The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-17

Line cleiCal looking man cleared ms
throat. The pudgy, elderly woman in
widows weeds gathered up bag and
some bundles.
Its about time!" she said. 81 never
heard of such slow trainsl The trains
coming, say, Het"
The third occupant of the platform
nodded. She was a tall girl, whose face
was dominated by peculiar calm, as of
repression. Her eyes were bright and
fine, though there was no eagerncss in
their light. Her lips were frightened in a
faint, fixed smile.
I've got everything" the elderly WON.
an went on. "If you're going to say any
sgoodbys.' you'd better say EN-. I hardly
think the train'l wait for any nonsense"
The girl put out her hand and let it
rest in the EXTENDED palm of the man.
"Goodby Henrietta"' he said. Write
to US when you get west. Anything we
have left undone we will be glad to do
for you. And. Mrs Baldwin" he went
on to the other woman, you mustn't feel
too much cut up. you know
I'm not saying anything as | know
Of" responded she aggressively. "Your
hats too far front, Het."
The girl righted her hat.
"That's more stylish" the other said,
with sniff
Mother will soon feel better over this,
Henrietta" said the man.
''Will she?" asked mother. "Here it
is"
The train, which was asserting it
self with twinges and gasps, rounded
curve and drew up at the platform. The
man again pressed the hand of the girl
and led her toward car. Her mother
had already preceded her and was impair
tally humping the passengers inside.
The girl leaned back as though she
would say something to the man. well
Henrietta?" he asked kindly. She looked
deeply into his eyes. Il hope your Christ
mas will be-peaceful," she said and
went in after her mother.
She felt that the eyes Of the rest of the
car were on her. She felt that some of
the passengers guessed the meaning of
her entrance from that little platform so
near the massive pile of architecture
which two or three leaned from the car
windows to view. is that the placer"
said a young girl of about her own age
How picturesque! How very. very pic
turesque." lingering on the words Every
picturesque
The mother had found a seat and call
ed sharply. ''Het" The seat was direct
ly back of the girl who had called the
place picturesque.
What hardened old sinner she
looks" said woman in loud whisper.
ANY one can see what she is. suppose
the young woman is an attendant seeing
her safely home"
"Het." said her mother, who had heard
every word. I'm powerful sorry any one
can see what am. I'm such hardened
old sinner. Anybody can tell you're see
ing me home" And the woman who had
whispered retired in confusion behind
book
'And I'm glad we're rid of that preach
ing crank" Het's mother went on in
lower voice. "The idea of him saying I'd
soon feel better over it, Ministers act
as if everybody else were children. What
are you looking at that girl in front of
you for? Because she admired the place
you've just come out of? Her bangs cut
crooked Now keep quiet. I'm going to
sleep all the way. l had to get up early
enough this morning and | won't sleep
wink tonight going west. A pretty Christ
mas eve for me, Lizzie's cooking the
Christmas dinner for today. | won't be
here tomorrow" She settled herself with
her head on the velvet back of the seat.
Het looked out the window. Her Lind
was not yet free of the place where she
had been for the past two years. Nor
was she interested in the landscape rae
ing past the car window this crisp De
cember day.
How pretty that girl was who had
called the place picturesque, She sup
posed the girl like many others in the
car, was going somewhere for the Christ
mas holidays. She could hear the pretty
girl talking in her high. thin voice to
her girl companion.
"He was not a bit like the other men,"
she was saying. Mamma liked him the
very first time she saw him. And-oh,
what do you think of Marie's engage
ment?" Their talk was cheerful, so
"man" insisted upon creeping into it.
Het tried to think of herself. She was
going back to the home that had been
hers two years ago!
"a girl should help those she loves at
any risk" the pretty girl said to her
companion. "a woman does not love
who is not a willing sacrifice for those
she loves" and her voice lowered
The girl back of her smiled. She was
neither happy nor unhappy, and she was
going away tonight out to a new country
where she might begin life over again
and where her "shame" would not be
known.
Shame. What a farce it all was. life
and everything else. And that pretty
girl to speak Of sacrifices.
She glanced at her mother and noted
the bitter marks on her aging face.
He is such an ambitious fellow" the
pretty girl in front Of her was saying.
HE is sure to get on"
Het shifted her position. She wonder
ed what the people were doing in that
place where she had just quilted They
were going on without her there. She
was merely memory now
The pretty girl was laughing gleefully
to her companion and reeounting an cpl
sode in which 'he" and him" had most
to do.
Het thought that in an hour or so she
would laugh too. She would laugh If
the women il the old neighborhooG
should look at her as a curiosity. She
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