The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-12
.st.ued onto the walls, and wishing, like the

IL was 20 rare TO hear my mother say a linr'
word against, anybody UNLESS. 1t were Gen
Buonnintri"'t that ] was across the room ana ~
the window In n jump. A pony rhpisc wa,
coming slowly down the village street. and H.
ever seen. She was very stout. with a fac,
that was so dark n red that II shaded way into
purple over the nose and cheeks. She. wore q
great hat, With n white curling ostrich feather
and from. under its brim her two bold black
eyes stared outwith II look ot anger and defiance
them than they could Of her. She hnd some
sort of scarlet pclIssc., with white snnsdown,
about her neck. aud she held the rcins slack
In her hands. while tho pony wandered from side
to side of the road as the fancy took him. Each
lat swaysd also. 40 that sometimes we saw tho
crown, Of IL and sometimes, the hrim.
VIA. dreGdfgl ;isntw cried my, mother.
Heaven forgive me II I in.siudge her, Rod
ney, but I think that the unfortunate woman
WHY" / cried. "sho has pulled the chaisr
ap at the srn!tly,. RI find out all the news for
: Champion Harrison had been shooting 4 horse
at the forge door. and when ! got into the
street | cuuld, see him With the creatures hoof
kneeling down amid the white parings. The
woman was heckoning him from the chaise,
and he . airing at her with the guccrest OK.
preston upon his face. Presently he threw
down his rasp and went across to her. stand.
Ink by the wheel and shaking his head rs he
smitny where Boy Jim was finishing the shoe,
end I Watched the ]ne9 IT. of his work and
ems. E.hen he had done with It he carried y
out, and there was the strange woman still
us that he?" / heard her ask.
Champion Harrison nodded.
ey ssf in i q sGma at b .i%. 90 snf large f4ls ns and SACK SAY ' SSa
wonderful. Boy as ! was knew that IN snite
full. She put out a hand. with all the fingers
chord: and she touched jim on the shoulder,
81 hope | hope you're well. y she stamrnered.
Very well, maam,' said lin, staring from
her to his uncle.
YES. mann, ! thank you.
Nothing that you crave for?".
,".TMhh nyy wifi iii d %aa Jfm." s ssiG h AZ a ansf in I"S C stern
voice. blow up the forge again, for that
shoe wants reheating,",
thing else that she would say, for she wassan-
grv that no should be sent away. Her eyes
be soothing her as best he could. For IA long
time they whispered until at last she seemed
,"To-morrow, them she cried.loud out.
To morro"." he answered.
said she. and dropped the lash on the pOny's
back back ,a The smith aft.r stood bod NTH s The w Tasp i in his !
little red spot on the white road. Then he
turned; and never saw his face e grave.
Cross way. She's taken kind Of a fancy TO
you, Jim. and maybe she can help you on a
~ l pronueei tn"C sou "ouiu 80 over
II don't want her help. uncle. and I don't
BIZ I've promised, Jim. and you wouldn't
make me out a liar. She does but want to talk
with YOU. for It is II lonely life she leads"
What would she want to talk with such as
me about?"
WHY. | cannot say that, but she seemed
very set upon it. and women. have their fan
cies. There's young Master Stone here. who
wouldn't refuse to go and see a good lady, III
warrants; If he thought he might better his
Well, uncle. RI go II Roddy Stone will 20
""of course. hell go. Won't You. Master
Rodney"
So it tended, in my saying yes, and back I
dearly loved a little bit of gossip She shook
her head when she heard where I was going,
1t was a good four miles of a walk. but when
we reached it YOU would not wish to SEQ n more
cosey little house. all honeyspckle and creep
A communicating woman opened the door
for Us: u,,,o, ..
But she asked us to come" said Jim.
II can't help that" cried the woman in a
We stood irresolute for a minute.
Maybe you would Just tell her am here"
Tell her! How am l to tell her when she
couldn't SO much as hear a pistol in her ears2
Try and tell her yourself, il you have q mind
there. in n reclining chair at the further end Of
the room; we caught a glimpse Of a figure. al
tails OF black hair hanging down. The sound
of dreadful. swine-likc breathing fell upon our
e ears ot 4 w1 for oI ho a s.'n As S for m nnen I we Sa se se
young that ! was not sure whether this was
funny or terrible, but when I looked at Jim to
see. how he took it, he was looking quite white
and III: -,
Not unless It's my mother"
II won't even tell my uncle. III say she
was wa, III the poor lady. ~ enough that we
being the gOSSiD of the village. IL makes me-
she was So Yesterday, Jim"
WAS she? l never marked II. But I know
that. she has kind eyes and a good heart.
for | saw the one in the other when she looked
at me; Maybe its the want ola friend that
II blighted his spirits for days, and when it
10 mo by his manner But it was not TO be our
last memory. OF the lady with the scarlet pc
iisse, for before the week was out Jim came
My uncle has had a letter said he. ',She
would speak with me, and l would be easier If
could see, as we drew near the house, that Jim
was troubling in his mind lest we should find
that things. were arniss. His fears were soon
set at rest, however, for we had scarce clicked
the door Of the cottage and running "" down the
path to meet us. She was so strange a figure,
with some sort of purple wrapper on. and her
II ] had been alone. have taken TO my heels at
the sight OF her. Even Jim stopped for a mo-
IltIl as y Nv z " very sure OF nlInNtlI
but her hearty ways soon set us at our ease.
1T is. indeed, good OF You to come and see an
old lonely woman, +" said she, land | owe YOU
nm apology that | should give you a Ruthless
journey on TUESDAY, hut in a sense you we re
yourselves the cause Of II, since the thought of
your coming had excited me, and any excite.
ment throws me into a nervous fever. My
poor nerves. You can see yourselves how
they serve me-"
She held out her twitchIng hands as she
spoke. Then she passed one OF them through
inns arm, and walked with him up, the path.
'l on must let me Know YOU. and know Vnu
said she. Your uncle and aunt are
quite oil acqrnintances of mine, and, though
you cannot remember me-. | have held YOU in
my arms when you We're an infant. Tell me.
do Nou call your i-iend?''
boy lin, maam." said |,
''ihcn II you will not think me forward I
will call YOU Boy, Jim also. We elderly PEG.
pie have our privileges, you now. And now
will come in, with me and we will take a
dish Of tea together"
she lei the way into a cosey room. the same
which we had caught u glimpse OF when first
came, aud there In the middle was n
table with white napery, and shining glass and
cleaning china. aud red-Cheeked apples piled
M ~ a cculLe dish, and n great plateful OF
smoking maii!n~ which the cross. faced MALL
Ind iuSt carried in. You can thing No. ,IiI !