The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-27

squalor and possibly filth, but I never
have entered a cleaner place or one in
which order made the poorest belong
ings look decent. The four walls were
diminished, and SO were the rafters
which formed the ceiling, but the floor,
neatly laid in brick was spotless. and
the fireplace, also of brick, was as deft-
ly swept as one could expect from the
little scrub L saw hanging by its side
Crouched within this fireplace sat the
Old woman we had come to interview
Her back was to us, and she looked
helplessly and hopelessly deaf.
Ask her. said William, pointing
at her with rude gesture, ''if she will
come to the house at sunset. My sisters
have some work for her to do. They
will pay her WE'LL
Going toward her, 1 passed a rocking
chair, in the cushion of which a dozen
patches met my eye. This drew my
eyes toward bed, over which coun-
terpane was drawn made I'D of 900
pieces at least of colored calico. and
noticing their varied shapes and the
intricacy with which they were put to-
gether | wondered whether she ever
counted them. The next moment I was
at her back.
Seventy burst from her lips as I
leaned over her shoulder and showed
her the coin which I had taken pains to
have in my hand
Yours said I, pointing in the di-
rection of the house, eff you will do
some work for Miss Knollys tonight
Slowly she shook her head before
buryfng it deeper in the shawl she wore
wrapped about her shoulders. Listen
ing minute, l thought 1 heard her
mutter: Twenty eight, seven, but no
more. 1 can count no more. Go away
But I'm nothing if not persistent
Feeling for her hands which were hid
den away somewhere under her shawl,
| touched them with the coin and cried
again:
This and more for a small piece Of
work tonight. Come, you are strong;
earn it."
What kind of work is it?" I asked
innocently, or it must have appeared
innocently. of Mr.. Knollys, who was
standing at my back.
He frowned, all the black devils in
his heart coming into his look at once
How do [ know! Ask Loreen; she's
the one who sent me. L don't take ac-
count of what goes on in the kitchen"
begged his pardon, somewhat sar-
castically l own, and made another at
tempt to attract the attention of the
old crone, who had remained perfectly
callous to my allurements.
Il thought you liked money! [ said.
For Lizzie, you know, for Lizzie
But she only muttered in lower and
lower gutterals, 81 can count no more
and, disguised at this failure before
William, being one who accounts fail
gre as little short of disgrace. l drew
back and made my way toward the
door
"She's in different mood from what
she was yesterday when she snatched
quarter from me at the first inttma-
ton it was hers. l don't think you can
get her to do any work tonight In
fol
some one else you can call in?"
The scowl that distigured his none
too handsome features was a fitting
prelude to his words.
You talk" said he, "as if we had
the whole village at our command.
How did you succeed with the lock-
smith yesterday? Came, didn't he?
We'll, that's what we have to expect
whenever we want any help"
Whirling on his heel, he led the way
out of the hut, whittier ] would have
Immediately followed if l had not stop
ped to take another look at the room,
which struck me. even upon second
scrutiny, as one Of the best ordered and
best kept l had ever entered. Even the
strings and strings of dried fruits and
vegetables which hung in festoons from
every beam of the roof were free from
dust and cobwebs, and though the dish
es were few and the pans scarce they
We're bright and speckless, giving to the
shelf along which they were ranged
semblance of ornament.
Wise enough to keep her house in
ORDER thought I, and actually found
it hard to leave, so attractive in my
eyes are absolute neatneSs and order
William was pushing at his own gate
when joined him. He looked as if he
wished I had spent the morning with
Mother Jane and was barely civil in
our walk up to the house. L was not
therefore surprised when he burst into
a volley of oaths at the doorway and
turned upon me almost as if he would
forbid me the house, for rat, tap, tap,
from some distant quarters came a dis
tinct sound like that of nails being
driven into plank.
To be continued.
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