The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1899-09-22

HER FAITH

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az can't stay, an won't 'Tain't in |
human natur'," muttered Ann Friend.
always the samel Sunshine for 9TH
ers, shadows for mel"
"Where's the slate, honeyP where's
the slater piped quivering voice. as
Ann stepped into the dim kitchen and
began to hustle about energetically.
1--WE nun cross 1t off, honey; we mum
cross It off. 'Tis the Dist to-day, and
the boy comes home on the 26th, bless
the Lord"
Here, It's, mother-ln-law. Bide quiet
a bit while sets the kettle on the hob"
Five days, FIVE days" echoed the
old woman. 1--WE nun be busy, honey
and get the place set clean, and the
sheets aired; and I'm thinking, Ann,
II you was to put the things ready for
me might make the ginger cake he
used to set such store by, ehT"
"Now, mother-in-law, I'll not have
YOU messing around and making your
self ILL.," Ann spoke with decision.
whats good enough for US is good
enough for him."
"But, Annytis my son John-'tis
your own man, Amir
AIMS face grew harder and harder
as she left the kitchen and went up
stairs to her bedroom.
81 can't stay, nor won'tv' said Ann
Friend, suddenly, as she stood looking
out of the window. Nobody could ex-
pect me to stay. She won't care SO
long as she's got him, and he won't
care so long as he's got his liberty and
a roof over his head"
Bending down she drew box from
under the bed and began to pack into
It the contents Of the one chest of draw
ers that stood In the room.
At the bottom Of the last drawer she
came upon little bundle Of baby's
clothes, and for a moment the hard
ness Of her face softened while she un'
folded each tiny garment and exam
ined It carefully. Then the cloud re
turned, and the clothes were once more
tied into a bundle and returned to the
now empty drawer.
"'Tis well she died." she thought t.
herself. "'Tis we'll she can't be asham
ed Of her father I'll leave them there
he'll like maybe to see how tall sh'
grew"
-Four years ago Ann Friend woult
have told you that she was one of TIL
happlest women in the whole village
and the village itself would not hav
have disputed the fact. Yet in tw
short years the happiness fed, the hus
band was disgraeed man, and AM
whose good temper was proyerbia
knew herself to have changed into
soured, hard woman.
The inhabitants Of the little villag
where Ann had been born and bred sal
among themselves that Mrs. Frien
was a rare good woman and had born
the disgrace Of her husbands impri
onment as few women would hav
borne 1t.
They never knew the rage that too
possession of proud Ann Friend whe
the shadow of disgrace fell upon he
home. They never knew the bitter col
tempt that filled her heart when ST
thought of the father of her chil
working out his sentence In the neigl
boring prison.
"If you are innocent, prove 1t" WI
his wifes thought, but the thought Wa
never put into words, for Ann was oil
OF those strange characters whoi
thoughts are worse than their action
The mother believed In her son
word and counted the days for his T
turn; the wife allowed her to BELLE
that she did likewise. Some of Il
nelghbors believed also In Johns inn
cence; the wife held her peace, al
they accounted her loyal.
Every day Ann determined to brei
down her long reserve-to tell the @
woman that she, Johns wife, wOu
rather die than be there In person
welcome him home, yet each day sa
the momentous words unspoken.
At last the morning of the 26th |
rived. The explanatory letter W
written and pinned on the plncushlC
the box, corded and addressed, sto
In the outhouse on the handcart S
intended wheeling to the nearest S
ton; the old mother had been dress
in her best Sunday gown and cap;
coffee stood ready on the hob, and s.
the Silence Of two years had not be
broken.
II may as well see how priso
agreed with him." thought Ann, as $
looked at the clock and saw 1t was j.
about T:S0, and then felt irritated W
the consciousness that this thought
been behind all her actions for the Il
two hours.
With a sullen face Ann left the c
cage and took short cut through
fields to where, standing on low,
clad hill, she could look down unr
ceived on the roads below. There W
two roads-the broad white road fl
the distant town that held the pris
and which wound its way onward
the next large town, and the cury