The Worthington advance., 1900-09-28
The Coming Of Guiseppa

J The Coming Of Guiseppa !
TARLY on the third morning of Mil
T. ton Wakes, William Eyre, of Scrap
erlowe, was awakened by his wife sud-
denly sitting up in bed and laughing
with; glee odd in woman Of IS, who
had for IL months labored under great
trouble. He turned on his pillow, and
saw her rubbing her eyes with the back
of her hand. Her white nightcap had
fallen loosely back to her shoulders;
her hair, still black and heavy, was
slightly disordered, a pink flush
warmed her thin cheeks.
''Such a dream, lad!" she cried, in a
voice whence all the sleepiness had not
departed. "Darrand were i flood, an
big ships, such as one sees i pictures,
were sailin' up, easy as maybe, to tn
New Brig. An I stood at tn wayter
side an watched an tn first soul I
saw aboard were our lad, comm home
to you an me-"
Williams own eyes glistened; it was
good to see her reused from her long
apathy. 1T means luck" he said. 9TH
Lord knows as yo' an me want luck
badly enow, though tn money as we
had to find for Tom Basker's surety
be all paid. Well pull through, make
no doubt, an'-happen-happen our
lads safe an sound somewhere"
Then he rose and dressed himself,
and went out to the shippen, for it was
nigh milking-time. When he returned
with his two pals brimming with
snowy foam and odorous as wild flow
ers, he found, to his great surprise, that
Mary was kneeling on the hearth,
blowing newly-lighted fire with an
ancient pair of bellows.
"Well!" he said, somewhat Grossly.
"Why couldna stop i bed till brought
your tea upstairs? You know as tn
doctor said you were to rest fro morn
to night"
she turned her face towards him;
sweet laughter still curved her lips.
"Hark at him!" she exclaimed. II
uAS ~ NC a AouSutJ UdIIu.
Then she worked the bellows until
the blaze leaped up the chimney and
the kettle that swung from a great
pot7hook began to sing stentorously.
AS soon as she had lifted it to the hob
she began to lay the breakfast table,
for the first time since her health had
given way. The oatcake toaster was
hung upon the bars; from the oven
came the cracking sound that accom-
panies the frying of bacon. William
watched her like one bewitched; he
had never dared to hope that she would
take an active part in the work again.
But as they shared that meal she
seemed as sprightly as in the days of
her young wifehood.
When they had finished eating, she
went to the window and looked down
the hillside to Milton. The Neither End
was full of caravans and stalls; already
one might hear the crack-crack of the
shooting galleries, where assembled
such holiday7makers as wished to make
the most of their time before, in an
other hour, they departed downward
in the carriers old yellow omnibus.
"Why, William" said Mary, II feel
that young to-day. It all puts me l.
mind O. when you were courtin' me
I'm just thinkin', Lad, as this
even when tn works done I'd like
you and me to go down to tn Wakes
together"
The farmer slapped his knee. "Ay,
that will we," he said. I'D have prof
fered it myself, but for fear O. yo' none
bein' able to walk"
So they mace up their minds, and
Villa ms heart grew glad within him
to see how much of her old zest had re-
turne'. She laughingly forbade him
to help with the household duties
made pointed remarks concerning his
bewildered face, and finally she kissed
him from her presence while she put
the place in order. And when evening
had come and they went arm-in-arm
to the neither enc, which they just
reached as the sun was concentrating
his strength for a golden glory, the
first and most notable sight they
beheld was young Guiseppa with he1
wheeling hurdy-gurdy and cage OF
Java sparrows.
The girl was standing on the green
near the forecourt of the Bod Cloudes-
ley, turning the handle of the anti
quatcd music box. Such Of the notes
as came. belonged to some fragment OF
q long-forgotten opera-only now and
again could one hear. anything-and
that was in the interval when the gal.
loping horses winded for the gather
ing of new riders. Guiseppa ground
away bravely, but her face was
troubled, for her little show had no at
traction for the village folk, and not
more than thrice the ivelong day hat
her plump little hands revealed the se'
cret Of anyone's future. ,.+l.s.a.-
Mary vas touched by her loneliness;
she drew William toward the place
where she waited. H.
"I'ln sorry for you, poor wench, !" sh>
eaid in low voice. "Hoo seems to b<
doin' but little business wi that con
certina thing" ~
When they had reached the cage "a.
cried out with pleasure 90 sic CIV III,
Java sparruws:
Lord la' mercy! Bi:ds q green ~