Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1897-07-16
THE END OF IT ALL.

That's the last void, IS itF IT
was Bale VITO asked The question.
IL lad screwed his courage to the
stlckin- point at last.
'Iuat's the last wOrd,' said
S lima, and to mind, Mr.. Tolley,
| lis a bit OF ID pity 1t ever went so
far
AS hoWY said Bale. He was
very g oomy and quiet, and unlike
hlmsrlf, aud she had ceased to feel
afraid OF him.
In this wise, Mr. TOlley,' Sue an
swered. Il never chose your cOm'
pAny, and 1 never liked it. look
Oh what AOD'ce SAID to me as a
.lDeIty. Aud l DEFY you to say |
ever showed you sign OF ell
courageTent to IT,
'Tuaps true enough said Bale
gIayely, and without touch OF
irony. I'll do you that much credit.
You've made it pretty clear as you
dislked me from the beginuiug.'
'And that the girl retorted, rs
why | look on what you've said i'll
the light OF a liberty, Mr.. To'ley'
1T won't be repeated,' Bale an
swered. Good night
He fingered as if IN expectation
of an answer, but the girl turned
away without a word. Tue garden
gate clicked behind her, and Bd {
was left standing In the roadway,
'Well,' ne said to himself, frs
what looked for, and 1t fits my
merits he pulled a handful OF
loose tobacco from one pocket OF
bis Jacket and a pipe from the
other. Then, having stood for
minute or wlthOuta movement,
he filled his pipe, lit it, and walked
away.
The girl meanwhile had reached
the cottage kitchen. She took a
candlestick from the high Chi Dney
piece, aud set it on the table wi b
an angry emphasis. She stirred the
waning fire with the same pelu-
lance, and, having thrust a thin
silver or two of wood between the
bars, she knelt down before IL e
crate aud fannrd the embers with
ber apron. When they Ulazed she
drew out one of the sticks aud lit
the candle. As the wick began to
hurn she looked up and gave a
faint cry at the sight OF an MI
expected figure in the room.
'Motherr she said, with a ham
upon her heart. slow you fright
ened mev
Hast no cause to be afraid o
ne, wench,' her mother answered.
80 Bales got the sack, has nef
'GOt the sackY Selma echoed.
No. He was never in my service.
'He never got any wages, pOol
Iadp SAID the old woman. That
another matter, however. In you
service he has been this three
ear.
WELL returned Selma, Il neve
had any truck with him, and
never wanted any. And now, /
that's what he wanted 10 know, ht
knows it.
Yes SAID the old woman
knitting away with the sam'
treuqniIity, 'you let him know it,
why, MOTHER cried the girl
what would you have me dot Die
you expect me to say 'Yes! TO himi
No, my dear. 1t would ha' eivel
me a rare sore heart to hear II
But I've known him since the ds.
he was born, and I've been sorr.
tor him many time. He's a nobody
child, poor Bale is. He was bre'
on charity, and he was made t
feel it. He's gone wrong, my dear
like a good many more, becaus
he'd hardly ever The chance to G
right; but there was the makin's o
a iae man IN him. You was quit
right to say him nay, but L coul'
wish as you'd been gentle Wit
him.
Selma lit a second candle an
sat down beside it with her sew
ing.
His father was travelin' cor
Juror said the old woman, after
long pause. Il saw hin once aliv'
and q finer fgure of a ran | ney {