Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-12-22

a long blue CLOAK. and a limp white
cap framing an ugly face.
what dye mean? What business
is It of yours?" asked. shaking of
her hand.
what business? Ye may well ask,
ye dirty spalpeen." she retorted bit
terly. mo. no; tell ye. won't get
out o. yer way-ye'll have to knock
me down first. I'm only an ould
woman. and yen do 1t easy enough
but even then I'll hang onto ye. an
dig me nails into ye. until ye tell me
what we've said to that motherless lit
tie crayther that hasn't sowl In the
wide wurrld to care whether she"
"Oh" 1 interrupted quickly. all the
anger leaving my face and voice. y
understand. You are old Molly Grlf-
fin come home at last"
"Ay. ay, an It's about time did
come home, I'm thinkin. Oehone,
ochone; but isn't this cruel wurrld
entirely! oh. aren't ye ashamed of
yersclf, you that calls yerself Il
gentleman belikes. toto play scoun-
drel like that? Wouldn't her very
innocence, her folornness spake to yer
black sowl and bid yer go yer way
an laive such as her in peace?"
Molly. Molly" said gently. for
felt a certain respect and liking for
this uncouth old dame. the only friend
and protector poor Helen seemed to
have, don't let your tongue run 80
fast. II you please. Allow me word
in self-defense."
Then 1 explained the cause Of the
girls depressed appearance that par
ticular evening. After little hesi-
tation look of relief crossed hei
face. and saw she believed me.
well, well. beg your pardon.
that's all I can say. oughtn't 20
have been SO hasty maybe. But
I've had bitter cause. heaven knows.
to suspect the likes O. you. Not. sir.
that I've heerd anythin' but good OF
you. SO far. How you've come all the
way from London to tell the auld
wan bout poor Master Brian, an
give up his letters-the heavens be his
bed this night. But-but." she went
on anxiously, after slight pause.
what 1 want to know is. yer kind
work done, what on earth keeps ye
loiterin' on here at the very back o.
Godspeed?"
I am doing no HARM" 1 muttered
doggedly.
"An' say ye are. No harm to yer
self. an manin' none mayhap. ather
ways; but harm all the same to her.
She was happy. contented. at laist.
t- hnr
ways, scampering about wild her dog.
swimmin' and splashin' about In the
say. until you came with yer soft
voice. yer white hands, an yer hand
some face, givin' her what no wan
ever give her before, flowers, an
books, sweeties. an purity gimcracks:
an sweeter still. kind words an smil-
in looks, what her poor little hearth!
miss 'an hunger for sore when we've
gone yer ways an forgotten her very
name. But ye name no harm OF
coorse. of coorse-ah. get away with
We. man alive; yer all the same the
wurrld over. rich or poor. high or
low-every mothers son OF ye-self.
self. self"
"You're mistaken. you're mistaken
indeed, old woman" broke in earn
estly: she's a child, mere child.
I know her better than you. She'll
forget me before will her. you'll see."
"You know her better than me. who
nursed her from the cradle an her
mother before her." retorted Molly
contemptuously-"y An tell ye
to yer face. it's you that are mistaken.
not me. I see a change in her the
last month, great change; seen 1t
at the first moment looked at her
last Tuesday, an I've watched her
close ever since"
well, what have you found out?"
Ito be Continued.)