Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-11-07
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" He High street Of Moxford was
Interested In this June day In the
- funeral Of old Carmel Battersby.
whose picturesque hobble and long gray
locks would never again enliven the
street.
He had kept the curiosity shop for
about ffty years. The old spinning
wheels, ACKNOWLEDGED chairs. carved
oak bureaus, chine of all sorts, war
medals, watches, coins. etc.. would no
doubt now 20 to the hammer. Mox.
ford would miss the attractive window
Of No. 60 almost as much rs the quaint
form Of Its late owner.
Peter Battersby and Mrs. Peter were
early on the scene. In decent black.
They had extremely comfortable ex.
pectations. To be sure, for the last ten
yeafs they had not interchanged many
words with the late Carmel, who was
Peters only brother; but o. Mrs. Peter
remarked when the news Of her broth.
er.in.law's death arrived, "he couldn't
for shame leave bis money to any one
else"
Young Walter Battersby, Mr.. and
Mrs. Peters only son, did not conceal
bic Joy In his uncle's demise. He told
bic boon companions at the Hen and
Chickens that he was in for Q good
thing.
"Blood, you know, a. he saying IL, 10
thicker than water" he said - he
drained his fourth pint on the evening
Of bis avuncular bereavement.
Nor were the three daughters Of Mr..
and Mrs. Peter without discreet maid.
enly citation. Their uncle, while he liv.
cd. was such figure that they never
cared to look at him. Besides, he hadn't
. very civil tongue; liked to be caustic
about their high-heeled shoes and ex.
tensive bonnets and hats, and to b
very rude with his inquiries why three
Mr.. Rights did not press for the honor
Of their small gloved hands.
II seemed unlikely, indeed, that q
single tear would be shed for the old
curiosity man.
OF course there was his little servant
girl, Joan Smith. But she was only -
workhouse hussy," to borrow Mrs. Pc
ter's elegant expression.
With his usual ecccntricity, old Car
mel Ind taken girl from the Moxford
Union after the death Of his elderly
housekceper, Mrs. Roberts. Joan was
that servant, and she had served him
truly for the last SIX years, being now
but %. A quiet, shrinking, dark.eycd
little creature, who had revercd her
dead master quite unaccountably, and
devoted herself to him heart and hand
and soul. Save for Seth Perry, who
worked for the MOxford Tin Plate Com.
pany, she had had no one else to care
for.
Ne. and Mrs. Peter found No. 60
nicely prepared for the funeral. There
was also Q rather clumsy wreath Of
Wild hyacinths and buttercups on the
coffin.
''The idea Of such q thing 40 thatr'
exclaimed Mrs. Peter. touching the
wreath with the tip Of her parasol.
Joan was near at the tine. She burst
into tears at these words.
"Please. ma'am," she said, II should
20 like It to 60 with him. ] picked them
all myself"
1T shall do nothing Of the kind, then:
and your place n In the kitchen, not In
the parlor." retorted Mrs. Peter.
Joan retired, crying bitterly; and Mrs.
Peter flung the wreath into corner.
''rhe wench ought not to DO allowed
to leave this house. Peter" she said %.
verely, "without being searched. The
idea Of her being with all these vally.
bles-all alone. too"
But Peter was not a. cruel 40 his
wife.
Cameron says she ID entirely to be
trusted" he replied. land it's for him
to act as he pleases. he says"
| MI. Cameron was the Moxford law.
yer who had charge Of the old curiosity
mans affairs.
Two or three others now arrived, In.
Guiding the lawyer, Mr.. Hurst, the
Methodist New Connection minister.
and old Craven. the silversmith.
Then High street enjoyed it, lit.
tle sensation 40 the heaFse ana three
coaches solemnly passed along to the
cemetery on the bill.
Joan viewed the start from the back
entry with fearful eye. She was peri.
odically convulsed with sobs. She
watched the procession 40 long an ever
she could. The void In her life was i'm.
mense.
So much 90. indeed. that even the
soothing voice Of Seth Perry, who had
come upon her unawares, had no effect
on her at first.
"Never mind, lass" said Seth,
'things'll all come out right"
She answered him with tears.
Hes bOun' to he left you summat.
Joan, my lass. to remember him BY;
and, whether or no, you've only 10
speak the word. and theirs one a ~
be proud to have you"
Seth. ] can't talk with you now"
she said, showing him her damp face
and bright eyes.
"Nor come home and take your din.
ner with my mother. JoanY'
mo. no. ! mustn't 20 yet. They'll
turn me out soon. know; but must
stay till then"
"Well, lass" said Seth, you know