The Monitor-register., 1897-05-07

81 ~cannotl' sobbed Lyddy Ami
cannotl Oh, please do not urge me any
more !"
"Well, if this don't beat all J" said Mr..
Allendale. "I'll ask Johns wife. Shell
p'r'aps know the ways of women better
than l do. And she'll plead my cause
for me-"
So Mrs. Allendale, Lyddy AIMS first
friend, was summoned from the nearest
farm house and admitted into the solemn
conclave. She was more puzzled than
they had been. She took Lyddy Ann
tenderly by both hands when they were
alone.
"You cannot deceive me, DEAR" she
said. ''You love Reuben"
Lyddy Ann only dropped her eyes, and
spoke no word of dissent.
Then why will you not marry him
and stay here always? ?" asked Mrs. ALEU-
dale.
II am not worthy" said the girl, in a
low voice. Il must go away"
Mrs. Allendale put her arm around
Lyddy AIMS slender waist.
"Tell me all about it." says she. Soon
fide in me. Just for a little while let me
be your second self. Trust me. Lyddy
Ann; | will not be untrue to you"
And then, with tears and contritiop,
Lyddy Ann confessed her simple mys-
terry.
81 have deceived you all" she said. 81
never lived out anywhere before l came
here. Mrs. General Sumpter is a woman
who acts as reference for the girls who
have no one to refer to. We pay her five
dollars at the time, and ten per cent. of
our wages ever after, or she will hetray
US to our employers. They say she
makes lots of money, and no wonder"
added poor Lyddy Ann, with a sigh.
Sand she keeps writing to me every
week, because I haven't sent her the per
centage on the last two months. l could
not; l needed it for clothes for myself.
And now she is threatening to come out
here and tell you all how shamefully l
have deceived you"
SIS this all ?' said Mrs. Allendale.
GAIL" Lyddy Ann answered, lifting
her blue, truthful eyes to Mrs. Allen.
dale's with a ~frankness that defed all
doubt. II knew no one, you see. | had
no reference, and no lady would employ
me without one. And the girl who sat
next to me told me about Mrs. General
Sumpter, and-oh, l know it was very
wicked, and Mr.. Allendale will never
what was 1 to do? Could I starve ?"
"Try him." said Mrs. John Allendale,
smiling. "Tell him what you have told
me-"
'Oh, l dare not % shuddered Lyddy
Ann.
"Then l WILL" said Mrs. Allendale.
And when next the girl net Uncle
Reuben, he held out both his hands to
her with a smile.
Don't run away from me, Lyddy
Ann,'' said he. II know it all. Aud l
love you better than ever, my dear.
Come, you shan't get away from me now
until you name the wedding day."
And what was left for Lyddy Ann but
to consent
Mrs. General Sumpter came down the
very next week. boiling over with rage
that her exorbitant demands had not
bean satisfied.
Sir" she said to the honest farmer,
81 nave to tell you that"
"And l." said Uncle Reuben, ''have to
tell you that if you don't get out of this
house before another five minutes are
over, you'll be put out of it. Pm going
to marry this little girl, and whoever has
a word to say against her must just settle
with mep'
So Mrs. General Sumpter was eom-
PEELED to withdraw her forces in great
discontinue. And Lyddy Ann is doing
general h%ousework now in her own home,
with a husband who adores her, and a
step daughter who thinks that the world
does not contain her equal.