The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-02

| newer IN the WOflu-WOulu nave Deeu
Rob McGregor. Do you know some-
times when i think of her-Alice, /
meant git down an ask the Lord ter
keep me from idolatry-ter make me
jest humbly thankful over havin had
such daughter given me-"
"H-m-ml wonder what Miss Alice
prsys over having such motheri" Jack
said irreverently when he heard of the
good woman's prisons Jack lied Miss
Winfield so sincerely he had much ado
to keep from hating her mother. In
fact. he quite agreed with Rob. She
said upon the rare times that she named
the mother and daughter, laughing a
little and with dancing eyes; "Oh,
Jack, do be good to poor stubby Alice |
There is not mite of harm in her. In
deed she is rather nice. And think what
she must endure in being her mothers
daughterV
Rob had habit of regarding all
things humorously, even herself. 1t was
we'll that she had. Her laughing bridg-
ed many minute of heartbreak. Res
coe had been fine and tiourishing when
its master last looked upon it. Now it
was woefully desolate after IL years of
thriftless freedman tillage. Hillsides
showed red and barren; gullies gashed
the fairest slopes; the richest bottoms
had overlap of sand and gravel, to say
nothing of the tangle that yearly en-.
croached farther uron the arabic land
or the rank hedgerows waving where
once there were trim lines of fence.
All the troopers had belonged in the
old days to Mr.. McGregor. Possibly he
Jared better at their hands than he
would have done at those of strangers.
But he had never got out of the way of
regarding himself as sort of special
providence to his black people. In sick
ness or trouble his hand was open to
them always, and when it came to the
matter Of division and payment of ac-
counls lie always enjoined his daughter
not to charge little trifles of meat and
bread and occasional money against the
poor things
For he knew nothing of how his land
was served. Rob was eyes to him, and
when in the beginning she saw how it
panied him to hear of rack and ruin she
made up her mind to paint all things in
the rosiest colors. Yearly she had told
him tales of growth and blowth, pa
thetio in their untruth and sublime in
the motive that underlay them. No
matter how bare she went. he lacked
nothing, not even gold to jingle in his
pocket, and she agreed dutifully when
he said: "You must not dress extrava-
gantly, dear child. That is always bad
taste in so young woman. But some
thing is due your position as mistress
here. 1t is my wish that you be we'll
clothed, though. So be sure you have
always plenty of good silk gowns, with
lighter frocks for home wear and neigh
borhood visits. -
Pretty soon she had silk; it was her
mothers wedding gown refurbished.
Then it was the easiest thing in the
world to make it Of new shapes and col
ors. 1t was the same with all else. The
girl was so gallant, 80 loyal in her love,
the sternest moralist might have con-
doned her sins against fact. Mrs. Win
fold did not condone them. A fine soul
may gauge with sympathetic accuracy
one Of lower fiber. A coarse one invari-
ably puts into all things the faint OF it.
self. She said, casting up her eyes:
THAT po-ore little mink! Ter think
how she does lie ter her old blind ia
ther, maxim him believe they re we'll off
when we all know they haven't more'n
got bread ter eat an mayn't have that
long. Bet, that used ter belong ter us,
is mighty thick with ole Liza, that
cooks fer Rob- All Bet says Liza says eff |
things amt changed she don't see how |
in the world they'll keep ole marster
from fndin out another year. must
think they don't manage. Why, brother
says l live well on what another won-
and half starve on. But then have
him ter help, an Alice too Besides, /
don't really think the Lord can bring
himself ter prosper the McGregors, with
Rob goin on like she does"
The good woman spent her opinion
once too often. 1t happened to be where
Jack Talbot heard her. He flung up his
head and said pointedly:
81 don't think Rob sets up for pat
tern of all the virtues, but know she
is above gossiping with servants about
ucI uolSnDOTb duATs. AS 10 nor CruLn-
fulness, I'd take her word for gospel
I've almost brought her up and never
knew her TO vary an inch from it, ex-
cept to her poor old father. Truth would
be only torture to him. I'd feel like
shooting the man that told it Rob SIM
ply could not lie mslioiously or falsely,
but am sure she could and would keep
silence If she knew anything that would
wound another person in feeling or in
reputation.
Rob felt the attitude of her public,
but never spoke of it, not oven to Jack.
She knew how slight was her fathers
hold on life. 1t might snsp any day. At
the best the end was not far. And to
his last hour she would ease and spare
him all she might. He was her world
and love of him her religion. In the
strength and light of love she could
stand blameless before q multitude Of