The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-11-04


riage affairs so that nc'U she would not
be shut off from all blood relations;'
for the thought of Jordan's daughter
somewhere in the world alone would
obtrude itself.
But he had made his bed" she de-
clared to herself, and she fortified her
self anew with her oft-repeated ass r.
ton that what she had said she had
said, and she was fixed as the everlast-
! ing hills-she would have nothing TO do
with them" She grew fixed upon
something else. The bright face bend
! ing cheerily over the big basket of rags,
sorting out for the next carpet so wise
| ly was pleasure 10 look upon. Miss
Marsh even had hopes that the mys-
ferrous process of ''warping" might
be accomplished through her without
much delay. Yes, Lyddy should stay if
she would. No one need mention Jor-
dams folks again. With this determine
ton she found herself hummng as
Lyddy worked at the loom:
and not-a wave-of trouble roll
Her song was interrupted as once be-
fore DR.. Beebe stood in the doorway
smiling upon her,
I'm glad, Miss Marsh, to see you've
reached that state. l knew you would
if you would only let yourself dc the
right thing"
IF by the right thing you ntfsh get--
ting somebody who has sense enough to
weave, 1 s'pose 1 did. Come in; you
haven't been near since the day you sent
Lyddy here. But don't need your doc
torin', thanks to her"
"Well, I'm willing to resign practice
on you-more than willing in this case
and glad that you've overcome your
scnseless prejudice against Jordan's
girl"
"Jordan's girl! It's Lyddy Watts, >
kshe gasped.
: It's Lyddy Jordan, your niece said
: DR.. Beebe, firmly.
For the moment Miss Marsh felt that
everything had returned to chaos. Like
flash came back her own query as to
? the name. Her own inferential blunder
| was clear. What was queer, she could
: not muster up a single harsh feeling
; toward the child Instead, she felt an
increasing anger against herself. Why
had the old Becky Marsh set up what
, she was going to do over what the new
t Becky Marsh had determined upon.
Then she found her tongue. DR.. Beebe
, must not see her weakness.
81 didn't know it was his girl" she
t said, stiffiy. "If l had she'd never SET
. foot in here, an what I've said l stick to-
1 l don't expect to give an inch"
t well Miss Marsh''-Dr. Beebe had
: not seated himself and now he stepped
outside. There he stood and finished
p bluntly-'I've always said you needed
= doctoring for something else than
- rheumatism, and you do. You need
- something to draw on that stubborn
$ will of yours, and if what I've got
t doesn't do it give you up. tn be like
a Spanish fiy-bister, suppose; but
S can't help it,
/. Say what you're goin' to an done
h with it," said Miss Marsh, braciug her
7 self up, figuratively speaking, as tn,
/. doctor paused at the sound of Lyddy':
? fresh young voice which came to then
r from the loomroom beyond.
c Becky Marsh, if you let your broth
j. er's child go homeless just because
you've set up that you'll have nothing
l. to do with anything of his, you nee(
c never expect to read your title clear tt
f mansions in the skies, as the words o
o the hymn foated in to them. "Gooc
day"
Miss Marsh was alone. The auda
= cious doctor was driving from the gat
- before she realized it. The STEADY
= swing of the loom outside was the onl,
/ sound except the old tune as Lyddy'
voice swayed in it with her work. Sh
| must face it now. Had she done right
>, Was there any reason why she shout
hold to the old will in the matter? Dr.
Beebe's warning came again and agail
as Lyddy's tones rose and fell. Lydd
was her own kin-she liked her. TIL
girl did look like Jordan, come to thinl
of it. She had liked Jordan. Their
=, was a time when the freckled~faced
tow-headed half brother had though
the world of his sister Becky. Lyddy-
and he had named her after their moth
- err, too. She suddenly gulped down
" sob.
"What a fool am" she straightene,
- herself up sternly:
q should earth-against-my soul-engage
And fiery darts-be hurled,
e Then Lean smile-at Sa-tan's rage,
| And face-a frown-ing world"
r Lyddy's voice rang out joyously abov
e the loom chatter. Miss Marsh, listen
u ing, dropped her face in her hands
Then she rose unsteadily. She opene
e the woodshed door.
9 "Lyddy Marsh" she called, abruptly
"Ma'am!' The girl at the loor
Q dropped the shuttle in CONSERVATION a
L. her name was emphasized by her aunt
lie lips. She looked up beseechingly.
o "Lyddy Marsh, this is to be your HON
d hereafter. You and Ire all that's lief
d an it won't be my fault if things don
II go right 'twiXt us"
It Nobody ever knew how much tina
f speech cost Miss Marsh. But she wa
!, conscious that she felt more than re
r. paid for the surrender when Lyddy
h springing from her seat, threw her arm
,a about her with the words: Il did S
-. want to come to you, Aunt Becky"
-. Miss Marsh even sent for DIR. Beebt
ri He met her with provoking smile Sh