The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-12-30
LUCILLE.
CFrom the Weekly Bouquet.)

By MARY M. REDMOND.
Miss Staley, the new school ma am, -
took in at a glance the stuffy little
parlor, the dingy carpet and straight,
backed chairs set primly against the
wall; the handicapped center table
with the red plush Photograph album
resting serenely upon its smooth sur
lace; the solitary rocking chair sitting
IN state in the middle of the floor. and
a wave of pity stole over her as she
pictured the narrow, cramped lives of
the people who could dignity this room
by the name of parlor.
She turned away with little shiver,
only to meet the bare blank walls star
ing rigidly down at her.
Yes Mrs. Gray was saving in a
peculiar, drawing tone, "Lucious, he
allowed that you wouldn't came this
morrln' beln's it's so damp an foggy,
an SEEM you was kinder aifin like:
out L told him ] thought you'd come.
! IuclouS, he were over tn Mrs. Simp-
sons yesterday, an Mr.. Simpson he
We're Sayin' thet schooTd hev ter be-
gin this mornin' at 9 sharp an eff you
want here on time they'd list hire
Sally Ann Sharp ter take your place.
Shed been a-wantin' it for some time
anyway. Mr.. Simpson he amt what
you'd call bad man, but he's kinder
queer an set in his way
Is the school far from here?" Miss
Staley asked, rather anXiously, when
Mrs. Gray paused to take her breath.
Law, no; it's jest round the corner.
You needn't leave here afore half after
nohow. It's just now. Els I wus
sayin', she continued, drawing a
long breath, and shifting the heavy
baby from her left to her right arm,
1,n s.,s+
a bad man. but he kinder reckoned on
hevin' the teacher board tn his house
they generally do, an when Lucious
allowed, bein' it's SO near, an es you
was kinder peaked lik', that you'd bet
ter board tn our house, it made him
feel kinder edge-ways lik'."
1T was very kind of Mr. Gray to
take such an interest in a stranger"
Miss Staley said warmly, touched by
their rough, but kindly thoughtful
ness. Have you any children to at
tend school?"
Yes, 1 reckon We'll hev three tn
send this summer Mrs. Gray replied,
drawing forward a chair-she had been
Standing all this time-and settling the
Dig, good-natured baby into a comfort
able position in her lap.
We did cal-klaJe tn only send two,
May and Charlie she went on in a
more confidential tone, but Lucille, she
were so bent on goin that her paw al
lowed that mabbe we'd better let her
go this term yit, though it do seems
though a girl the size of her age
she's nigh 16-orter be adoin' somethin'
asldes goin' ter school in summer time
but Lucille, she don't jest keer to work.
rant that she's 'Xactly lazy. but she
halnt got no taste fer homework, dish
WaShln an sech like. Now there's
May, she hain't II yit, but Ia she kin
do more work in day than LuciIe'd
DO in a hull week. l reckon she takes
tibet from me, fer allus wus a great
hand tn work. But Lucille, she's lust
like her maw-I'm only her stepma w
she explained, in reply to Miss Staley's |
look Of surprise. Her own NAV died |
when she were born, an she were iest |
years old when / married her nav |
She weren't Jest what you'd call q. punv |
child, but she never laughed. err cried |
ar played like other children. She were |
allus still an quiet, jest like she is now
rye seen her sit fer a hull hour tn a
time a-starin out at them hills, Jest S
though she didn't see 'em at an h,t |
we're a-lookin' at somethin' on t'other
side of EN-. An she's forever a-scrib
0lin on bits of paper, an a tearin' of
EN- up again. In course it do look kin
Ter foolish like tn see a girl the size
If her age actin so silly like, an you
ant jest blame people fer sayfn' that
he hain't jest's bright es she might
De-an' tibet she were struck with the
lump handle, whatever tibet means.
3ut la. she wouldn't hurt a fly. she's
het tender-h hearted. Andy, here, thinks
! sight of her. He'll go from ne III her
nytime."
"A child's instinct is true. 1t will
ind a loving heart beneath the rough
st exterior Miss Stanle- said. when
Irs. Gray paused, more for lack of
lreath than lack of words
She was a tall, angular woman, with
lack eyes and hair, and a wide, prom
nent mouth. She loved to talk, in
eed she talked incessantly whenever
nd wherever she wound a listener. 1T !
Illus makes me mad she went on,
aking a long breath, when l hear EN-
-cailin' her the 'simpieton,' an crazy {