The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-08-15
Sting Of Conscience.

| ltI Ol nef Wnlle apron ~ . ~''
work by himself out there on the com
mon. lie don't make no frlends-he
isn't that sort"
She waited then for breath In the
hope that her mother might say some
thing. But no. Mrs. Hartop' Dig
strong and sharp OF tongue. looked
down i'm a superior sort of fasnioh at
her daughter and never vouchsaieu
word. So Dorothy went on more hur-
riedly yet. and the color grew deeper
on her pretty cheek as she said inoues'-
ly: You see, 1 am very handy among
| the poultry, and Stephen thinks
could earn something at the tarm pS
| looking after the turkeys and geese,
| Mrs. Howard wants a woman, he says
--"
Then her mother turned with her
! loud laugh Wants a woman. ana
takes up with goose Mark my
] words, child, no good will ever come
| from walking with that headstfohB
| stephen, and when you lie in your
! grave you'll remember my words anu
| know that no sort of good ever came
to "A girl working at Howards iaTlh'
! But go wour own way
Dorothy was used 10 perpetual snup-
bing. She stood wisely silent, ana then
| as her mother gave her hands another
rinse and another polish. she meekly
asked her question again.
Then you would not go against the
banns being called? He said he should
like 10 do IL all correct.
you had better be open with him
before you are married-tor ne won
stand any words after, | can tell you
and let him know that gumption and
sharpness amt i'm none OF your compo-
sition."
So. with this half-hearted assent TO
her marriage. Dorothy went her way
out Of the yard and across the fields.
down into the road which turns by the
church and leads 10 a wide common.
She did not wait long at the edge of
II before a heavy wagon came along:
"A plain-faced determined looking young
man was walking by it's side, occas-
ionally cracking his whip.
Dorothy walked up TO him. blushing.
Poor little soul. she never had many
words. and she said. simply and art
lessly You can have the banns when
you will. Stevey; mother has not said
aught against it,"
We'll then, next Sunday as ever Will
be shall be the first time. ] have made
inquiries Of the master, and he is con-
tent for US TO have the two rooms at
the back of the buildings. | must get
think we shall do all right, ell, Dolly?"
He cracked his whip with such joy
Gus vehemence that the horses started
and he went To their heals with a
whoa whoa, lad-steady. old girs!"
and then tramped ON again down the
back, but with a certain glad pride on
over the common, without once looking
his face, which nearly made il good :
-lnnking.- Dolly walked hoNe in demure
modesty.
i've told him as you are willing"
she said to her mother.
II amt nothing OF the sort" cried
Mrs. Hartop. You came into the world
soft--you can't deny it-and you'll go
out of 1t SOFT. and no words of mine
will ever stiffen you, and you must go
! your own way"
And so ended the marriage settle
ments between Stephen Reynolds and
| Dorothy Hartop.
CHAPTER H.
Two or three months after this Doro-
thy was standing at the door OF her lit
tle room looking at her husbands re.
treating figure going across the yard
To the stables.
She had perplexed look and the old
panied lime on her forehead which had
! not been seen since her marriage
ITS curious thing ne doesn't trust
me, she thought. II should like to
know what he means by his mystery:
and IT'S strange, too as mother says.
knowing ] must get some little things
/ 10 put by FOR when / am laid up, that
1 he don't give me anything out of his
wages. He might trust me-"
The old look OF care seemed to deep
! en- sdme how on the young wife's face
as she went about her morning work
| Life had its troubles when she was at
! home. but there was always solace in
the thought that her life might change:
| hoW--noW the feeling that it could new
/ er change made her start with almost
guilty fear; for Stephen was SO good.
only he seemed 10 wrap his words
| round in mysteries, and then undo
| them i'm surprises And she supposed
| she was, as her mother always said,
born soft and would never change
she had not mucth % prepare for her
/ frugal dinner. for she was not feeling
well. and her husband had gone with
the wagon to Ledbury and would not
! return tin dusk. So. after cleaning up.
she was resting in one of the new
! chairs. and by and by she rose with a
| start, for Mrs. Howard the farmers
| wife, came In. She was a narrow
| faced woman, with thin lips and little.
nervous black eyes, and had a curious
uncomfortAbiV voice
! Ah'hNiiAs iPbIONnN, as You seem tn
| have 50 much time on your hands. Won
could come I'm on Saturday and wash
up the kitchen for me. scour down the
bricks. and do the hard work" she
said. She looked keenly and suspicious
ly round the bare room "and. now and
again | viii give you "A bit of cold pud-
ding. when IL is over. daresay YOU
would like TO be put i'm an honest way
OF earning something"
An almost hungry look came To Dol
ly's face she was thinking OF her COM
ing Illness and the extra mouth to feed
Il would give anything to ct lit
tie money for my own" she said.
That is curious way OF express-
ing yourself" said Mrs. Howard.
sharply ''and your husband gets regu-
lar pay"
Dolly. we know. was always told she
was bit soft, but perhaps she was
never 50 soft as at This moment OF her
lite Tor without realizing 0he power
81 her words she said. harmlessly
oh, he don't trust me: he always
keeps his wages and pays our way him
self"
\ horrible dart thrust right through
the pity which had struggled for an en-
trance In the migfragef hard h.aa,t auI