The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1895-01-05
Selrrt StOrp.

BY ETA W PIERCE

Twilight was gathering upon the fields.
The first white stars were out. stephen
Hare lifted the yoke from the patient
neeks of his co-laborers. the dun-e'lored
oxen. drove them into their stanchions. and
ioddered them for the night
Poor brutes he muttercd. pattlng
their broad hungry muzzle>. y"u have
had hard DAY as well as /
He moved aboat the barn making all
things right and secure. putting stray took
in place aud stopping 10 give the gray
mare handful If corn. as she leaned out
of her stall and neighed 20 him then he
shut the cid door. thrusi the bolt into the
STAPLE. and started for the house.
lie was stout. well knit Young fellow,
this Stephen. with brown. clear-cut face.
sad and strong and patient in expression.
He opened the rickety gate and entered
the kitchen garden with show, hesl'an'
step Stephen always approached his own
du1r a. If in mortal dread The iog was
curling up frum the cranberry swamp.
which. ike all the rest 1T this sterile NeN
England farm. had ceased to pOslu,e any
thine profitable Ca i;s uwner and over the
top of Harding Hill big yellow moon
was sailing gTandly mp the sky.
With his heart IN his ewes, and his brtad
chest heaving 10 his quickened breath,
stephen s,ood looking ofi toward that dat
fodil eas,-toward thai rising moon, toward
the hill crowned with gray stone walls and
chimney stacks, and laxuriaui sar'ieHs, far
.etfnl iar the nlonen, of the wuhd-his
world-biiier and hard Then the kIirh
en- door crcaked. and iaee peered cut
Land alive stephen Ham s that
vou. at last said a voice ! blew the
supper horn an hour asu
lie started a II cau-ht IN some guilty
act. then answered
Never mind Martha ! could nN cp'ne
then. My work was nc, done. He
stepped into the kitchen. glaneing around
il anxiously. Is everything night he
asked. in low voice
A. right as 1t u ever be in this house
replied Martha tregg. -aant. gray We
man in cotton gown; and .he cns~ed 10
the dresser aud began cutt;4fg bread tn'm
loaf Your mother had auuther ium
this aiternoou--one 81 the o!d sort
don mind en-. bat they scare Lefty
\ troubled shallow passed over stephen :
face. He drew up tn the table. spread
with plate of white yeas, bread di-h
Of cold bacon. aud liitle pai Of golden
butter from the last ehurning Martha
frowned as she poured his tea.
Its clean spilled, she grumble,l with
sleeping - long. How tined y"u look,
Stephen Ten Ia one if you gis enough
/ of the place this year 10 pay the taxes
/ The tater-t,,Ess are al turning waller, and
as for the oorn. il Il dry up BY the roots i
this druu,h holds On. You re man Ste
phen Hare. born 10 bear srievou- bur
dens
Then ought to uiye thank, that ms
shoulder are broad and -trag, SAID
/ Stephen plaeitlly
..aumph cried this job comforter
it little you ye -, TO give thanks for
/ You come Of an uniortinit family. stephen
and it : no use kicking agin the pricks.
/ There was your father be might have beei
I Old Harding partner Al the woolen mills
/ if !, hadnt been for drink lie might
/ have left as much money 20 you and Lefty
a. Harding did 20 his darter bat he wa
poor stick, way through. And now
here are vou. tied hand and foot on iarz
all rnn to seed, with I.etiy and your :notheI
/ hung ike miIlstones round your meek an,
| them same mills turning out money like !
mint. and Mis- Harding able "a ride IN
gold carriage if she likes.
Stephen WINGED. but did NOT answer.
Il ain complaining Of Lefty wen
on Martha Gregg 1t : sin to call he
burden; but there are places. safe places
Stephen, where your mother would be 4
deal better off than she is here wearin;
your life out with her tantrums. keel
the wen covered, and hide the clothes
line. and the knives. but she Il make ava,
with herself some day in spite Of me; Sc
if she don t.
His last yestige of appetite was gone
He pushed back from the table
+ can't. Martha, he said, in a queer
choked voice. Il promised father sh
should never be sent away. She neve
shall If you cannot get on alone witt
her. you must have help.
Help echoed Martha grimly; an
YOU slaving now, early and late, TO max
ends meet. Not if your mother burns IN
for witch, as she always threatening t
do. Why don't you marry. like othe
men But | needn' ask that. No We
man living would come into this house
haven left any chores for you tonight
Stephen. The cows are MIXED. and tn
water and kindlings in. It's enough f
man TO work from dawn'tili moon-rise
the fields without doing anything more
stephen opened door at one end Of tn
kitchen. and stepped into the family sitting
room. 1t was low ceied, faded and thread
bare. On sofa in corner lay Lefty. b
blind sister. pale, emaciated. with gree
shade over her sightless eyes, and he
abundant hair Of warm Titan hue. tlis
painters love. oyerhowing the pillow