The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26


| bank books atween the leaves?"
Mrs. Midgetts shook her head despond-
NO sIch luck Not but what did think
O. thaE myself. opened ii In ever s'many
places. an turned over the leaves an eld
It up an shook it till most shook the In
well, tbs ard" said Mrs. wicks. II can't
say no less"
descending the stairs, which were frequently
dangerous by reason of stray ShredS OF po-
tato pairing or half-gnawed crusts of bread
dropped upon them by careless fingers. In
spite of which she nearly slipped up on an
empty pea-pod which lurked about midway.
IT never see the like of Barkers buildings
for strewin things round" she muttercd. as
she stopped to remove it. Then with the
pod in her hand. her mind suddenly switched
itself away from its present unSavory, squa-
lid surroundings to the unattainable para
disc of the washerwoman's cottage at Whit
tlebridge.
II reckon I'd soon be growing my own
peas once was down there" she added I'M
der her breath. IAN vegetubble marrers,
The district visitor for Barker's buildings
was an elderly lady who fulfilled her self
appointed task with a thoroughness. and
regularity deserving of more gratitude than
it commonly inspired. Mrs. Wicks. however,
by reason of her responsibility and exem-
THAT'S q fine Bible Of Yours YOURS Mrs. Wicks."
she observed in the course of her next pa
rochial visitation. II don't remember to have
'ewell. no." was the answer-there being
no very pressing reason for proclaiming the
fact that it was only borrowed-"but
thought maybe you'd find the print easier to
read"
Eyes, must admit my eyes are not what
they were. What would you like me to read
this timer"
"S'pose we as bit O. the Old Testymint?
There's Samule in the den o. lions. /
wouldn't mind earring bout i'm I've al
since the circus come to Whittlebridge a
matter O. five-an' thirty year ago, an see
the wayythem beasts ramped round an took
on when they was stirred up with pole"
Daniel, you mean" was the correction.
Daniel. to be sure. What could bin
thinking bout? Course. Samule was the
early he was called.
Then we will take chapter six of the
So she read on until, going to turn the
page. she found 1t stuck fast took off her
glove, blew it, and finally was obliged to
Strange that these two leaves should be
stuck together so tightly almost as though
Only square of fimsy discolored paper,
that cracked at the touch
savings bank of the Bible. / had no idea
you were so rich. You had better take care
of this while l finish my reading"
And she handed her the note.
Mrs. Wicks stretched out her hand me-
chanically, and her fingers closed over it
tightly. The, reading went on. At least
was inside her head or out she couldn't
have told. Finally. having delivered Daniel
from the lions and made few appropriate
and improving remarks, the district visitor
took her leave-a little huffed to tell the
truth, at the idea that one who had always
professed TO find life hard struggle should
all the while have been the possessor of
boarded wealth.
A short time afterwards Emily. returning
from taking home some mangling, found her
mother sitting down, doing absolutely moth
ing. while the kettle protested and boiled
over unheeded.
not knowing what to make of such unusual
symptoms.
Mrs Wicks regarded her for a moment
without speaking. Then-'Well, amt jest
feeling myself. an that's the TRUTH she
admitted.
that gave confirmation to the words.
t aaqgh ter thsfn i SrisE you SP Got any
This casual inquiry appeared to excite al
''Why, no; there amt nothink the matter
with it, Whatever made you arsk SIGH
II thought. by the way. you've. got, it
mo. no: it amt that. It's something
irnarder like.
May be the pickles you 'ad at dinner"
After this, seeing that instead of brisking
up her mother continued to feel like some
body else, Emily promptly ordered her off
ITS the weather. that's what it is-that
and the pickles."
So Mrs. Wicks meekly obeyed the man
her right hand Still cIenched. IF only
Emily knowed'' she murmured to herself,
shed feel like disowning of me. But then
she don't know what orful temptation
the thought O. that cottage with the good
will an fixters is Tisn't as though Mrs.
NUGGETS d miss the money, seeing as she
ave found it at all but for me. Seems
like ] was meant to ave it,, an l might
make 1t UP to 'er some day.
So she turned and tossed and suffered the
tortures of guilty conscience through the
long oppressive hours OF an endless night;
until disquieting dreams took the place OF
disquieting thoughts, and the greatest
temptation she had ever known pursued
her even in sleep.
mother" remarked Miss Wicks, as they sat
at breakfast, granting an goaning an
Daniel, though who you could a-meant |
can't think. And this morning you look
dunno ow, and no more appetite than
nothing"
Then. with the laudable intention of
cheering her parent up by the administra-
ton of FLIP in the shape. of piece OF
when I run out for the milk? Why: Mrs.
Priggins's Lzabeth Hams been and stole
tuppence from Mrs: Filnders.s Beiia; Sne
that young 'ussy, and puts down the jug
an the money for art minnit while she
ties her bootlace and when she comes to
no more was 'Lizabeth Ham, and do ear
Mrs Flinders ave threatened er with the
perlice. Barkers buildings was .ow nough
before; but when Barkers buildings takes
to robbing each other-not but what tup-
pence isn't much to turn thief for-my gra-
ciousi"
You wouldn't have wondered at her ex-
clamation If you had seen the way in which
Mrs Wicks set down her tea cup with Such
violence as would most likely have cracked
it then and there if it hadn't been cracked
already, upset her chair, and Scurr1ed out
of the room like" as her daughter put
it, "she'd been nit by something.
Indeed had she been favored with the
ming at top speed down the passage, falling
over Mrs Flinders's cat, picking herself up
again. and continuing her headlong career
up a couple of flights of stairs and down
the next passage, il is more than probable
that she would have considered the eXcld-
nation Just recorded a wholly inadequate
method of chronicling her amazement. Not
withstanding, this was the precise remark
uttered by Mrs. Midgetts when burst in
upon by Mrs. Wicks in a high state or
furry and remorse.
my gracious, Mrs. Wicks! Why, what
ever's the natter?
Il amt fit to live--thats what's the mat
ter I've bin an done a thing as I'd never
ave believed I'd put my and to. You
know what Scripter says bout robbing the
wilder an the orphan? Me, what's wild
der myself an orphan this many year!
w nat d We think I've got ere!
Dirty bit of paper, should say by the
looks"
Paper it may i5e, and dirty it may be,
bi,t for all that rs "a tWenty-pun note.