Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-31

/
more-ror as much, maybe. Are yo,
going? 1 must lock up the place"
| The old pair rose. docile, obedient
j law-abiding to the last. At the doc
they turned back for a last look. Their
| the woman broke down.
''Oh, Dick, o my mar.' she criet
| aloud, throwing her arms about him
| The rector was taking the bishol
back to the palace just then, after thu
wedding festivities; but the carria g,
the agents cart could be pulled out Of
the way
what is the matter?" asked tn,
bishop, hearing the woman's heart
broken cry.
The rector looked out of the window
then drew in his head. TT is a good
for nothing old pair who have had t.
be turned out of their cottage for MOI
paying their rent" he explained
| THAT kind of thing is on the increase
in the neighborhood, and must be put
stop to-
But what will become of them 2
the bishop asked, uneasily, having
caught glimpse of the miserable
group.
They will go off grumbling to the
work house, where arrangements have
been made to receive them. They have
in fact been given the only two beds
left unoccupied, and will be quite
comfortable although of course they
won't confess it. The paupers are al
ungrateful class, difficult to deal with
and always unsatisfactory.
The bishop pursed up his mouth.
On entering the ward where the
other old women were, Martha Jor
dan was recognized by Peggy Byles
once a lady's maid, with the manners
she had picked up from her mistresses
and biting tongue which she also
owed to them, perhaps.
welcome to our tumble 'ome,'' she
said, making a mock courtesy te
Martha.
Gomez said Alice Grieves, another
gentleman's servant, 81 call it prison.
WELL" Peggy Byles observed iron.
ically, ''its the reward of merit"
cts punishment for poverty" Alice
1etorted. They'll forgive you any.
thing but that, the parsons will"
What ev the parsons to do with it?
"Why everything. Amt they there
to preach Christ and I'm crucified, and
love one another? And 'ow do the
bishops ON the bench love us?"
Martha Jordan sat on hard form,
rocking herself to and fro in fearless
misery, not apparently needing any
thing. Another old woman with a
gentle, refined, intelligent face, was
sitting near, and now reached out her
wrinkled hand, and laid it sympathet-
ically on Martha's arm.
"Eh, misses, l knows what you're
feelin'," she said. 1.-THE fust days an
fust nights-after that-it isn't to say
as you don't care; but you don't cry.
You seem all in a mist, and you think
O. nothin' but what 'appened long ago
and things you said, and things you
did, pertic'ler if it was q nasty thing
yer sorry fur. An you see the sun
shine, too, and you smell the flowers
yet all the time it isn't like bein'
alive"
Martha looked up at her: ''That's
it, she said. at isn't like bein' alive
Its like arter death, the Judgment
You know there's nothin' to hope. It'll
never be no different"
Several other worn women, all past
work, had gathered round the new
conner by this time, and each made
some sign of assent to this. Not one
had a word of comfort.
The week that followed was one in
cessant ache of anguish to Martha
Jordan. All that first long lonely
night in the ward with the other
women she lay awake, a prey to
anxiety about her man. Then the
ways of the place, the comfortless
baroness, the continual wrangle and
fret among the inmates, the inexor-
able discipline to which at her age it
was hard to conform, the separa ton
from every person or thing she cared
for, and above all the sense of un-
merited disgrace-the injustice Of ii
all made it a martyrdom to her And
it so happened that she did not see
her husband at once, not until the
week was out, although perhaps this
was just as we'll as it gave her some
thing to look forward to which sus-
tanned her.
She was to go out with him on the
Sunday, and there was a pale pink
flush of excitement on her face when
the moment arrived to put on her bon
net and go to meet him, which Peggy
Byles observed "Jest look at 'er
ladyship tittivatin' 'erself up fur 'er
young manr' she said. "My amt she
fine! Ell be wantin' you to elope wi
i'm mistress"
1t was not unkindly meant, and
Martha smiled "'E were a rare man
O. muscle in lis time" she answered,
proudly, "as fine a man as ever
stepped. An is sons is fine men, too
three ON 'em, all soldiers"
81 wonder they don't do somethin'
for ye," Peggy exclaimed.
COW can a soldier 'e(p is folks"
Martha answered. "What WI stop
pages fur this an stoppages for that
it's little enough they 'ev fur their
selves"
you've give yer country three men,
mistress" Peggy rejoined; San this is
how it pays you back"
cold yet tongue, you 'ussy," said
the sharp voice of the matron, who had
come in behind her unobserved. 'It's