The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-18


hammers flew madly to and fro in the
sunshine, starlings chartered and thrushes
sang, and the very COWS seemed % have
forgotten their ponderous solemnity IN
the magic OF the earths recurring youth.
The sky had none OF the stendy ui-
changing brilliance OF summer time;
soft white clouds chased ore another so
eayly across the blue, as the lambs
skipped and gambolled over the grass
underfoot; and the sun, instead OF shln-
inv sobcrly in straight and dusty beains,
danced and sparkled as it lowered over
Fridays Church.
strange church was this that met the
Travellers eve as he crossed the downs on
his way to the sea. No lofty spire, no
realing bells, no ivy-clad walls, no quiet
graveyard; nothing but n group OF hr
trees standing up dark ana gloomy
against the sky and in their midst
silent cleaning pool.
30 it had boon for years. for genera
tions for centuries Far bIck III tho dis
tant ages the followers OF a forgotten faith
had worshipped there the goddess CT peace
and plenty. and to that wild spot they
had brought their offerings in humble
expectation of the blessings that she could
bestow.
TO all appearances Fridays Church was
far away from any human habltltion 1t
stood on the slope OF hill. and the valley
stretched away before tho eye, bare of
ouse, or barn, or shed. But lonely as II
seemed, n thread OF blue smoke rose
through the clear atmosphere ana round
the shoulder of the hill tumble-coWn
cottage leaned as IL for support against
an even more tumbe-down snod.
On bare patch OF ground before the
cottage door heap of weeds was smoul-
Gering and an old woman tent over II
who might have sat for the portrait of
an ancient priestess uttering her incanta-
tions Her weather beatcn face was drawn
aud wrinsled into a thousand lines, whilo
the eyes that looked out from under the
shaggy brows were clear and pierting as
black diamonds She was slowly pacing
rounl and round the fire, stirring 10 from
time TO time with an iron rod, and as she
aid 30 she muttered uneasily to herself
lone and twenty, two and twenty,
three ard twenty.
She paused for n moment, leaning both
hands on the top OF the rod ana resting
her face upon them with detected look
then rousing herself she began once more,
"Qne- and twenty, two and-twenty, three
ana twenty. four and twenty; that two,
and Lord knows where the rests COM
ing from.
Dropping the rod on the ground she
turned and pushed open the cottage door
The room thus displayed TO view was rs
miserable as IL could well be- brokon-
down wooden bedstsad stood in one cor
ner, tabls with few eartbenware pots
and pans In another stool, ragged
piece of carpet and well-worn chair
completed the list OF furniture.
A thin black cat, with gaunt face
and hungry eyes was standing on the
table licking Its lips over small piece of
bacon. but though IL sprang guiltily
down at the sound of the door, Its mis-.
trcss Maid no attention To it, she had
more important things on her mind.
ha croScad fha uuqvpp hrick npor AMI
going up to tEe bod, divcd down beneath
the ragged mattress into some hidden re-
ceptacle from which she produced u
knotted rag, and having glanced furtively
round to see that no unexpected eyes were
upon her, she sat down and omptied the
contents into her lap.
The inhabitants of the neighboring vii.
lage OF Feldham believed firmly that un.
told stores Of gold were to be found in
Mother Michells cottage, and nothing
but their latent dread OF her powers of
"witchinR" prevented the holder spirits
from ransacking It, But though no ar
guments would have robbed them NJ their
belief. the coins that she fingered so visit
fully on this bright spring morning were
not Of gold nor even OF silver--they were
nothing more than pence and halfpencc,
end their whole amount was no more
than twenty. .four-two shillings. when
she was In sore need OF ten
again she fingered the little pile, pcering
at IL with dim anxious eyes. and trying
to coiyince herself that she had made "a
mistake In her calculations; but all her
efforts we're OF no avail-each time {
can o to twenty-four; and giving up the
attempt mt last she sat with tho money
In her ap staring horelessly out OF the
window.
a step outside made her rouse herself
hastily. ana, hl1ing her ueHsvre under
her ragged apron. she waited W ith her
eyes fixed upon the door
ron. It's you. IL IL, Sally?' stc said in
a tore CT relief, as tail stalwart girl en-
tered tie room
Eyes, it's me-" said sally in sulky
tore.
she sat down on the corner Of the table
as sbo spokc and folding her arms de-
family. frowned az tro old woman.
II Thought you'd been at Ford Edge
last night, she said. II was up there an
hour and better; what d've mean by
Keeping RE whiting like that?'
New. sally, doaat ye take on 50. +" said
the old woman. her blTck eyes dropping
ncryously before tho girls sullcB gazb.
81 didn't justly know it was the right
day for tho money. and it's .unaccountaho
veather surely ~
'Noatnesi" said tho girl sccrnfSl!v--
"whas's the Use o. taking SOY Tho
weather IA 'Ud keep you at hoae mint
bct n made yet anu as to nO5 knowing tLe
day. amt | seen that uJiChsd stick %
yours "a mort of times Before nowg You
amt got the money ] know tLat wUll
enough.
And what IL I ain'tg' cried tho old
woman pnssionatelv. "Ecre have teen
a-toilipg and a-moilinG the heart OFT II
my io.v while you'yo hCen trapng aiout
as proud as u poacock. WY do;.Bt you got
u you-scIiy'
ito g!rl's face sottened under the ro-
proach.
II armed twelve shillncs last month. Z"
che said simply, and holding ont hcr
hard sho showed ton shilling piece
within It.
Ihn sight seemed 30 touch some hicdan
cnoid In the old 7omau's breast; sae rad
repaid the girls sullonncss M sind, hut
Es she looked from tho shining golden
piece 10 her own scanty store. her wounded
pride ssnt tho tears ruling down hor
ch8eks.
sally jumped up Impetuously, and run.
ming across 10 her side she huggud her
with her strong young arms until she
almost huggod the breath out Of her
bdy.
ssIen and two "a fvclVc - cha snid