The Monitor-register., 1896-01-10

deed | should believe my own eyes ? No.
l should say, MY faculties are playing
me false, not Elizabeth 1 should
doubt my reason before / could my wife,"
stop, stop, Herbert, l cannot bear it.
do not believe you guilty, and yet"
You are a tender judge convicted
against your will" interrupted the man,
''and l forgive you. Some time ycs will
know thatI am innocent, if it is not
until the Judgment day"
"Yes, my love, / .aieve you now. 1
have been mad. Yeusa are innocentl How
could my faith have been shaken for one
moment p
Mamma, are you going out to-day !?
y surely you are not. l do SO hate these
Fridays | thought you would surely stay
at hcEne to-day See how it rains-and
yea know the umbrella is no better thar
: sieve. Ii it rained cats and dogs 1t
might be a little protection, but any
thing smaller than a kitten would find it
easy getting through that worn covering"
The speaker was a pretty girl of about
fifteen. She stood with her arms thrown
affectionately around her mothers neck.
"Where do you go every Friday,
mamma ? Cannot l 60 in your place and
carry the basket ? 1t is such a big
basket, and you are so small. What big
appet:tes the family must have, to whom
you take the food so regularly" she
laughed. "Tell me about them, mother,
dear"
With a tender kiss the mother drew
herself away and quietly prepared for a
rainy day walk.
my Friday visits are not happy ocoa-
sions, DEAR" she said, land I do not
want to bring unhappiness, even the
unhappiness of others, into your life so
early. Some day you shall come with
me-"
~"You have already made me unhappy,
mamma, by not letting me share your
grief. | know how miserable something
makes you every Friday. You go out
looking quite bright and fresh, but you
come back-oh, SO haggard."
"Do l look fresh, really, when l start
on my errand dear?" questioned the
slight, pale-faced woman, eagerly. "That
is well, and reminds me that | want you
to pick me that new blown rose. l am
glad if | can take a little sunshine into
the gloom surrounding these poor people,
The girl picked the rose from the plant
ia the window, and, lifting the cover of
the basket, which stood upon the table,
placed it on the snowy linen which hid
the viands.
"No, DEAR" demonstrated her mother;
"put it on my coat, right here. 1 want
to wear it.v
Glow queer you are, mamma,
exclaimed Bessie. Il believe you're
getting vaip; but how out of place a
flower looks on that common old coat
ut is a pity more roses do not bloom
in unexpected places, dear"
Bessie stood at the window and watched
her mother until she disappeared down
the road. There were tears in her eyes;
two large drops fell upon the back of the
cat, which sat upon the window ledge.
Pussy rubbed her soft sides against hei
mistress and purred sympathetically.
"Tabby, what do you think it means p
asked Bessie, sitting down and huggine
her. pet tightly in her arms.
"Poor little old Puss, you'd tell me il
you could, wouldn't you? You DOM
want mamm sad anymore than l do"
Puss purred softly.
"Ien't it funny, Tabby, how mamma
goes away every Friday afternoon, with
that basket full of good things to eat,
things you and l seldom get, Tabby,
because mamma says she can't afford to
give US goodies. But how can she afford
to take jelly and fruit and everything to
that poor family ? Can you tell, Puss s
She dresses up, too, as if she were going
to church, and always seems so excited
No matter how many PEG pie come to see
her that day about orders, and no matter
how much work she has on hand, she
leaves everything and goes
Just then a knock Jane to the door.
Before Bessie could open it a woman
entered. Asmall plaid shawl was thrown
over her head and she carried a cracked
teacup.
"How dye do, Bessie" she said, .I
seen your ms goin' down the street, an
bein' ez you wuz alone thought I'd ruu
over o. spell; an I did van some sugar,
of you could lend me a little. I thought
as how your mi might have granoolated
in the house after all her fine cookin'.
My sister wuz took wuss las night, can't
seem to settle any food, an / thought I'd
beat her up a custard. How's your ma
these days; mopin' ez usual P"
The unexpected visitor babbled Cd,
arranging herself comfortably before the
fra.
"Pretty lonesome for you an your ma
livin' here all a~lone,'' she continued.
"You don't seem to hev much company.
Your ma never goes out 'cept Friday,
does she ?"
Bessie wanted to say that her mother
did not find congenial society in the
neighborhood. She wondered how this