Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-10-15

and the baby will thri
Chew LAseE,s PLues.Ihe erca: Lobe eco antld
can't be helped now. All ask of you
is to keep it close till 1 give you liberty
to tell it round "
"Well, s'pose we can promise that, I"
said Mrs. Frost reluctantly. "What
do you say, Charlotte?"
The girl had seated herself on the top
step, trembling with the reaction from
the passion that had mastered her. She
lifted a face no longer red and pair
Of eyes in which dwelt a curiously un-
satisfied and puzzled expression. There
was something incomprehensible to her
about the matter still, and she wrapped
her arms round her tall knees and hesi-
tated before giving the desired assent.
| In the distance the roll of carriage
wheels could be heard approaching rap
idly. The pace was so much more rapid
than was customary in that vicinity
that the three women were conscious of
thrill Of curiosity even In the midst Of
their personal excitement. Each turned
her head in the direction whence the
noise came, and the carriage and its oc-
cupants burst simultaneously upon the
vision of all
''Massy sakesl There they be them
selvesp' said Mrs. Frost, rising and 60
ing close to the railing to see to better
advantage. How under the light of
the sun do you s'pose they happened
round this way? Hail 'em, Charlotter'
she added authoritatively. "Tell Dry
her mars here.
Mrs. Pease gave an Intellectual clutch
of desperation at Charlotte's sleeve as
the girl flew past her. She could make
no sound The impending crisis had
rendered her dumb.
''They can take you home as we'll as
not, D." continued Mrs Frost, turning to
her visitor. 'Twould be pity if they
couldn't arter such tramp as you've
had. Land alive! Have you got pain?
You look real mizzerble.
cts a crick in my side," gasped
Mrs. Pease. "Seemeds S if couldn't git
my breath for minute"
"Ploorisy," asserted her companion
"Put on faxseed poultice as soon as
you git home. There amt anything tc
equal 'em. Therel They're DRAWN up.
Charlotte's stopped 'em!"
Mrs. Pease shivered visibly, but Mrs
Frost was too much interested in watch
ing what was going on before her to
notice it. II can't make out what
they're up to, she announced in puz-
zled tone. "They amt a-gittin out,
but they're talkin at great rate.
Hadn't we better go down to the gate
and speak to 'em?"
"I'd rather set STILL" said Mrs.
Pease, in faint voice.
"Well, if you don't mind bein left,
I'll run down. Think you'll be all right
if leave you minute9"
eyes"
As soon as the brown and white calico
had f1uttered over the last step Mrs.
Pease raised herself in her chair, and
gripping its wooden arms tightly looked
toward the carriage, which was drawn
up by the roadside near the gate. She
could see that Steve and Ora were bend
ing forward listening to Charlotte, who,
leaning on the rail of the white fence,
seemed to be talking with animation.
'She's tellin EN-" groaned the
poor woman, stung for the first time
into realization of the enormity of her
offense. What shall 1 do? Seems's if
the very old boy got into me an driv
me to tell that lie. It'll mortify Dry to
death. She'll never git over 1t, either
Oh, what am goin to do?"
She was a sad spectacle as she sat
there, her big body covering in the
roomy rocker, her face, framed in a
large black bonnet much askew, white
with anticipation of Ora's humiliation
and despair when Charlotte should have
finished her startling revelation. IAN
right before Steve, tool" she thought,
with anguish
"She must have hearn it all by this
time, "she thought presently. Wonder
what they'll say to me fust:?"
mis- Pease!"
"Mis' Pease"
"Mar-r-rP'
The voices breaking in upon her tor
menting thoughts nearly forced @ shrek
from Mrs. Pease.
II can't go, noway," she groaned.
II don't see how I can face 'eml'
mis- Pease, come along down
they're a-waitin for you, called Char
lotte's sharp voice, as she advanced a
little way up the walk to make herself
heard She put her hands to the sides of
her mouth, sailor fashion, and called
again: Hurry up, Mis- Pease. They're
waitin to drive you home"
''Drive me homel' Mrs Pease rose
in bewilderment "Why-why-they
can't be so dreadful put out, then. :"
She adjusted her bonnet with hands
that trembled so it was more one sided
than ever when she had arranged 1t. II
can't think what it means, unless Ory's
too dazed, OF too proud, to say word
before the Frosts I'm thankful they