, 1898-10-15
THE COMING HORSE.

The curate sat in old Mr.. Robson's
chintz covered armchair, nodding now
and then as the mistress OF the farm
paused in her outburst of excited speech.
He was married and tho father of ten
children, but bourgeois youthful affec-
tations still hung thick about him, for,
instead Of .aving his cup and saucer
on the tray, he held them in his lean
white hands, crooking his little fingers
daintily, while his speech was usually
punotuated with many ''sweetly pref
ties'' and ''passionately fonds," with
al a good man, according to his lights,
and endowed with a certain liking of
the dutiful in his fellow creatures.
He had come up by the widows re-
quest, for her daughter was dying, and
she was too proud to speak of her wild
trouble to kinsfolk who had never
viewed her with any courtesy since her
marriage to q man aged enough to have
been her father.
quest for advice. but the curate thought
he understood.
Really. Mrs. Robson" he said gen.
tly at last. sit Is Il most painful case.
Yes, thank You, another cup of tea
three Jumps, yes; l have a sweet tooth.
OF course I think that you should have
consulted me before. when Hannah was
in better health. and then l could have
admonished her. Now we can only pray.
But none the less it is our bounden duty
to tell her that she should wrest her af.
feotions from all unworthy worldliness
and look up to the skies. whence com
fort''-
Mrs Robson's face had grown cold
aud hard, . heavy perspiration shone
on her forehead.
II didna mean that, " she said. when
I sent for yo'. l thowt that yo' would
understand. IT'S O. Squire Amberstone's
son as l wished to ask. My wench is
dyin. All as I beg is as he may COON
oncet again, ridin on his bay. an gi'
her . kind word" She softened sudden
~. "Oh, Mr.. Fryston, for tn love o
God, do this thing for me. Twas bu'
boy an girl playin at love. Theer was
no thowt O. i'll. My dowter's as pure an
good Al q chrisom child. bu' what wi
him was just q laugh an a jest wi tn
prettieet girl on tn country side, wi
her meant OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. I've no
blame for him, bu' he's broken her heart
clean T. twain. An only today has hoo
told me all what hoo's suffered"
lyon were much to blame. said the
Or7R~kA novrAos,kSorc1~ LalopciOu hto
spoon on the rim Of the teacup, Every
much to blame
She clasped her hands and wrung
them painfully, 60 that she might not
burst into hysterical laughter. "Mr.
Frystoo," abe said hoarsely. I'm q
clean minded woman, an Hannah scarce
II. I thowt nothin O. 1t. He were wisest
o. N all, for he must ha' seen danger,
an he staid away, IN three months has
killed her,"
II can do nothing-nothing," began
the ourate.
"Aye. bu' 20 cam" she walled.
"Yo' know what love is. Fetch him to
her for 4 goodby. Hoo Gamma pass
peace WHAT him. Hoo's my only one
my only one"
The curate was touched at last. He
rubbed the corner Of his more suscepti-
BILE eye furtively. "I'll go to Paulton
and bring him back IL I cam" he said.
Tomorrow"
"'Tis O. no use sayin tomorrow I"
she interrupted impatiently. Hoo may
pass at any moment. 'Tis bu' 4 O'Clock,
IN tits tn last thing my wench III ever
want"
The sound Of knocking on the floor
above stopped her. "Hannah's waked,'
she said. "There's ovid Lizbeth beating
the planks wi stick. l nun leave yo',
M. Fryston. I know ~ yo' wunna fail
me.
She did not wait for his reply. but
hurried up stairs to the chamber where
Hannah lay in a little bed afront the
hearth. The mother had been pretty in
her youth-indeed she was not Income
y even now-but the daughter was
wonderfully. p~iteously beautiful Her
fAcs WINS pure white. save for the dain-
ties$ nush In the cheeks; her lips were
scarlet hued and finely cut, her great
brown eyes luminous. She had spread
hsr nut brown hair over the embroider-
"a pillow and crossed her hands lightly
0vsr hse hreast. The beiciothes conceal
ID tie ~easaciaeion Of her figure to some
sxtent. but ens would surely have be-
hsvsd thas = much ~ could be distin.
enils4 Was tha& q = slender boy.
- oomingy. He mid "Oh,
0eeh@k. - think a. Ut That ! should