The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-19
FRIDAYS CHURCH.

was but when she stood once more by
Fridays Church and entered her deserted
dwelling she rrembled from head TO foot
aud the cold drops stood upon her fore
head. Strange sights and sounds seemed
To fill the air, and drawing the uoor
close. she flung herself upon her bed and
covered her head in terror Morning
light IL, however. the best of restoratives,
and when day dawned and sho had
washed her face mt tho spring ana eaten "a
portion of cold pudding, she felt herself
again, and waited with calm satisfaction
for the triumph in store Tor her.
The village of Feldham was meanwhile
In "a state of wild excitement. Such an
event had hardly happened before within
the memory OF man, and all tongues were
wagging Every one was eager for the
constable's return. than they might hear
the full details of the story; but IL was
not till evening was drawing on that he
appeared in sight. George Bostock and
Jacob Pilbeam had returned as soon as
their charge had been deposited at the po-
lice station but they had little to tell
beyond what the villagers knew already.
4 he constable was the fonnteinhead of
information, and when no was seen ap-
preaching, al eager group rnshed out to
meet him.
The constable's eyes were wild and
staring and his face pale with excite
ment The first impression was that he
had been drinking. but as soon rs he be-
gan To speak it was ielt that the news ho
brought accounted for all.
1--WE got him. F" he began 1--WE tied him
up and took him off, and the poor lad 8
father came up and identified him, but
when they took him to put him in the
cells his hair fell off and then his beard,
and 1t was .Gem Michel himself "
There was an awestruck silence; the
revelation was so unexpected that it took
away all powers of speech from his
hearers and he was forced to begin again
| himself:
He raved and swore awful when he
saw / knew him, and said his mother had
| done him TO death; but they put him
/ into the cells and when / got away 1
went and took my money. for j didn Z
see as IL 'ud do him any good to leave it
| alone "
In this opinion the neighbors entirely
agreed, but there was still much that
| they wanted to know, and having some
what recovered from their first amaze
ment they poured out an eager flood of
| questions.
But what was he doing up Friday 8
| Church, asked several.
The question was natural one, for hav-
/ ing got safely away from the scene OF
| his crime IL seemed n strange blunder to
have fingered in the neighborhood.
Drunk, / reckon, and couldn't get no
| further, " said another
That's oil you know about IL then, -
flashed out an angry voice. You've no
call to Judge all men by yourself. Job
| Fletcher -
There was general laugh, for Job was
the topper Of the village, and all turned to
look at the fresh speaker. 1t was Sally
Tredcroft, her face white with rage, her
eyes glittering with indignant fire.
| What did he como for. thenr asked
| Job sullenly.
'He came to bid good bye to me. +" said
Sally, with quiyering passion in her
| voice that silenced any possible jeers on
the part of her listeners. land he came
TO bid goodbye to his mother who sold
| him !"
fury of ner looks. and the constable thrust
his hands into his pockets and produced
a glittering heap OF coins.
| There 'tis, sure enough, - he said "but
tits an unaccountabie job to give them to
her. surelyp'
! "Tll give them to her" said Sally
| fiercely and seizing them from him be.
fore he had time to consider. sho turned
and walked toward the lepers' path with
swinging strides.
| The little knot of men and women
looked after her uneasly. but mono dared
| to interfere.
"Why don't you stop herf" was de-
of righteous Indignation; but the CON
stable merely shrugged his shoulders, and
walked off to his own house In silence.
| Mother Michel had been waiting till
dusk drew on before sho descended to tho
village she knew that 1t was quite posi-
bic that popular feeling might ne against
her, and though she professed herself
totally Indifferent to popular opinion, she
was, In reality, rs sensitive TO it rs an
other. But the constable, having shared
in the capture, could throw no stones Mt
her, and as soon as evening came she in
tended TO go TO his house to receive tho
money that was TO make her heart sing
for Joy
She was just preparing for her walk
when the. cottage door was flung back, and
harsh voice fell upon her ear
There, you false Judas; take your blood
money. and much good may il do you
Sally's words and gesture were dra-
matte, but she had no thought of posing
as an avenger; love and anger were tear
ing at her heart and she snoke out Of the
fullness of her passion. The old woman
looked up in terrified nmazemeDt but
! Sally struck on unheeding:
He was your son, your own flesh and
blood, as you took and sold to his death.
.em nd never go off without bidding us
goodbye, but bow could he let the village
people sec him yBe might have rid himself
OF his disguise and got clean away IL he
hadn't loved us; and you betrayed him,
and he's cursing You for 1t now as | do !"
She flung down the money as she sroke.
and with n choking sob rushed out Of the
house and disappeared, into the gathering
gloom
The silence that followed her departure
was long unbroken; the money still lay
whore IL had fallen the old woman sat
motlonless upon her stool, her withered
! hands clasped In her lap, her ewes fixed
idly on the ring upon her finger. Her at
titudo might have seemed indifferent, but
IL was not--it was Gesrairing She had
! no thought of disbelief; Sally's acousa-
| ton WAS true. she had done what snb
| Gu ,ht not TO have done, and this was her
punishment
Mother Michel. IL has been said was
| heatben-that Is 20 say, any faint knowl-
edge of good things that she may have
| possessed had no visible effect upon her
! life; but one word that sally uttered had
made n lodgment in her mind" Judas -
she knew that Judas was "A betrayer
| and some dim remembrance of his story
/ came back 60 her mind as she sat there in
| her anguish, some flOntiDu memgrv that