Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-12-09

'''2?,at.. ma'amT' murmured Lyddy,
nervously, as she raised herself from
! the floor.
"Watt, Ell? Lyddy Watt. Humph!
Lyddy was my mothers name," she
unused. "S'pose you're relation to the
Wattses over on the inlet. WE'LL" she
continued, 81 like the first part an I
amt got no cab to quarrel with t'other.
Lyddy, do you think you could manage
to weave if L could manage to show you
how?"
al expect SOS soon's I got the
knaci. most know I could" looking
up eagerly, with crimson cheeks.
She got the knack surprising
quick" Miss Marsh herself admitted.
In less than a week she could send the
shuttle through the warp with unerring
aim and rapidly. She easily conquered
I the few mechanical movements, and
Miss Marsh was forced to confess as well
that the strong young arms could beat
up the threads as closely as she herself.
Then Miss Marsh sat down to think
again. The shoulder was improving.
With such help she could dispense with
DE-. Deebe's services. There would be
10 need to strain that contrary member
of her body. Lyddy was alone-no near
relatives to speak of-she had elected
that much. She was not given to pry-
ing into. matters outside, and was
satisfied with what the girl had told her
md her own conclusons-that she had
tome of good stock" The Wattses
were all decent people, If they were
poor.
She felt a new sensation, too. She
liked Lyddy. She began to think that
here might be one who would become
q prop to her in her old age. Lyddy
was not "giddy." Then came the
other idea-that with Lyddy near her
she would have the satisfaction OF know
ing that no strolling circus folks would
have an opportunity to get a pins
worth" from her.
She would not own to herself that 1t
was pang other than rheumatic that
caused her to heave a sigh as she
thought what might have been il
Jordan had only conducted his mar.
rage affairs so that now she would rot
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 asser-
ton that what she had said she had
said, and she was fXeo 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 a pleasure to look upon. Miss
Marsh even had hopes that the mys-
terious 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 humming 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 do the
right thing"
"If by the right thing you mean get
ting somebody who has sense enough to
weave, 1 s'pose I 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.
"Wen, Pm willing to resign practice
On you-more than willing in this case
and glad that you've overcome your
senseless prejudice against Jordan's
girl"
"Jordan's girl! It's Lyddy Watts"
she gasped.
Its Lyddy Jordan, your niece" said
DR.. Beebe, firmly.
For the moment Miss Marsh felt that
everything had returned to chaos. Like
n flash came back her own query as to
the name. Her own inferential b,under
was clear. What was queer. she could
not muster up 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
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
said, stifiy. eff 1 had she'd never set
foot in here, an what I've said stick to.
| don't expect to give an inch"
"WeI, Miss Marsh"-Dr. Beebe had
not seated himself and now he stepped
outside. There he stood and finished
bluntly-"Pve 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
doesn't do it give you up. It'll be like
a Spanish fyIblister, I suppose; but |
can't help it."
"say what you're goin' to an done
With it" said Miss Marsh. braeing her.