Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-02-25
sTAUNToN SPECTATOR AND VINDICA1oR.
"Wel1, Miss Proudie, an how's thy


"We11, Miss Proudie, an how's thy
fine gentleman naa?" (Aunt Bets own
lad had had hopes of the "ofice" once,
but had turned out wastrel; hence her
bitterness. Jaw thout wot it 'ud be.
Some fowk can't stand gettin up i tn
world. Pride'll hev a fa', an thy whip
persnapper's come cropper, at ony
rate -
In tongue warfare Rachel was no.
where. Besides Aunt Bet wasn't worth
answering. Then, that very day, the
overlooker had threatened to reduce her
to two looms and had humbled her SC
terribly before the other weavers that
all the spirit seemed clean gone out OF
her. She went to bed, but not to sleep.
The ''knoeker up had an easy task
next morning. That day was the black
est Of many black ones during the past
few weeks, and now no lovers comfort
awaited her. Everything went wrong.
The stuff wouldn't weave. Her looms
seemed bewitched. The overlooker over
looked with vengeance.
"Yo'll start on two looms tomorn, -
he said. sThink on that! Awe lots a
wenches O. IA at weave better nor thee
an do moor wark on two looms Tan tina
con o. three
1t was the last straw. She dare not
face Aunt Bet and her sneers.
'sOh, Jim, Jim, !" was the cry of her
heart, why couldn't you say word to
me?" For when her heart spoke it cried
for Jim, and not for looms. Coming out
of the hot mill it was bitter cold. She
drew her shawl over her head and hur-
ried away--not to the place she called
'shome. y She scarcely knew where she
went. A hopeless despair weighed on
her sensitive spirit. Tears, unchecked
and UNDECIDED, dropped as she walked
Anywhere, anywhere, out of the
world!'' would have been her exclama-
ton could she have expressed her deep
est wish. Suddenly she found herself ON
the top of the reservoir embankment
The moon was shining upon the water,
which sparkled and shone with a crys-
talline briliance.
''There's nowt left to live for, an I
won't Iver' and, casting her shawl
from her, she threw herself from the
embankment. There was sharp, ring
ing sound The moon shone on, and all
was still.
!:
s'Now, Aw wonder what's come out
about this money!" thought Jim Sum-
her as he struck the reservoir bank on
his way from the station home. ''Folks
are fain 10 stay in gtoneet, Aw reckon.
AVN glad nob'y'u see me till Awe
cleared myself clearin it is-and
what cas1th' masters ha' taken tn trou-
bic to get my address fro mother-for
MODIFY else knew tan telegraph for
me to come instantly, if it's not? My,
but tn frost has bin keen this two days!
Anvil bet tn lodge'll bear" So saying,
he ran down and tried it with his foot,
and, finding it safe, walked distance
on the margin.
whats that? Good heavensp' He
had stumbled over the PROSTATE form Of
a woman lying few feet from the en-
banlzmelt. The ice was starred in every
direction where her head had struck it.
Poor wenchr' He turned her over, and
the moons light fell upon a face he had
often kissed. He reeled as though he had
received the blow that made the blood
flow from that marble brow How cold
she was! But she breathed. He picked
her up and carried her, he knew not
how, up the bank and away till he stag
gered into his mothers cottage.
Could she be in better hands? Still
unconscious, but with signs of returning
animation, he left her and fastened to
the mill. The lights still burned in the
Office. The masters were seated by the
fire, and IN the background sat the mes
senger and Jabez Smethurst.
s'How dye do, James-you got our
wire?''
81 did, sir, thank you.
boy tell US again what you told
this morning. Whereupon the penitent
lad, with fearful looks at Jabez, told
how the overlooker had terrorized him
about small betting debts; how, at his
insMgation, he had obtained blank
check from the Office lad at .Bromley's;
how Jabez had filed it in, copying the
writing from another of Bromley's
checks; how he had presented it with
the rest at the bank and got the cash.
The sequel was known and did not need
recountiig. Jabez swore it was a parcel
of lies, but the boys evident sincerity,
revelations OF Jabez's boolkmaling trans
actions and later Rachel's account of her
rejection Of his suit. and his subsequent
threats and persecution, convinced the,
masters of Smethurst's guilt. They SIM
ply discharged him and eased their con-
sciousness Ct Jim's overhasty dismissal
by raising his salary to e150 year.
The folks who cheered a happy pair
and pelted them with rice did not see
scar on the brow of the bride, for it was
covered by her bridal veil.-Tit-Bits.