and % the open door
she uttered "a low cry. on the floor, in
the heavy gloom Of the room, lay her
mistress, scnseless. In her hand she
held faded paper
Hannah, lifting the unconscious head
looked about her in the gathering
deepening darkness A tall, quaint
piece OF furniture, with many drawers.
had been opened. One Of the drawers
stood out, with scattered confusion Of
papers.
The green shutters were open now in
the old white-pilastered house in West
chester county The doctor went in
and out every day
He shook his head: he looked at the
old maidservant gruflly, suspiciously
There are infalliblc Indications Of a
mental shock
II know nothing" was the old wom-
ans cool answer
The doctor. with an impatient click
Of the tongue. went rapidly down the
white tagging and back 10 his gig AZ
the gate Hannah. immovablc in every
feature as always, went back 10 her
mistress side.
You told him?' the white lips would
frame.
NO, Mrs. Skinner You know /
wouldn't" was the only answer
One day the invalid looked up.
Hannah
Hannah crossed the room and stood
by the bed.
I've been thinking, thinking great
deal the once strong, peremptory
tones said ''You know what ] meau?"
Hannah nodded.
I've been thinking that perhaps You
knew"
a swift change went over the old
woman's face
20 Mrs Skinner. don't ask me. ''
Il shall ask you Strength seemed
70 have returned TO the doctor patient.
Forcibly She raised herself on one arm.
Imperiously she stretched out the
still handsome hand in the old firm.
commanding gesture. Tell me every
thing you know
.'Then-nOnc Of il was true. Miss
Martha never cored-ncver, never II
was some one else. But she knew You
would not have liked it. muam, for
she was poor and not much in the way
of family, and since Miss Martha lived
with you she was" the old woman's
voice sank
Afraid 10 let me know? She was
afraid of me- Go on.
We'll yes, ma am. But Mr. Skinner
he found il out and she told him all,
Miss Martha. And he was trying to
get Miss Martha's sweetheart into
some business, ma'am. And then, when
that was done, the two of them would
have told you. But they did not dare
before. And it's for that, SO help me
God Almighty, Mrs. skinner, ma'am,
that they were 50 much together. OF
anything else
Again the old woman stopped This
time color came into her strong, con
trolled. withered old face. There
never was on al this earth a wife that
was loved more faithful than you, Mrs.
Skinner, ma'am.'
And you never told mc?" The
tones that came from behind the bed
haugings seemed to have grown
strangely old
There would have been no use
na'am-and you know that" came the
firm answer.
''He-Mr. Skinner my husband.
never defended himself, Hannah"
o, how fast the pride, stubbornly up-
held through ali these years, was break
ing.
''No, ma'am," grimly, mot when you
wouldn't listen 20 him, and turned Miss
Martha out Of doors, ma'am. lie came
TO me, did Mr. Skinner. Hannah said
he, You know this is "a most horrible
untruth.'
yes. sir said But she viii ncv-
er believe it. he said. And he was rs
white as the dead Never was a wife
better loved. said he But if her awful
pride and anger are 10 wreck my lie,
I, too, can have pride. l shall not sue
TO her
And with that he was gone, and /
said never a word. ma am, for TINS is
the first time IN thirty years that
the masters name had been spoken, as
you know, ma'am- "
Softly. noiselessly, Hannah rose from
her chair. One thing more she had 10
say:
He was like no one else ever was
Mr.. skinner Never was a kinder, hand
somer, SUMMER gentleman would
have done anything for him"
The yellow letter that had come froU.
the little drawer in the old piece of
furniture, and on which a dying hand
had traced the truth that the beautiful
vindictive woman its owner hs--r>>ce
called wife might learn il at last lay
on the bed within reach of Mrs kin
ner's fingers.
The soft June sunlight shone into
the room, and outside the windows the
birds sang. And these things seemed
10 mock the woman who lay there, her
life passed, thrown away, all her un-
forgiving bitterness, her vengcful pride
thrust back upon her with the despair
of a love which neither the illusion Of
outrage nor the oncOming sorrows Of
age had been able TO dim.-Sunday
Mercury.