San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-11-10


friends, whispers l. "Let us step int
this hedge. F"
TOO late, ;" returns he, Put ON
bold face IT'S only one.
With staggering gait and looking
straight before us, we had passed the
figure, when voice calls Father y
and there, turning, we find that tits
poor Moll in her husbands cloak.
Where is thy husband, child!" asks
Dawson as he RECEIVERS from his aston
ishment, taking Moll by the hand.
IT have no husband, father, answers
she piteously.
why, sure he hath not turned you
out of doors?"
"No; he'd not do that, says she,
wee ten times mC@c wicScG than
am"
What folly then is this?" asks her
father.
"'Tis no folly. 1 have left him of my
own free will, and shall never go back
to him. For he's no more my husband
than that house is mine (pointing to the
court. Both were got by the same
means, and both are lost. "
Then briefly she told how they had
been turned from the gate by Peter, and
how Mr.. Goodwin was now as poor and
homeless as we. And this news throw
ing us into a silence with new bewil-
derment, she asks US simply whittier
we are going.
my poor Moll" is all the answer he
can make, and that in broken, trem-
bling voice.
&" IT'S no good to Cry" says she, dash
word of loving sympathy and forcing
herself to a more cheerful tone. why,
let us think that we are just awake from
long sleep to find ourselves no worse
off than when we fell a-dreaming. Nay,
not so ILL.,, adds she, "for you have a
home near London. Take me there,
dear
with all my heart, chuck, " answers
her father eagerly. There at least can
give you shelter till your husband can
offer better"
She would not dispute this point,
DtICClNCu was
resolved fully never to claim her right
to Mr.. Godwin's roof, but only begged
we should hasten ON our way, saying
she felt chilled, and in passing Mother
Fitch's cottage she constrained us to ST.
lence and caution. Then, when we were
safely past, she would have usrun, still
feigning to be cold, but in truth, as I
think, to avoid being overtaken by Mr..
Goodwin, fearing maybe that he would
override her will This way we sped till
Moll was fain to stop with little cry of
pain, and clapping her hand to her heart,
being fairly spent and out of breath.
Then we took her betwixt us, lending
her our arms for support, and falling
into a more regular pace made good
progress.
We trudged on till we reached Croy-
don without any accident, save that at
one point Moll's step faltering, and she
with faint sob weighing heavily upon
our arms, we stopped, as thinking her
strength overtaxed, and then, glancing
about me, perceived we were upon that
little bridge where we had overtaken
Mr.. Goodwin and he had offered to make
Moll his wife Then knew twas not
fatigue that weighed her down, and
gauging her feelings by my own remorse
l pitied this poor wife even more than I
blamed myself, for had she revealed
herself to him at that time, though he
might have shrunk from marriage, he
,,,,,e+ have 1oya5 l,a,. Sti III apd So che bod
been spared this shame and hopeless sor-
row.
At Croydon we overlook a carrier on
his way to London for the Saturday
market, who for a couple of shillings
gave us place in his wagon with some
good bundles of hay for a seat, and here
was rest for our tired bodies, though
little for our tormepted minds, till we
reached Marsh End, where we were set
down, and so, the ground being hard
with frost, across the marsh to Green
witch about daybreak. Having the key
of his workshop with him, Dawson took
us into his lodgings without disturbing
the other inmates of the house, who
might well have marveled to see us en-
ter at this hour with woman in q
mans cloak, and no covering but a
handkerchief to her head, and Mol,
taking his bed, we disposed ourselves ON
some shavings in his shop to get lit
tie sleep.
Dawson was already risen when /
awoke, and going into his little parlor
found him mighty busy setting the place
in order, which was in sad bachelors
pickle, to be sure-all Uttered up with
odds and ends of turning, unwashed
plates, broken victuals, ETC., just as he
had left it.
"She's asleep" says he in a whisper,
land I'd have this room like little
palace against she comes into it, 50 do
you lend me hand, Kit, and make no
more noise than you can help. The
Kitchens through that door. Carry ev-
erything in there, and what's of no use
fling out of the window into the road /"