The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-02-14
"'How far shall l have to walk be-

" How far is that?'
. Bout half a mile l almost
groaned aloud. I couldn't walk it.
Somebody must be found who would GO
and treat with Tarver for me.
- 1 saw a l;tsle boy swinging on the
gate when | passed some days ago
The woman turned her head so
sharply in my direction that / stopped
short. 1t was only an instant's inter-
ruption. The face was averted again,
and the peas began to hail against the
tin.
- Isn't he here now?' asked.
The woman shook her head 1t was
very warm. The perspiration stood in
beads sn her forehead She lifted her
arm, and passed the sleeve of her print
gown over her face.
I'll be glad to pay anybody half a
crown who'll get me a fly, l said, aloud.
DO you know Of"
She had lifted her head and looked
at me-
WAS it you gave him the shillin'?'
Gave whO?'
Billy, my boy. You said you saw
him swingin' on the gate. Was it you
gave him "a new shillin'?'
oh, | believe l did, said.
THE sunburnt face worked and
dropped on her folded arms.
81 usen't to let him go outside the
gate. or talk to people passin', she said.
1 called him in when | heard voices
that day. He showed me the shillin'-'
Shp hr.nlya off aT1 ,xyiraH 1,a1,
the back of her hand.
81 didn't like him takin' money from
strangers. | scolded him, an he-he
cried Her own eyes were full of tears.
4 tried to make him say what the
shillin' was for, she went on. He said
"NOthin'." Then you begged it," [
says. AN you're a disgrace" and he
cried more an said he hadn't
But that was quite true, l inter-
rupted.
"'Oh, didn't know, l didn't know
the woman moaned. L said I'd give
him a beatin' if he didn't tell me why
the strange gentleman gave him the
shillin', | might "a done it, too, but he
stopped cryin' all of sudden, an said:
why, of course, nanny, know why
he did tit was because my cuckoo
sang for him, an I KEEP quiet so he
could hear" l knew that was just
Billy's nonsense, but | didn't beat him
oh, I'm glad didn't beat him
Il waited till she found her voice
again" Thomson said. after pause as
an excuse for the sudden failure of his
own.
The woman explained" he went on,
that Billy had climbed up the labur-
mum tree that same afternoon. He
lost his hold she said, an the doctor
says he must "a fell on his head; he
died that night
Il muttered something stupid about
sympathy. She went on Smelling the
peas. Looking vaguely around,
caught sight of a child's photograph in
a frame on the opposite wall.
4" Is that picture of your boy?' l
asked.
"'No, no. said the woman, that's
my sisters child, and he amt dead,
neither. We never had picture of
Billy. That seems to make it worse,
somehow. tell my husband | believe
| could bear it better if | had picture
of him.
why, took picture of him. In
wrenched my unhappy ankle. l sank
back faint with pain.
''You took a picture of my Billy!'
She was standing beside me when l
opened my eyes.
'Yes-er-of the house. He was at
the gate, you know.
THANK God" the woman said, shak-
ing her clenched hands pitifully
Thank God! Thank Godr
But it may not come out right,
said, cursing myself for having raised
hopes thatmy kodak might not justify.
You see, it isn't developed. l can't tell
how
"'Oh, You must make it come out
right, sir! Where is tip The hard
sunburnt face was quivering.
Its here, in this'-I motioned
towards the kodak at my side. She
kneeled down before it with clasped
hands, like a penitent before shrine
You'll show it to me, sir-just for
a minute'
~ can't just now-it isn't devel
oped.'
But just let me see if it's my Billy
Oh, please, sir! If you knew, if you
knew
"I'll let you have it as soon as it's
ready l said. 1T would be spoiled il
took it out now
I'D be very careful, said the WON.
an. She got up eagerly and instinct
lively wiped her rough hands on hel
apron.
Some one passed the window. She
looked up. They've got back she cried
breathlessly, and ran to the door il
the scullery. She vas talking excited
/ ly about Billy's picture when she came
back with two men. 1t was her hus
band and her young brother, home
from market We had soon arranged
! that after dinner, when the horse wat
rested. | should be driven to Frentor
by my host, Mr.. Peter Shall, and tina
meanwhile | should go upstairs and liz
down, and let Mrs. Shall put cold watel
bandages on my foot. The pain haC
become excruciating.
"A very comfortable room it wa
that they put me in, and when Mrs
Shall said my foot was badly infiamed
and that | had better stay where wa